Take some really good photos of the New Frontiers, box labels if original boxes with them, and we can give you a pretty close estimate and let you know what you have. They have not appreciated in value like the Pythons, but they're certainly worth more money than when first purchased simply by inflation. The average price of a new production New Frontier is in the $1500 ballpark- Give or take some coins with shipping , condition.. and configuration/caliber.

 

I know this is all subjective, but to me the New Frontier is really ugly. In a way, it looks like they are trying to copy the Ruger Blackhawk, a gun that can be had for 1/3 of the price.

 

BITE YORE TONGUE! AND STAND IN THE CORNER TEN MINUTES!

Bob Wright

 

Thank you you WWYS, here are the numbers

i can't take pics until later in the week. both guns 7.5" are brown colt boxed. first gun is 44spc model P4770 serial # 086XXNF, the second gun is .45LC box marked C-engraving model P4870 serial # 103XX. both are blue/case colored with walnut grips. if you could give me an idea of market value I'd appreciate it.... i need to add them to my insurance rider. it is impossible for me to tell what these guns are actually selling for just looking at the auction sites. both are new and unturned with all original paperwork and packaging. thank you very much.

 

i can't take pics until later in the week. both guns 7.5" are brown colt boxed. first gun is 44spc model P4770 serial # 086XXNF, the second gun is .45LC box marked C-engraving model P4870 serial # 103XX. both are blue/case colored with walnut grips. if you could give me an idea of market value I'd appreciate it.... i need to add them to my insurance rider. it is impossible for me to tell what these guns are actually selling for just looking at the auction sites. both are new and unturned with all original paperwork and packaging. thank you very much.

I think my ballpark value would stand on the 44Spl. An NF (new frontier ) priced as such will have a buyer at that price if as LNIB ( like new in box )
The C Engraved is more subjective in that the value s dependent upon the quality and style of the engraving. But you may still be just wanting a ballpark C engraved NF price. In that case, Blue Book of Gun values may be of some help... I don't have a subscription anymore. Gunbroker's recent completed auctions is our usual price sheet because for actual buying purposes, what one is willing to spend is how much a gun is worth, and it can change with the time of year, political issues.. really does fluctuate.
I would have to investigate the C engraved little more to give a guesstimate.

 

it is impossible for me to tell what these guns are actually selling for just looking at the auction sites.

Not impossible at all. You can look at completed auctions on gunbroker and research guns that actually sold.

 

Assuming both are NIB, the .44 Special should bring about $1300 and the engraved .45 Colt should bring $2600 or more. JMHO.

 

Here's my 44SPL ( 5-1/2") and 45LC ( 4-3/4") so you can smile again , Bob.

 

My WAG on the retail value of the two NF's is $1500 for the non-engraved and $3500 for the engraved one.
Most of the 3rd gen NF's that were engraved were done so by apprentices and journeymen; not masters.
If the engraved one will letter as being master engraved, add another $1500.

 

The New Frontier makes a LOT more sense for people that actually shoot their guns due of course to the adjustable sights. It`s obvious that you can adjust for different loads and POA. Many of us tend to see the sights different than others and shoot off to one side and its next to impossible to cure with fixed sights and if you do, the front sight is canted to one side and the front sight will be either filed or added to be raised. Traditionalist`s love the original fixed sighted SAA. Another big factor is the same person that buys and shoots the New Frontier, scratches and holster wear etc, soon dawns on the fact he can be scuffing up a Ruger for a third as much just as well and maybe even better as he can also load hotter.
That`s what you are up against on the price factor.

 

The New Frontier makes a LOT more sense for people that actually shoot their guns due of course to the adjustable sights. It`s obvious that you can adjust for different loads and POA. Many of us tend to see the sights different than others and shoot off to one side and its next to impossible to cure with fixed sights and if you do, the front sight is canted to one side and the front sight will be either filed or added to be raised. Traditionalist`s love the original fixed sighted SAA. Another big factor is the same person that buys and shoots the New Frontier, scratches and holster wear etc, soon dawns on the fact he can be scuffing up a Ruger for a third as much just as well and maybe even better as he can also load hotter.
That`s what you are up against on the price factor.

