Appraising a Colt Peacemaker
My wife's family has a Colt Peacemaker that's been in the family since new. It belonged to a great, great grandfather who is documented to have been a deputy sheriff in Bisbee and Tucson, AZ, in the late 1880s and 1890s. The gun is in very nice shape for its age and the family has some provenance, including a picture or two of the deputy holding the gun and I believe an original bill of sale. At one time the piece had notches on the grips to denote the number of hombres the deputy had dispatched, but my wife's grandfather replaced the notched originals with factory replacement grips at some point because "seeing the notches made him feel bad." Other than that, it's an honest gun for its age. My wife's family is thinking of selling the piece or donating it to a museum as a tax write-off, but they don't know where to begin. I've noticed a wide spectrum of Colt Peacemaker prices on the auction side, but I don't know where this one would fall. I'm a gun guy, but I know nothing about old Colts, so I'm hoping some of you Colt fans can recommend someone to appraise the gun or, at least, recommend where to start. Any advice or recommendations would be much appreciated. Thanks!
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I think you will yield the most as a donation but I doubt I would do it.
Work slowly collecting every detail on the person(s) that had it. Too bad they didn't save the original grips.0 -
Many of the folks on this forum. Are knowledgeable about antique guns. You might consider, posting quality photos of the Colt. For identification and valuation purposes. 0 -
Pictures Pictures Pictures are the ONLY way you can even HOPE to get some Idea Of what your Colt SAA is worth. Look at SELLER LOCUST FORK
she sells here on GunBroker both Run of the mill Items and HIGH END COLLECTOR ITEMS . those are the kind of pictures you need to get any kind of valid Idea of worth. The picture of the pistol with Two Daputy holding it is the most important Item you have if and only IF you can tell that is the pistol you Have ORAL history is very IFEY as to adding value .0 -
" ORAL history is very IFEY as to adding value .".............THE ORIGINAL BILL OF SALE ON THE OTHER HAND COULD GREATLY ENHANCE IT 0 -
I'd also get a Colt Factory Letter (not free).
Unless the orginal owner was a famous Lawman or the gun can be verified as used in a famous gunfight it probably will add little to prospective buyers. Colt Peacemakers can go all over the map on price..factors include if it's been refinished, buggered screws, orginal grips etc so high quality pics are needed.
If you're going to donate it there are three places I would start.
1. NRA National Firearms Museum in Fairfax, VA
2. Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum in Glendale, CA
3. Buffalo Bill Firearm Museum in Cody, WY0 -
Check with forum member Judge Colt. 0
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