SA Colt 45
I would like to know how much a SA Colt 45 would be worth? The serial number starts with HN496XX. I do have a Certificate of Authenticity from Colt, and the date the gun was shipped from the manuf. was in 1878. It has a shorter barrel and has a blue finish. It is in good condition minus a few nicks on the walnut barrel. It also comes with the holster.
Is there a charge for listing it on your website?
Thank you. Melanie
Is there a charge for listing it on your website?
Thank you. Melanie
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Welcome to the forum, I'm not sure about the value, but I can tell you there is a charge for using the auction I think its like 2-3% which is pocket change considering the results and audience you reach. Good luck, Mark or the Capt should have some info on price.
Love them Beavers
SUPPORT THE I.N.S. , THE COUNTRY THEY SAVE COULD BE YOUR OWN0 -
To get ANY idea of value, you will have to be very specific in describing your revolver, to include exact descriptions of markings and the like. You do not even mention the chambering or barrel length, both of which can have a major impact on value. (I really doubt the barrel is made of walnut.) Your mention of the HN prefix on the serial number is puzzling, because Single Action Army revolvers made before the 1950s have no prefixes of which I am aware. However, I am not a SAA collector so there may be a reason of which I am not aware for the prefix.
If you are unfamiliar with these revolvers, it may be hard for you to determine if the finish is original. Original finish or lack thereof greatly affects the value. It is very common for these old revolvers to have been modified many times so that can also affect the value.
MUCH more information is needed.0 -
quote:Originally posted by JudgeColt
To get ANY idea of value, you will have to be very specific in describing your revolver, to include exact descriptions of markings and the like. You do not even mention the chambering or barrel length, both of which can have a major impact on value. (I really doubt the barrel is made of walnut.) Your mention of the HN prefix on the serial number is puzzling, because Single Action Army revolvers made before the 1950s have no prefixes of which I am aware. However, I am not a SAA collector so there may be a reason of which I am not aware for the prefix.
If you are unfamiliar with these revolvers, it may be hard for you to determine if the finish is original. Original finish or lack thereof greatly affects the value. It is very common for these old revolvers to have been modified many times so that can also affect the value.
MUCH more information is needed.
Yes, sorry for the confusion, the handle of course is made of probably walnut. All of the SNs on the gun match, the only place the HN is included with SN is on the frame in front of the trigger. Besides the SN, the only other markings is the "Colt PT F.A. MFG. Co. Hartford CT, USA". There is also an "S" stamped on the frame inside the hammer. It appears to have the original finish, but honestly I'm not sure. The barrel measures 4 1/2.
Thank you for your response.
Melanie0 -
It sounds like you have an 1873 Colt that was originally sold to the Army in 1879. The HN is for Henry Nettleton, an Army inspector at Armory S-1 which I believe was Springfield Arsenal. All the original 45 Colts had 7 1/2" barrels. Many barrels were eventually cut down to 6 1/2 and 5 1/2 as the original length was found too unwieldy. An original 7 1/2" barrelled Army Colt is very rare.
Shorter, 4 3/4" factory barrels were not regulation size and should carry a two line address. There should be a US stamped on the patent date side of the frame and an inspector's mark (cartouche) impressed into the grips just above their base.
Guns that were rejected by the Army for any reason were returned to Colt who rebuilt them for the civilian market. The letter C for condemned would be stamped into the gun by Army inspectors. I suspect yours may be such a factory rebuild.
Unfortunately my gun room is in the process of being painted and my reference books are buried so this is the best I can do for a few days.
Whatever the history following the inspection by Nettleton, the gun
sounds quite valuable and should be evaluated by a Colt expert.
I would not have it leave my sight as I have had parts exchanged on a collectible Colt by a leading Colt expert. Fifteen years later I'm still steaming over it.0 -
quote:Originally posted by v35
It sounds like you have an 1873 Colt that was originally sold to the Army in 1879. The HN is for Henry Nettleton, an Army inspector at Armory S-1 which I believe was Springfield Arsenal. All the original 45 Colts had 7 1/2" barrels. Many barrels were eventually cut down to 6 1/2 and 5 1/2 as the original length was found too unwieldy. An original 7 1/2" barrelled Army Colt is very rare.
Shorter, 4 3/4" factory barrels were not regulation size and should carry a two line address. There should be a US stamped on the patent date side of the frame and an inspector's mark (cartouche) impressed into the grips just above their base.
Guns that were rejected by the Army for any reason were returned to Colt who rebuilt them for the civilian market. The letter C for condemned would be stamped into the gun by Army inspectors. I suspect yours may be such a factory rebuild.
Unfortunately my gun room is in the process of being painted and my reference books are buried so this is the best I can do for a few days.
Whatever the history following the inspection by Nettleton, the gun
sounds quite valuable and should be evaluated by a Colt expert.
I would not have it leave my sight as I have had parts exchanged on a collectible Colt by a leading Colt expert. Fifteen years later I'm still steaming over it.0 -
quote:Originally posted by v35
It sounds like you have an 1873 Colt that was originally sold to the Army in 1879. The HN is for Henry Nettleton, an Army inspector at Armory S-1 which I believe was Springfield Arsenal. All the original 45 Colts had 7 1/2" barrels. Many barrels were eventually cut down to 6 1/2 and 5 1/2 as the original length was found too unwieldy. An original 7 1/2" barrelled Army Colt is very rare.
Shorter, 4 3/4" factory barrels were not regulation size and should carry a two line address. There should be a US stamped on the patent date side of the frame and an inspector's mark (cartouche) impressed into the grips just above their base.
Guns that were rejected by the Army for any reason were returned to Colt who rebuilt them for the civilian market. The letter C for condemned would be stamped into the gun by Army inspectors. I suspect yours may be such a factory rebuild.
Unfortunately my gun room is in the process of being painted and my reference books are buried so this is the best I can do for a few days.
Whatever the history following the inspection by Nettleton, the gun
sounds quite valuable and should be evaluated by a Colt expert.
I would not have it leave my sight as I have had parts exchanged on a collectible Colt by a leading Colt expert. Fifteen years later I'm still steaming over it.
[:o)]Sorry for the last entry, thought I would have a second chance!
I thank all of you in looking at your responses and previous entries, I 've learned alot about this type of gun. You may want to have a subject area/research area in the future, so these questions aren't asked again, and again just to drive you crazy! This gun seems to have so many different possibilities!
From above, I found some more markings that puzzle me on this gun (there appears to be a "P" stamped on the frame above the trigger (sorry for my ignorance in layman's terms for identifying parts of the gun (in the bullet guard (that swings back to enter the bullets) there is a L376 inside as well as a T between one of the two entry points for the bullet casing. I have not heard of these markings talked about in the history given? Besides these questions, I have 2 others--there is a notch on the stock of my gun as well as what I think is a cartouche that is actually there but warn down (not sure). Does this degrade the gun significantly. And last, it appears the gun is in pretty good condition, what are the signs for being reblued?
Thanks for all your help. Too, I'm concerned it appears there is not many bites on buying these guns at reasonable prices compared to the blue book, what's up with that? I can send pictures if you need them via email. I'm still searching on what I should approach the buyers with the bottom line price...
Thanks again!0
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