I have a 1902, and a 1903 SAA in 45 Colt. I sent off for the factory letters, and here is what I have:
1902 - 38/40 Caliber, 4-3/4, Blue finish, shipped to a hardware store in Missouri.
1903 - 38/40 Caliber, 4-3/4, Nickel finish, shipped to Paris, TX.
Both of these I purchased fairly "cheap" as a pair, even though I know they aren't really a pair. Both are chambered in 45 LC, and are marked as such on the barrel. Both are nickle, even though the letter on the 1902 says it was shipped as blued. Both came with hard rubber eagle grips, but the grips are warped and don't fit at all. Both have imitation stag horn grips, from a popular grip maker in the early 1920's to 50's.
I know they aren't huge collector pieces, but they are my first SAA's and I love them anyway. (I also received a 38/357 1980's blued 4-3/4 and paid pretty much what the 1980's SA was worth for all three, so I didn't lose money!).
Does the ship to help me out on value? Does the caliber conversion and/or nickel on the blued from factory pistol kill the value? On the 1902, the Colt letter has no mention of factory nickel plating, and neither are chambered in 38/40 anymore.
I'm still keeping them, but may consider a trade (at some point) if it would be worth it to trade both for a really nice SAA that would be worth collecting. Otherwise, they look awesome in my gun room.....
1902 - 38/40 Caliber, 4-3/4, Blue finish, shipped to a hardware store in Missouri.
1903 - 38/40 Caliber, 4-3/4, Nickel finish, shipped to Paris, TX.
Both of these I purchased fairly "cheap" as a pair, even though I know they aren't really a pair. Both are chambered in 45 LC, and are marked as such on the barrel. Both are nickle, even though the letter on the 1902 says it was shipped as blued. Both came with hard rubber eagle grips, but the grips are warped and don't fit at all. Both have imitation stag horn grips, from a popular grip maker in the early 1920's to 50's.
I know they aren't huge collector pieces, but they are my first SAA's and I love them anyway. (I also received a 38/357 1980's blued 4-3/4 and paid pretty much what the 1980's SA was worth for all three, so I didn't lose money!).
Does the ship to help me out on value? Does the caliber conversion and/or nickel on the blued from factory pistol kill the value? On the 1902, the Colt letter has no mention of factory nickel plating, and neither are chambered in 38/40 anymore.
I'm still keeping them, but may consider a trade (at some point) if it would be worth it to trade both for a really nice SAA that would be worth collecting. Otherwise, they look awesome in my gun room.....