I am going to disagree with this statement. I think adjustable sights make more sense for people that rarely shoot their guns. For folks that shoot with fixed sights, it is imperative to shoot and shoot often, whereas with adjustable sights you can shoot minimally and still shoot accurately. I shoot a a couple thousands rounds a year out of my fixed sight colts and they hit exactly where I want them to.

 

Personally...I think the New Frontiers (especially the centerfire models) are very handsome revolvers. I wouldn't have any problems having either a New Frontier or a SAA in my holster.

 

Adding a little to your sentiments about the NF's, I would say that there is a market for your guns because Colt doesn't keep up with demand of SAA's, but make even less .. significantly less New Frontiers in the same timeframe.
In doing a gunbroker search for NF's that included only new stock and Old New stock, only a page of guns for sale came up. Of that, only a couple were actually Brand new production.. and they're priced on the steep side, IMO. ( and they will likely eventually sell too).
I believe that those same guns priced at MSRP, or closer to it, will sell in one listing.


Thanks to Saintclair too, for putting out some good info to the forum regarding the Colt engraved guns.

 

Here's a word to wise - bit of unsolicited advise.. but pretty much no gun is good for an investment at our level. It's great if one appreciates in value more than expected. At our level, it's a hobby and it would give a little more trading power umpphh maybe if one does get real popular. But unless a couple hundred dollars up to maybe a grand over 25+ years is a life changing event, it's just a hobby. The guys that even make a significant amount with Pythons, deal for a living and deal in many many thousands of dollars per year to earn a living at it. We have some successful Gun dealers on our forum. And I've watched them relentlessly put time and effort in to making and living and building a good reputation to maintain it.
If it was me, I'd acquire those NF's, add some SAA's to the collection when you can. Get a Python or two. Enjoy them, shoot them if you like to shoot.. if you want an investment- then you have to stick them in the safe and maintain them for next couple or three decades and see what happens. The Pythons have done well, but some of the guys a little longer in the tooth than me that remember that the Pythons were dang pricey back then -in the perspective of the economy at the time, and that's why none of my favorite uncles bought a tractor trailer full .. or even one of them ... either , dogggonit.

 

Best statement I have read in many days.

 

I own and regularly shoot both SAAs and New Frontiers, but the New Frontier is far more practical for my eyes because of the adjustable sights. As to aesthetics, a 5.5 inch barreled New Frontier with ivory grips ranks pretty high for me.

 

New Frontiers are much less common than the SAA but demand for the longest time was even less. Only in the last few years did demand catch supply of New Frontiers. Yes, Ruger made its "New Frontier" known as the Blackhawk before Colt. Years ago at the gun shows, New Frontiers were able to be found usually for less (sometimes much less) then the same caliber/finish SAA. That appears to be over now. As for shoot ability, it sure is sweet to have one's sights dialed in for a favorite load exactly.

 

New Frontiers are much less common than the SAA but demand for the longest time was even less. Only in the last few years did demand catch supply of New Frontiers. Yes, Ruger made its "New Frontier" known as the Blackhawk before Colt. Years ago at the gun shows, New Frontiers were able to be found usually for less (sometimes much less) then the same caliber/finish SAA. That appears to be over now. As for shoot ability, it sure is sweet to have one's sights dialed in for a favorite load exactly.

I disagree. Just take a quick look on gun broker and you'll see NIB New Frontiers going for as much as a thousand less than SAA's of the same finish/caliber.

 

There are still 4 or 5 3rd gen NF's at a LGS in the price range of $1400 to $1500. A couple even have tattered
boxes with them.
They just do not sell very well. I am surprised that people are even buying the new ones that Colt makes unless
it is as shooters. They don't seem to be much of an investment.

 

I just want this one back. It`s # 5355 NF. Was one of a consecutively numbered pair in .45 Colt bought by Audie Murphy in 1965. It disappeared when my ex ran off Christmas of 1985.

 

Welcome to the forum.

Since as you say, you know little about single actions, a friendly word of caution may be in order. Don't ley people cycle the hammer, or the cylinders will not look NIB for long. A line will quickly develop around the cyl and thru the bluing. If you do cycle the hammer it must be properly done by always fully cocking before letting it all the way down.

