No collector value guns can make for a great collection

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

If you collect Single Action Army revolvers, not for the investment potential, but more for the ability to shoot an otherwise enjoy them, then sometimes guns that have little to no, "collector value," can make for a great way to build your collection.   Such guns tend to be relatively inexpensive compared to their more nice looking contemporaries, and they are at times very easy to find.   For example...


 

This is a First Generation gun made in 1885.  It's a .44-40.   It's mechanically perfect.  But it is as ugly as sin.   It was described by the dealer who sold it as having a "bad chrome refinish," and that is an insult to bad finishes everywhere.  Pretty much all of the markings have been scrubbed away, the trigger hammer and ejector housing have been gold plated, and the original grips, as you can see, are badly worn with age.  But it shoots like a dream.   It letters as being blued at the factory.  I briefly considered having it restored, but you know, I actually like how it looks, especially the parts covered in gold.  It gives it some curious character.  I did replace the grips (but kept the originals) with reproduction first gen ones.  I got it about five years ago, for five hundred bucks., which is dirt cheap for a shootable 1st Gen antique.

Another interesting thing I got more recently is this one...



This 1910 vintage pistol is very strange. I got it late in 2025 for $1200, and if you look at it closely, you can see that it's a Bisley frame that has been modified to be more of a standard SAA. That in and of itself is unusual, but not unheard of. John Wayne had at least one such pistol in his collection and used it on one of his movies. But what's really odd is how via a new barrel of unknown origin and some sleeves, this is now a .22 Hornet. That makes this quite probably unique. Not "valuable" but highly unusual. I am waiting on a letter to tell me its original configuration.

Another modified from its original configuration is another antique...

This one letters to 1881 as a .44-40. It letters as nickeled. But as you can see, the ejector housing is blued, and the as you can't see, it's been converted to .32-20. Colt has no record of the change, so who know who/when it was done, or why. I understand this was a common change in the 1920's, and a person I knew who was familiar with these things is of the unverified opinion that this is when it was done. He felt that if it was not done at the factory, whoever did it, did a great job. I got this for $1700 in 2007.

And finally, I'll share this one...

This Second Generation .45 cost me $700 in 2010. Colt's website dates it to 1971, and I am waiting on a letter. For such a newer gun, it is strange to me that is has no original finish left, but that's what allowed me to get it so inexpensively. In fact, I can see this gun making a trip to Turnbull someday, if funds would ever allow. Time will tell.
 

Now, I think all of these guns, if they looked better and were more original, would have likely been way out of my price range.   But because their so called, "collector value" was gone, or at least greatly diminished, I could afford them, and that's a good thing.  

I can't be the only collector who is actually interested in so called, non collectable guns.   Or am I?

[Brett Black]

Very cool ! 

I wish I had anyone of them .

Congratulations. 

BB.

[watab kid]

you are not alone , i have a 1917 colt 38wcf all matching numbers that was sleeved to 22lr , i suspect re-blued but well done, lettering is crisp and clear  , grip scales switched out , front sight was changed to a fluorescent bead but rest is pretty un-messed with ,  my local gun smith sold it to me for $125 , he thought it might have been factory converted and refinished but im too lazy to letter it , 

 

dont have a photo - lost in photobucket debacle but will see about getting one 

 

i had to add that i have collected a lot of 22s that dont have a lot of value (2) frontier scouts , (2) peacemakers , and a couple handfuls of other brands as well , 

Edited February 24 by watab kid

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

1 hour ago, watab kid said:

he thought it might have been factory converted and refinished but im too lazy to letter it

 

I encourage you to get it lettered.

Over the last couple of years, I have been getting letters for everything that I can get a letter for.   Colts (which are expensive), S&W, Parker Shotguns, Marlins, Winchesters, Webley Revolvers, Rugers (which are only $10!), Ithaca, and I have learned who else has letters available for if I ever get one of their guns.  There are surprisingly a lot of companies that do it, and sadly a lot that don't.

It's been an EXPENSIVE project, but I think it's worth it.  It's nice to have the documentation, especially for anything over 50 years old or an antique, to help you prove its status.   Granted, some letters are very sparse in what they provide.   The best of the bunch is S&W.   They give you general information about the model, as well as specific details for your specific one.  AND, if they happen to know something special about it, they tell you at no additional charge.  My New Model 3 target for example, was originally owned by a national pistol champion from here in the Boston area.   They even printed a copy of the article about him in American Rifleman and included it with the letter.   Colt could learn a thing or three from S&W.

But let that go.  

There was an article in The Parker Pages latest issue that I got today that said how they have acquired the original factory records for Parker guns that were owned by Remington.   Hopefully this will mean that someone has acquired the rest of Remington's historical data, and maybe letters for them will soon be forthcoming.  One can only hope.

[Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001]

ugly guns need a home and love also 

 

 CB 

[watab kid]

1 hour ago, H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 said:

 

I encourage you to get it lettered.

