a couple of classics - value help please
Gentlemen,
I recently looked at several handguns that will soon be for sale by the folks that are liquidating an estate. Several interest me, and information on rarety or value is appreciated. The discriptions will no doubt not allow fine tuning as to value, any best guesses are appreciated.
#1 This is a 1911 or 1911A type pistol. On the right side of the slide it says "Colt Automatic Calibre .45 Government Model" on the right side of the receiver the SN is "C 2339xx", On the left side of the slide, "Colts Mfg. Co. Hartford CT. U.S.A. There is a U shaped lanyard attachment and the stocks are a brown, finely checkered plastic material. I would say the condition is good to very good, bluing is 85% or so. It needs a good cleaning. The former owner had the gun for 40-50 years, It appears to be in original condition (never refinished). There is a U.S. marked leather holster and leather magazine holder with it, but I haven't seen them yet. Age & approximate value range?
#2 This is a lemon squeezer type handgun. On the left side of the barrel, "Smith & Wesson" on the right side of the barrel, "32 S&W CTG" The stocks are some sort of browish/green plastic and have the S&W trademark on them. The revolver has an integral safety built in to the grip that has to be depressed in order to pull the trigger. This gun looks like new. The trigger shows nice case hardend colors and the bluing is deep, dark and at least 95%. It truely looks like a new gun to me. The quality of this revolver is superior and readily apparent compared to the next one #3.
#3 Similar style to the one above but is an Iver Johnson. It was a nickel plated model in poor condition. It has some patent dates in the late 1880's & 1890's that I can't make out. Something about "bicyle" follows the Iver Johnson name. The cylinder "free wheels" when the gun's cylinder is latched which makes me think it is broken. I wouldn't mind having it as a wall hanger for the office if it has little other value.
I don't have access to these handguns so I don't have pictures yet. I will post a picture of the Colt .45 and accessories as soon as I can I don't have a 1911 type pistol and this seems like a good place to start. Thanks to all for your help.
I recently looked at several handguns that will soon be for sale by the folks that are liquidating an estate. Several interest me, and information on rarety or value is appreciated. The discriptions will no doubt not allow fine tuning as to value, any best guesses are appreciated.
#1 This is a 1911 or 1911A type pistol. On the right side of the slide it says "Colt Automatic Calibre .45 Government Model" on the right side of the receiver the SN is "C 2339xx", On the left side of the slide, "Colts Mfg. Co. Hartford CT. U.S.A. There is a U shaped lanyard attachment and the stocks are a brown, finely checkered plastic material. I would say the condition is good to very good, bluing is 85% or so. It needs a good cleaning. The former owner had the gun for 40-50 years, It appears to be in original condition (never refinished). There is a U.S. marked leather holster and leather magazine holder with it, but I haven't seen them yet. Age & approximate value range?
#2 This is a lemon squeezer type handgun. On the left side of the barrel, "Smith & Wesson" on the right side of the barrel, "32 S&W CTG" The stocks are some sort of browish/green plastic and have the S&W trademark on them. The revolver has an integral safety built in to the grip that has to be depressed in order to pull the trigger. This gun looks like new. The trigger shows nice case hardend colors and the bluing is deep, dark and at least 95%. It truely looks like a new gun to me. The quality of this revolver is superior and readily apparent compared to the next one #3.
#3 Similar style to the one above but is an Iver Johnson. It was a nickel plated model in poor condition. It has some patent dates in the late 1880's & 1890's that I can't make out. Something about "bicyle" follows the Iver Johnson name. The cylinder "free wheels" when the gun's cylinder is latched which makes me think it is broken. I wouldn't mind having it as a wall hanger for the office if it has little other value.
I don't have access to these handguns so I don't have pictures yet. I will post a picture of the Colt .45 and accessories as soon as I can I don't have a 1911 type pistol and this seems like a good place to start. Thanks to all for your help.
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not any expert, but #1 would be an amazing gun to own.
#1 was made in 1918. As for the value, you can look on GB, I saw an auction going for a 1911 similer to the one you have stated. Did a little search and found it.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=288335540 -
#3 is most likely a iver johnson's arms & cycle works 'safety automatic hammerless revolver' second model (free wheeling cylinder normal for second models). the second model was manufactured between 1896 and 1908 and was manufactured for black powder cartridge pressures. without serial number (found under grips on left side) and exact patent dates i can''t give an exact year of manufacture. value of a poor condition second model would not exceed $50.00
bill0 -
#1 is a commercial "government model", as indicated by the C prefix. It would never have been issued by the US military, so the accessories are obviously not original; but, they may be worth $100-200, depending on originality & condition. It originally had wood grips, so the finish has to be suspect. We also need to know the bore condition, & all markings on the barrel. It's worth a minimum of $500, & maybe as much as $1,000+.
To get even close to the value of any of the guns, we would really need to see many high quality digital photos.
Neal0 -
Colt Government Model, C2339XX was made in early 1949. In 80-90% condition, Blue Book value is $675 to $750. 0 -
Thanks to everyone for the information on the Colt. Was it made in 1949 or 1918, or is it hard to tell? It seems as though this is the prize of the group.
I was facinated by the old S&W lemon squeezer type gun because of its pristene condition, but I guess its not real desirable. It sure is easy on the eyes. Would it have been designed for black powder cartridges?
Worry is the interest humans pay on the debt of miscalculation.0 -
xtracer is right, I did not look up the gun as a comercial model. 0 -
robin,
smith & wesson actually made three different models of their 32 caliber hammerless top break revolver ranging from 1888 to 1937, model name given as 32 safety. if you post the serial number i will see what i can find. all three models serialed number in a single series from 01 to 240,000+. flayderman give values as low as $135 to as high as $575. the 2 inch barrel models have a higher value.
bill0
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