colt help?

beltfed

October 27, 2001 10:41

Looked at a colt 38 super today. Condition looked to be very good, grips looked to be mother of pearl.One side has colt horse and "colt 38 super automatic in two lines,the other side has colts adress. Can anyone please tell when gun was made and value in very good condition.Serial number is 199xxx. Thankyou

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  AntiqueDr

  October 27, 2001 17:37

  A whole bunch of the Colt .38 Supers went south of the border and were subsequently refinished. Be aware that collector value only exists if the gun is fully original. I've seen a BUNCH of poorly nickeled .38 Supers with faux pearl grips...

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  JudgeColt

  October 28, 2001 04:34

  Dr. Pig and The Doctor are correct. ORIGINAL Pre-War Supers are very valuable (depending of course on your definition of "very valuable"). If this pistol has factory pearl grips and is in "very good" original condition, it is worth the price of a pretty nice used car. (The value curve gets very steep as condition improves toward perfect.) A factory letter ($100) will verify the grips. If the grips are factory Colt, they should have the Colt medalion on them. (There could be exceptions to that statement. There are always exceptions with Colts!) If the grips are original Colt but not original to this pistol, the grips are worth a lot on their own, and the pistol is still valuable.Any Pre-War Colt is an example of the finest in workmanship. The fit and finish are a joy to behold. The Doctor's warning should be considered when looking at any Colt (or any collectable arm), particularly Supers.Off the subject, but perhaps instructive, there is a beautifully refinished Colt Army Special on the auction site now. The pictures show a very attractive revolver. However, the finish is clearly not accurate for the Army Special, and the revolver has genuine Colt wood grips instead of the hard rubber grips it should have. To many people (and apparently the misguided seller, who thinks the revolver is worth a lot more than about the $200-250 that it is worth - the refinish destroys any collector value and the revolver is just a nice looking shooter), the revolver would appear to be original and perfect. Get some advice from a knowledgeable Colt collector before buying. Also make sure the magazine is a proper Pre-War temperline .38 Super magazine. The proper magazine is worth $100-200, depending on condition. Good luck. If this pistol is original and proper and you buy it, you probably will have become infected with "Coltitis" and your life will be ruined, but you will not care! Right, Dr. Pig?

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