Over the last couple of years, I have been getting letters for everything that I can get a letter for.   Colts (which are expensive), S&W, Parker Shotguns, Marlins, Winchesters, Webley Revolvers, Rugers (which are only $10!), Ithaca, and I have learned who else has letters available for if I ever get one of their guns.  There are surprisingly a lot of companies that do it, and sadly a lot that don't.

It's been an EXPENSIVE project, but I think it's worth it.  It's nice to have the documentation, especially for anything over 50 years old or an antique, to help you prove its status.   Granted, some letters are very sparse in what they provide.   The best of the bunch is S&W.   They give you general information about the model, as well as specific details for your specific one.  AND, if they happen to know something special about it, they tell you at no additional charge.  My New Model 3 target for example, was originally owned by a national pistol champion from here in the Boston area.   They even printed a copy of the article about him in American Rifleman and included it with the letter.   Colt could learn a thing or three from S&W.

But let that go.  

There was an article in The Parker Pages latest issue that I got today that said how they have acquired the original factory records for Parker guns that were owned by Remington.   Hopefully this will mean that someone has acquired the rest of Remington's historical data, and maybe letters for them will soon be forthcoming.  One can only hope.

i will look into it , i actually would like one for my S&W no i 22sht revolver 

[Jack Spade]

I bought this one a few years ago.  1892 in 45 colt.  I sent off for the letter for it and found out it was at Simmons Hardware in St.Louis the exact same time as the Colt Pistol Bob Dalton was carrying when he was killed in Coffeyville, KS.  

[Injun Ryder, SASS #36201L]

Model 3, First Model Russian. Manufactured in 1873.

 

Original grips. Internals pristine, functions fine.

 

Barrel cut, front sight added, re-nickled, etched with dremel/electro pencil.

 

Per my research, it may have been a movie gun

 

[Injun Ryder, SASS #36201L]

New Model 3, 44 Russian. Manufactured around 1890.

 

Had broken rebounding stirrup when purchased. Repaired and works fine.

 

Internals are pristine. Suspect the stirrup broke and the revolver was put away and not protected.

 

[Injun Ryder, SASS #36201L]

Merwin Hulbert Pocket Army. Manufactured in 1870's.

 

Has broken collar on barrel so will not automatically pull the cylinder away from the recoil shield but can be done manually.

 

[watab kid]

see your not alone , we all like these old and neglected guns just because they are interesting , old and neglected i need to get my photos up to date so i can show mine but they look a lot like everyone elses  

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

6 hours ago, watab kid said:

see your not alone , we all like these old and neglected guns just because they are interesting , old and neglected i need to get my photos up to date so i can show mine but they look a lot like everyone elses  

 

That's good to know.

 

The above Merwin & Hulbert made me remember this one...

 

Doesn't look so good, does it?  .38 S&W, inherited it from my father, who got it for free when he was helping a lady clean out her house and found several guns.   This was one of them.   Shoots well.   One day when using it, the firing pin broke, and I had it repaired so it can shoot again.

I actually was considering having this one restored, so I called up Turnbull and they told me they don't do nickel for various reasons.   I've searched for places that do, but to be honest, I think I can get another one the looks good for about the same price as restoring this one, so I'd probably do that and leave this one as is.   Then I'd have two!

Curiously, I did discover that it will lock in place between chambers, so you could load all 5.  Not sure how it does it, but it does do it.

I've also got this one...

 

Looks like it's been heavily modified.  Skull crusher cut off, front sight is not right, finish is VERY rough.   But it's tight, functional, and fun to shoot.  Got it for, iirc, around 300 bucks about 10 years ago.

Edited February 25 by H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619

[watab kid]

11 hours ago, H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 said:

 

That's good to know.

 

The above Merwin & Hulbert made me remember this one...

 

Doesn't look so good, does it?  .38 S&W, inherited it from my father, who got it for free when he was helping a lady clean out her house and found several guns.   This was one of them.   Shoots well.   One day when using it, the firing pin broke, and I had it repaired so it can shoot again.

I actually was considering having this one restored, so I called up Turnbull and they told me they don't do nickel for various reasons.   I've searched for places that do, but to be honest, I think I can get another one the looks good for about the same price as restoring this one, so I'd probably do that and leave this one as is.   Then I'd have two!

Curiously, I did discover that it will lock in place between chambers, so you could load all 5.  Not sure how it does it, but it does do it.

I've also got this one...

 

Looks like it's been heavily modified.  Skull crusher cut off, front sight is not right, finish is VERY rough.   But it's tight, functional, and fun to shoot.  Got it for, iirc, around 300 bucks about 10 years ago.

i like those , they are very interesting pieces , if they bould talk bet they have interesting story's to tell 

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

7 minutes ago, watab kid said:

i like those , they are very interesting pieces , if they bould talk bet they have interesting story's to tell 

 

I think I agree with you.

[watab kid]

15 minutes ago, H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 said:

 

I think I agree with you.

in many ways they show some but its getting the nitty gritty details that would be fun 

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

I have a hand full of pocket pistols I have picked up and repaired over the years .

[watab kid]

thats a fine looking accumulation , im not in that category yet , but as time goes by im finding a few more that warm my heart