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Colt revolver 38 cal. nickel 2" bbl.

mtnhawg
I bought a Colt today, serial ends in "M", nickel, 2" barrel, with Stag grips. Gun is in exellent condition, and most likely was not fired much. No typical wheel scratches. I was told the "M" means it is the Marshall model.

I am now wondering if I paid too much, and am asking help from the experts on an estimated value.
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Comments

9 comments

Date Votes
  • rufe-snow
    Need quality photos to help you with a accurate valuation.

    Here is a link to instructions for posting photos on the forum.

    http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=259294
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  • Laredo Lefty
    Yes, the "M" means it is a Marshall model. You have a rather collectible gun there. The Marshall is a version of the Official Police revolver.

    There were only about 2,500 Marshalls made from 1954-56. The Blue Book shows a premium for the 2" barrel and the nickel finish. It should be stamped "Colt Marshall" on the barrel.

    The Blue Book lists the values at:

    100% $950

    98% $800

    95% $700

    90% $500
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  • mtnhawg
    But there is a catch with this gun. I will send photos tomorrow, but here is my concern. The serial number of the Colt is 4550x with a capital "M" underneath. There is no writing on the barrel of any kind on either side. There is no writing whatsoever, just the dancing colt. This Colt does not meet the specified criteria of the Marshall, yet it has an M under the serial. Help.
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  • mtnhawg
    One more thing. The serial of the gun I have, 4550x does not fit in the serial number range as described on the Marshall site at Colt. Thanks for additional input after posting of photos.
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  • mtnhawg
    Further to my ask for help identifying the Colt revolver I recently purchased. The serial is 45520 with a capital "M" underneath the serial. The only other marking is the dancing pony, no writing on the barrel. Here is a link to photos. I was hoping to get a value, now I am hoping to just identify the gun. Here is a link to the photos.


    [url][http://www.hunt101.com/showphoto.php/photo/647112/ppuser/67990/url]

    [/url]http://www.hunt101.com/showphoto.php/photo/647113/ppuser/67990
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  • mtnhawg
    correction on serial, it is 45502.
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  • ruger41
    you should use photobucket to post the pics directly here--you have to register on that hunt101 site to view the pics. If there are no markings on the barrel it might make one wonder if the barrel was put on later due to a damaged original one, longer barrel cut down and or a renickel job where they overpolished the marks off.
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  • Laredo Lefty
    With the new info you added, I suspect the gun you have is NOT a Marshal model, but maybe a fake "Marshal"

    The serial number you list does not fall in the range of the Marshals. The "M" is beneath the serial number and not next to it and the barrel is not stamped with anything.

    The 45502 serial number does fall into the range of the "Police Positive 38" and the "Police Positive Special"
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  • JudgeColt
    I have yet to find a Marshal with the "M" suffix. The ones I have do not have the "M" suffix, but the factory letters I received from Colt added a suffix "M" to the serial numbers when in fact there is no such suffix on the guns! I always inquire whenever one is for sale, and, again, they have no suffix. Whether any Marshals ever did have a suffix "M" is unknown, but it clearly is not a reliable indicator.

    The "M" below the serial number on the subject gun is merely an assembly or inspection mark and is not part of the serial number.

    I suspect the subject gun is a Police Positive or Police Positive Special with a barrel that has been cut to two inches, thereby doing away with the model markings that were further toward the muzzle.
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