Well, they aren’t making 2nd Gens anymore, and barely making any 3rd Gens. I’ve got a final year (1974), limited number in its caliber over the 18 year period, lettered, still retains Colt grease in the loading gate & barrel, new in box. Even the later ones such as mine are 51 years old.

That price seems high to me, but then again I don’t follow them, and moreover don’t judge the buyer for purchasing it. I think you can expect to see the fewer 3rd Gens that are turned out will reflect in sellers willing to cash their 2nd Gens in if they’re so inclined….maybe.

Of course having a well known seller such as the example you posted helps I’m certain. Interesting topic.

 

I think the demand has been pretty constant for 1st and 2nd Gen in great shape. I would not base true market value on one sell though. Tom (lumberjack) is an awesome guy and has a great reputation with a strong following. Most of his listings will garner top dollar. It would be best to do some analysis over a certain timeframe to determine current true market value.

Cheers,
Dan

 

Tom,gets healthy prices for his stuff. I gotta say a 2nd Gen,in that caliber,at that price has gotta be an exception combined with someone really wanting it badly. Pete

 

Outstanding, my nearly new 1958 in .38sp just went up haha. I paid 2 for mine and it came with the box, papers and cleaning brush. Im guessing mine had less than 100rds through it when I bought it a few months ago.

 

I am seeeing an uptick in NIB second gen packages. The one pictured for example just sold for a healthy sum. Do you all think this sale is somewhat the going rate, or is this one an aberration? I am feeling glad (probably bought it a bit early as they say) about owning a similar package (.357 4 3/4”) that was had for about 30 percent less.

A well respected auction house has a bunch of late first gens and early second gens (no boxes, 95 percent condition or less) with estimates from around $3500 to $9000.

Basically what I am trying to say is, seems like the Colt SAA demand (late first, early second) is alive and well. What do you guys think? Thanks for any input.

If I'm not mistaken that's one of the rarer 2nd gens out there, and in top condition. Not really a good example of a 2nd gen. I sold a nice 90% nickel 2nd gen a few months ago, in a beautiful stagecoach box, and didn't even pull $2k.
I think, as always, exceptional guns command exceptional prices. The average 2nd gen is still the $2k-$3k it has been for a while.
That's my observations anyways

 

I would not give anywhere near that for it.

 

If that was a 45 in stagecoach , please send PM next time you have a Colt for sale

 

One sale does not a market shift make. Looking at the last few dozen that sold, on Gunbroker, I see the 1950s ones going for an average of about $2500 in excellent condition.
Like this one example: https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1114797077

 

I haven't looked in a while but someone on GunBroker had a NIB 3rd gen for 6995. Was on there for months.

 

Had to go look at gunbroker , 3 pages 60 items - couple laughers at 8K and 10k , so lumberjack is never the norm .

I like the 56 chernoffs for four a piece .
maybe backstrap is a turnoff for some , but stocks offset that for me , anyway .

The 68 would be pretty sweet , but HTF don’t you remove from bag ( probably not a Hartford bag anyway) ……. I want me a boxed stagecoach- but probably would pay for a non boxed , I think .

Myself think a 45 in any barrel length or finish , dominates same exact in lesser caliber - ANY GEN , other than a FEW thirty - eights

 

bot this Colt 45 at the Reno show three yeas back for a little under $3000. Gun is from 1960 in mint condition.

 

Also bot this 1956 Colt 45 from a seller in Montana for about $3000. The grips are fancy walnut, not factory original but fit up is excellent. So for about 3500 in today's market, you can buy a pretty decent early 2nd gen SAA. but if you buy it from a well known seller on the net, be prepare to pay more.... may be a lot more

 

Also bot this 1956 Colt 45 from a seller in Montana for about $3000. The grips are fancy walnut, not factory original but fit up is excellent. So for about 3500 in today's market, you can buy a pretty decent early 2nd gen SAA. but if you buy it from a well known seller on the net, be prepare to pay more.... may be a lot more
View attachment 983975 View attachment 983976 View attachment 983977

Those are stunning high figure stocks. Thanks for posting.

 

......

 

Black Box Colt SAA's sell at a premium but $6000? I would Pass at that price.

 

I agree.

