Walker Colt 1847 Co. C No. 215 Worth?
Walker Colt 1847 Co. c No.215. It has been authenicated by R.L.Wilson. The previous owner was a civil war vet. I have documentation, state, regiment and company. Barrel has been shorted to approx 71/2" and the loading lever assy. has been changed. All were done prior to 1920. Per R.L. this gun is in very good shape as he would like to use it in a future book of his. What's it worth. Where can I get additional info on this piece of history?
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BIG BUCKS.The value should be enhanced after Wilson publishes the book.I would talk to Christys and some of the high end arms auction houses that distribute a lot of catalogs internationally.In letters between Walker and the Chief of Ordnance during the Mexican campaign I believe I read that many barrels burst and were shortened so these modifications may be as old as the pistol and not detract from the guns' value. 0 -
It's a Walker Colt!! It's worth what the market will bear. With authentication papers you are looking at between $250,000 and as much as $500,000. There are collectors in the state of Texas who might pay even more for such an historical item. Unlike fly's Winchester Model 70 this is an item that will receive a lion's share of national firearms' attention when it is put up for sale. Certainly waiting for the book to come out will only increase its already hefty value. If I recall correctly a television program highlighting valuable firearms on the history channel had a pair of Walker's that I believe were well over a million dollars....I don't recall exactly how much......Colt hasn't made any since then so I doubt they've gone down in value. Beach 0 -
Big Bucks as in upper five-digit possibly into six digits.You cannot over-document a gun like this.
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Well antique doctor I know you are in the business daily but I'd sure bet that a Walker Colt would go for well over $100,000. What was the significance of the pair that went for over one million? Did they belong to Walker himself? Beach 0 -
Really, the only thing that would bring it down is if the barrel shortening was significantly later than acceptable. Inappropriate machining marks, replacement sight material, etc.
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Thanks to all who have replied. Now all I need is to do more research, but, where?? Any ideas? Thanks. 0 -
Try and find a copy of "Arms and Ammunition in the U.S. Service". The book may be just post-Civil War. The author I believe was Maj. Ripley, Chief of Ordnance at the time, but anyway there is interesting correspondence going back and forth between Walker, Colt and Ripley regarding acceptance, problems and experiences with the Walker Colt. I believe specific serial numbers were discussed. I seem to recall from reading the book 40 years ago that many of the barrels in the first shipment blew up but the remainder held together. Walker said because of its' weight,it was difficult to get into the hand but once there, it could unhorse a Mexican by hitting the horse or the Mexican.The book was in the Cooper Union School of Engineering Library in NYC. 0 -
v35, thanks for your help. Happy New Year to you and yours. 0 -
The Civil War vet probably was the second owner, given the time span between wars and perhaps a relative. There might be a roster of Company C of the Walker Dragoons in Texas archives and a connection made to the original owner.Good luck and happy New Year 0 -
I am the new owner of Walker Colt C-215. I bought this pistol in December, 2014. It was displayed in the Texas Gun Collectors Parade of Walkers in 2003 by a friend of mine who has since died. He said this pistol came out of Brownwood, Texas not long before 2003. It was taken in payment for room and board back in the old days and was unknown to the collecting community. I suspect snipe2 is the fella who discovered this pistol. I tried to e mail snipe2. No luck. I want as much history on this pistol as possible. I will make sure the history stays with it so that hopefully the owner in 100 years knows it.
Can anyone help me to contact snipe2? This pistol supposedly belonged to a Union cavalryman in the civil war who died in 1930. His Regiment was with Sherman when General Johnston surrendered. I suspect it was taken from one of the Terry's Texas Ranger boys at that time. Jack Hays signed for 214 C Company pistols during the Mexican War. Six of the C Company had been stolen previously. The Rangers "liberated" lots of the C-Company pistols and took them back to Texas. Terry's boys had to bring weapons with them when they enlisted in 1861 in Houston. The Houston newspaper commented on the number of Pattersons and Dragoons they brought from home. Terry's men carried 4 to 6 pistols according to their writings after the war.
To my knowledge, there are no official records on what pistol was issued to individual soldiers in either war. I am just trying to find out who found this pistol around 2001. Maybe the folks who owned it will have more information. The Wilson letter has no proof that the named Union soldier ever owned it. He was a railroad baggage master until 1901. He may have traveled thru Brownwood and paid his room and board with it. Oral history dies with the teller.
If anyone can help, I, and hopefully future generations thank you.
texian0 -
"jgalle,"
This thread is likely to be locked, as threads on this Experts forum are locked after about 10 replies. The roughly 14 year time-span from "snipe2's" post is a lot of time. You may want to post in the General Discussion forum and link to this old thread.
GunBroker administration wouldn't release any of the private information people may have disclosed when signing up for GunBroker, but since this is such an interesting bit of history, they might be willing to look at old sign-up information to see if they can help.
Perhaps on the General Discussion forum, someone will be able to help you run down some of the information you're looking for.0 -
Competentone,
Thanks. I will do that.0
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