 

The New Frontier is kind of the red headed step child of Colt SAAs. A fair number of Colt folks just don't like them very much. Those of us who do like them tend to like them a lot. It's all a matter of personal preference. I have about a dozen SAAs, three of which are New Frontiers. I like them all and shoot most of them. For carrying in the field my personal favorite is a 5 1/2" New Frontier. Value wise an SAA in the same configuration (barrel length, caliber, finish, etc) usually costs more than a New Frontier. It really comes down to you pay your money and make your choice - if it's right for you, it's right.

 

I tend to agree with the above quote, as a shootist of fine iron in today's Colt SAA marketplace, and personally value a newly manufactured 3G NF @ $1,500 over a 3G SAA @ $2,500 any day. Neither is a good investment fired or not, but just to be coveted by the owner for what it is.

 

I am a lover of cars, trucks, motorcycles and airplanes all made from the 1920`s to the mid 1950`s or so. Truth is their modern counterparts are better due to evolving technology. I just don't like modern styling compared to the older stuff.
It seems to me that guns have reached a point that there isn't much more room for them to go. Yeah, they have replaced the wood with ugly plastic that has no soul, probably is more durable, cheaper to make etc.
When Colt came out with the New Frontier since Ruger had got away with the adjustable sighted Blackhawk I suppose Colt thought they would try it. They had built the old target sighted single actions but thought they would "improve" on the older target sight system and it was better but buyers didn't go for it as much. Ruger made out fine with it because they weren't "Colt`s" to start with. The Colt buyers were/are more "Traditional". I really think their decline started when they tried going with the more "modern" (and probably cheaper to make) Mark`s, Lawman series etc.

 

I really think their decline started when they tried going with the more "modern" (and probably cheaper to make) Mark`s, Lawman series etc.

The coil spring revolvers were definitely cheaper to assemble...they required far less fitting and different manufacturing techniques. The fact was...among other issues as well...that Colt's product line had become too expensive compared to the competition (S&W) and they were losing market share...probably bleeding market share. Other reasons for that was the parent company (Colt Industries) was primarily concerned with M16 contracts and more or less cared little for the commercial handgun division and invested little in the way of modernization, promotion and being unaggressive in the law enforcement arena.

While this is arguable, if Colt hadn't come up with newer, less expensive revolvers, they may well have gone under back during that time period. The parent company could have simply shut down commercial operations and concentrated solely on military contracts.

Back when Winchester made their cost-cutting changes in 1964, they made no bones about it being done to save the company as their product line was very time-consuming and expensive. They had to do something. It cost them and their reputation dearly for a long time but they may well have gone under otherwise.

 

Don't ley people cycle the hammer, or the cylinders will not look NIB for long. A line will quickly develop around the cyl and thru the bluing

To my esteemed fellow forum member above, I must offer the clarification that a turn line won't develop on the cylinder so long as the gun is handled correctly by someone who understands the Colt SAA. Which I believe was covered in this statement:

If you do cycle the hammer it must be properly done by always fully cocking before letting it all the way down.

 

45 5 1/2", 44 7 1/2" and a Ned buntline 12" 45. Life is good and these NF are fun to shoot. When shooting a new frontier, it feels just like a SAA with an incredible sight picture.

 

feralmerril a guy who lives near me has one of Audie Murphy's Colt open tops, not sure if it's a conversion or a regular open top. I'm not sure what sort of provenance he has for it and I don't know if it's for sale but he brings it to the local gun show sometimes.

 

tgoose I like your post, but I like your NF even more. Randy Miller

 

Thanks Randy!

 

I have only owned (1) Colt Cowboy, (2) Colt NF (both 7-1/2 inch) and (4) SAA Colts. Plus I have owned a dozen clones including Vaqueros, New Blackhawks and USFA's. Both of my NF Colts were 7-1/2 inch in .357 and .44-40. For hunting, I like the NF 7-1/2 inch guns with adjustable sights. For carry or fighting, I like the SAA's. My favorite carry gun is the 4-3/4 inch USFA Bisley in .45 Colt for self protection.

 

That`s pretty fair for "Only".

 

I too like to carry a USFA in 4-3/4 or 3-1/2. In considering the many self protection scenarios, where lethal force may not be necessary or desired, a SA revolver is a very substantial item to have in hand when just a good whack on the head might be all that's needed.