 

Auctions beg inflated prices IMHO.
When I was 'buying', I only bought from "tactical" gun shops..... if they were there, they were very REASONABLY priced. Thankfully, I'm not a collector of anything, and have dropped out of the buying mode entirely 😇

J.

 

That's a good tactic for buying, I do the same thing: Look for SAAs at shotgun heavy auctions or other gun types - not western/Colts. Or auctions that have 3-4 of them, but are small farm auctions in rural states. Avoid Rock Island and Morphy's or other "Sotheby's for Guns" auctions for in demand SAAs. I got a NIB .45 SAA a few years ago at a big midwestern sporting auction, almost all high end shotguns. Paid $1300 for it, and it was unturned, unfired, with the hang tags still on it, from 2007, their best years.

 

The single best firearm purchase of my life was a shotgun, purchased from an online only knife auction. There were over 500 lots and it was buried, along with 3-4 other firearms, deep into the scrolling. Weird and it was closest I'll come to winning the lotto I believe.

 

I believe it is stated in Don Wilkerson's fine book(s) that there were only around 850 4 3/4" .38 Special post-war early 2nd generation SAAs manufactured. By 1964, .38 Specials were no longer catalogued, after the introduction of the .357 in 1960. That caliber and barrel length variation is one of the scarcer (the factory nickel plated version being even scarcer) 2nd generation SAAs. And how many survive today in high condition as they left the factory unaltered must certainly be an even smaller number, particularly with the original factory box and papers still present. I think Wilkerson also stated that many were well-used and/or altered by the fast draw game that was popular in those days. The condition of that early 2nd Generation 4 3/4" .38 Special certainly looks to be fine, and no doubt a hard variation to find.

 

That is a rediculous price but that is a rare configuration. .357s will bring a lot less because they made a lot more of them. I dont see the prices really being mush higher lately. Asking prices are but not real world prices.

 

If you're talking about making more .357's over the entirety of the second gen run, then definitely. If you're just referring to the years the .38spl was available, being 1956-1964, then the .357 numbers are still lower. During that year range, 462 nickel .38 specials were made and 428 nickel .357 magnums were made. I do agree the .38s, especially mint ones, are likely harder to find as many more .38's were likely rebuilt into other calibers over time.

 

What im trying to understand is how lumberjack2 consistently auctions off high condition colts. Of all models. I’ve been following him for the last year or so and its always something untouched, or at least 95%.. its incredible!

 

People trust him . People expect the highest quality and professionalism…. and receive it !

 

People consign or sell to him knowing they will attract and garner top dollar .
I wouldn’t sell my 57 for a penny under 3 grand. Not for sale anyway , but boxed or cherry 2nd gen 45s should be eaten up for 25 and under .

 

I have dealt with a high end consignor, he only takes the higher end guns. I have taken him large lots of guns that i consider to be desireable, and he will only take the 95% and above guns, has a soft minimum of $1000 guns, mostly only 98%+ on postwar, and high condition examples of antique and prewar guns.
He's funny in that price is second to condition. He'd rather take a complete, boxed 99% s&w 14-2 and sell it for $800 for example, and has no interest in a 90% Colt New Frontier that would still sell for $1200+. He prefers to stay in that high-condition bracket and it has paid off. He gets top market value on most auctions.

 

I was not referring to .357s made in the 38 years but to 2nd gen 357s in general. They made a lot more 357s.

 

If i ever decide to sell my 1960 SAA i will certainly consider him. Im sure this would make a pretty penny.. although it may be a very long time. This was a lucky find a few years ago.

 

The price seems to high, especially for a .38 special, but not crazy high.

Gunbroker has wildly high price swings from time to time. I have seen lesser guns go for a couple of thousand more.

I generally prescribe it to two guys being in love with the same gun and they just lose their minds. I can't see the Bid History to see if two guys duke it out at the end with ever increasing 15 minute extensions or what, so I can't be sure if it is two guys in a dogfight but that is my guess. It could be both their birth year guns and such on top of everything else.

That is a crazy price. My guess would have been in the $4,500-$4,800 range, but it also could have gone for as low as say $3,900 if it was a really slow time or only one person interested.

 

Thanks to everyone who contributed their thoughts and expertise to this thread. Although I agree that the $6000 sale was an outlier, these black boxed unfired second gens are just too damn cool. And I favor the less common calibers (call me crazy) although I know that most folks like their SAAs in 45 Colt.