[mayday]

I'm a Texas S&W Collector with a few nice Colts. Just aquired a 1878 .38WCF Colt ser # in the 49000 range. Nice approx 80% Colt with as Fjestad would say "Broken mechanism". How broken is hard to tell. Any suggestion as to sell "as is" or attempt to repair, and mainly as to the degree of collector interest in this type of Colt will be greatly appreciated.--Thanks for any and all replies.-----tom



[This message has been edited by mayday (edited 04-29-2004).]

 

[dfariswheel]

A 1870's Colt IN ANY CONDITION has rather great value these days.

My old Standard Catalog lists an ordinary Colt Single Action of the 1876 to 1898 vintage in POOR condition as $1000.00.

I'm sure prices have gone up since then.

Collectors and Cowboy shooters are beating the bushes for older First and Second issue Single Actions in any condition.

Before you can assign a value, you'll need to find out EXACTLY what you've got, both as exact model and markings, and condition.

Some of these are more rare, and the action may need only a simple repair to return it to usable shape.

Rule #1 of gun collecting and selling: Be SURE about what you've got. What you THINK is junk could be worth a small fortune.

 

[mayday]

Appreciate your reply. The colt is a 1878 Double Action. It is not a SAA. I am familiar with the SAAs great popularity, just not with the 1878 DA. Any thoughts on the Double Action????---Thanks---tom

 

[dfariswheel]

Oops, sorry, blew the Model.

The old, 1800's Colt DA's were notorious for action problems.

An 1878 standard Frontier Model goes in poor condition for over $400.00.

If it's marked as the rarer "Frontier Omnipotent" model, values go up radically.

Models made before 1898 bring more, and with the cowboy shooters looking for all old Colt's, the price may well be higher.

Again, you need somebody to physically LOOK at the gun. A gunsmith qualified to work on the old DA Colts could likely repair it, and a Colt collector can determine the value.

Fortunately, with the popularity of Cowboy shooting in the West, both gunsmiths and experts on value are much easier to find then just a few years ago.

I'd start looking into the Cowboy shooting scene for references to 'smiths and appraisers.

 

[mayday]

Dfariswheel: Thanks for taking the time to reply to my question. The 1878 DA is in remarkable outward condition for a non- operational 95+ year old gun. It seems to nice to try to part out, so I will take my time and see if a repair is cost effective. If not, I have an interesting paper weight. Thanks again.---tom