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I am hoping this thread can foster healthy debate and help to either dispel or perpetuate the myth of the artillery model SAA. It is not intended to offend or marginalize those who collect these guns rather to educate and maybe change some minds, like myself, on the subject. After all that is what discussion is all about. I will begin with why I believe this to be a myth perpetuated by the few upon the many with regards to authenticity and values.
By all collector standards these guns fail on every measure to be considered collectibles. These are the reasons why I believe this to be true.
1. They are parts guns, not original, and even though they are refurbished by Colt they are still parts guns with, in some cases, parts that are separated by decades not years.
2. There is no way to definitively authenticate this gun. There is no provenance or consensus on what can be authenticated other than the individual parts of the gun. The words possibly, most likely, fall within range, are ambiguous at best and cannot be considered authentication. Imagine if we used these words to convey the guilt of a person on trial, one word comes to mind- acquittal. Example would be if this practice were used today I doubt any serious collector would want a gun with mixed parts.
3. They are the most faked and most likely to be faked guns out there. See #2 as to why that is, too much possibility of being scammed, not worth taking the chance when you consider what prices are being floated for these guns.
4. Condition, condition, condition. That seems to be the consensus on a collector grade gun, and these guns are usually in fair to poor condition, remove the military connection and you have a $1500 gun at best.
I am hoping some of you can help me understand this gun, not with opinions but with facts. I want to like these guns but common sense, practicality, and economics dictate that this is not really possible. A cavalry model gun can be authenticated by provenance and I can understand why they command the money they get. I just don't see it with an artillery model. So let's open the discussion, not just for me but for the many who might never consider buying a gun like this because of the myth's surrounding it and the lack of facts and real understanding out there.
By all collector standards these guns fail on every measure to be considered collectibles. These are the reasons why I believe this to be true.
1. They are parts guns, not original, and even though they are refurbished by Colt they are still parts guns with, in some cases, parts that are separated by decades not years.
2. There is no way to definitively authenticate this gun. There is no provenance or consensus on what can be authenticated other than the individual parts of the gun. The words possibly, most likely, fall within range, are ambiguous at best and cannot be considered authentication. Imagine if we used these words to convey the guilt of a person on trial, one word comes to mind- acquittal. Example would be if this practice were used today I doubt any serious collector would want a gun with mixed parts.
3. They are the most faked and most likely to be faked guns out there. See #2 as to why that is, too much possibility of being scammed, not worth taking the chance when you consider what prices are being floated for these guns.
4. Condition, condition, condition. That seems to be the consensus on a collector grade gun, and these guns are usually in fair to poor condition, remove the military connection and you have a $1500 gun at best.
I am hoping some of you can help me understand this gun, not with opinions but with facts. I want to like these guns but common sense, practicality, and economics dictate that this is not really possible. A cavalry model gun can be authenticated by provenance and I can understand why they command the money they get. I just don't see it with an artillery model. So let's open the discussion, not just for me but for the many who might never consider buying a gun like this because of the myth's surrounding it and the lack of facts and real understanding out there.
