Colt value
I need to sell a Colt SAA in .357 Magnum. It is a 1st generation, made in 1938. The serial number is correct, except for the grips. It has the correct grips, but they are not numbered to the gun. I cannot find any reference to tell me it's value. I understand the .357s are rare, but the Blue Book does not mention them specfically.
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I would like to know the value of a Colt single action Frontier Scout 22 LR revolver with a 4 3/4" barrel. It is in good shape but the blueing is worn on the barrel. I have had it for a long time and would like to know what it is worth.
Serial #49xxxF condition 75%
Manufactured in 1959
Guncontrol-The ability to hit what your aiming at.0 -
It would be best for accurate identification and appraisal, if you could post quality photos of the Colt.
Instructions for posting photos at this link.
http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=259294
EDIT #1, You potentially have a Colt that could be worth thousands of dollars. IMHO, it would be in your best interests to figure out how to post photos on this site, or at least make an effort to get somebody to help you.
EDIT #2, Our forum has a limit of 10 posts before the mods close the topic. Just start another topic with a link to this one, if that happens.0 -
Wow, I can barely figure out how to send an email. 0 -
"Rare" doesn't always equate to "valuable". Yes, the .357 is "rare" because it was not a very popular caliber in the SAA so Colt didn't make as many as the more popular calibers. That isn't to say that your Colt doesn't have desirable collector value but a lot depends on its condition as a percentage of original finish, markings, barrel length, etc., none of which you addressed.
We really need good pics as rufe-snow has indicated. The link he provided will teach you how to upload them.0 -
I would invest in the Factory Letter from Colt.
Added I can zoom on the pic's. The towel has wonderful detail, the focus on the parts not so much. But a great first try.
Added Well then best of luck at the show.
Added Nice review Old-Colts0 -
+ 1 on factory letter on rare caliber first gen SAA pistols they are only RARE if that is how they were shipped from Factory like they now are configured . Original will be worth 2X as much with a letter as anyone would be willing to pay for unknown . Reason being Colt sold bunches of parts including Cylinders and barrels. Parts guns dont bring much $$$
EDITmake sure you get detail in focus pictures of the markings on the Barrel also on cylinder front of chamber area and also rear of cylinder
EDIT #2I see 7 pictures but when I try to zoom on the one with side area it will take forever when it tries to load and I cant zoom we need to see markings /writing on top of barrel also
EDIT #3 when you put it up for auction either come back to this post or go to general discussion forum and do a "shameless plug" with the auction number.0 -
OK, I got the message. I will try to do the picture thing. I will say that according to the Blue Book, the serial number is correct for a 1938 .357 magnum. The gun is a 5 1/2 inch, blue, CCH with black plastic grips in what I would judge to be 90-95% condition. Pictures to follow. 0 -
Hopefully we have pictures:
http://imageshack.us/g/27/wp000009t.jpg/
Somebody let me know.0 -
Your pictures came through. All not as clear as they could be but are useful in determining the condition. 0 -
The pictures are the best I could do with the equipment I have. If you care to estimate a value, please do, otherwise it goes to a gun show on Saturday. 0 -
Thanks to all for your comments. Colt says this SAA is part of the "lost book" era, and a letter is not available, bummer. If I don't sell it at a show, look for it on GunBroker. According to the Blue Book, the price will start at $5,000. 0 -
The pictures just don't have the clarity to facilitate a true evaluation, but the gun appears to be legit; the serial number range of the gun is high enough to be in the .357 production period. One key to originality on these late prewar 357 Magnums is the left side barrel marking. Prewar 357's are marked Colt Single Action Army .357, like this one. Postwar and other barrels are typically marked Colt Single Action Army .357 Magnum.
It would be nice to know it the Colt doesn't have the fouling cutout at the top front underside of the frame, just above the barrel and cylinder gap. This cutout was eliminated with the introduction of the .357 because the Colt engineers believed with the higher pressures of the .357 this would provide a safety margin to the top strap. Colt introduced the SAA in .357 in 1935 I believe, so this Colt is late enough that I suspect it was eliminated.
It would be nice to see the firing pin bushing hole since they are smaller on factory .357's to help prevent blowout caused by the higher pressures.
Also, there appears to be a five pointed star on the front of the cylinder. When Colt introduced the prewar .357 they started manufacturing cylinders of higher tensile strength steel to compensate for the higher pressures and they marked such cylinders with the five pointed star.
Regarding the grips, the pictures are too poor to determine if they are real prewar Colt grips and original to the gun. Good pictures that show the fit, details, and inner panels would be necessary to determine originality. Not all grips are factory marked and depending on the period of manufacture the method of marking differed. During the period that this Colt was manufactured, if they were marked the method of marking was to scratch, typically the full serial number inside both grip panels. If they are original Colt prewar grips of the period they will have very little or no visible knurling of the brass insert (some folks call them escutcheons) that the screw passes through and screws into; details and fit are the key factors in determining originality and originality to the gun. Anyone can scratch the gun's serial number inside a pair of grip panels.
Again, the pictures aren't good enough to be sure, but the front sight appears to have been adjusted; if so, that's a negative. Also, it might be the blurry pictures, but the trigger looks thicker than a normal prewar trigger.
All things being equal, these late prewar Colts just aren't as valuable as the early guns and admittedly I rarely pay any attention to them, so I can't say with any certainty what they would bring. .357 Magnum Single Actions aren't really sought after by prewar Single Action collectors and consequently do not bring high prices, but if this one is in fact all original and in the condition it appears to be in; it's probably valued in the $3000-$3500 range, give or take, depending on any alterations. Better pictures would be needed for a thorough evaluation and just so you know the Blue Book is historically high.0
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