[reconciler]

Although it pains me, I'm kicking around the idea of selling this and was wondering what you all thought the value might be. It is a 38-40, was made in 1907 and still has most of the fire blue on the screws, trigger but the base pin has none and it still has the original grips. The ejector rod housing has some pitting as does the outside of the cylinder, apparently from sitting in a holster for many years. The inside of the barrel has no pitting and there is no pitting in the cylinder. I haven't lettered it so I will assume it's a Simmons Hardware gun until proven otherwise. Thank you for your help.

 

[BearBio]

Caliber?

 

[BigG]

Caliber?

38 - 40 or 38 W.C.F.

 

[reconciler]

Sorry, it's a 38-40

 

[Jim Martin]

38/40 & 38 WCF are one & the same.

 

[eb641]

The grips look just a tad new

 

[dogface6]

So what?

All he's asking is how to price it as it is.

 

[coltsixguns]

Oh where, oh where, is Old-colts ? He's sold some post 1900 single actions lately and I bet he can shed some light on your question.

Great looking gun!

 

[reconciler]

Here are some photos of the grips and their fit. The last three numbers of the serial number are scratched onto the back of the grips. Also, there is oil on the back of them.

 

[coltsixguns]

As we were saying in the other thread.....look at single actions for 30 to 50 years and the pure ones just scream out at you......no need to sweat those grips....they are as real as they come and when a gun has no more blue wear on it than your gun has you expect them to be sharp!

I letter every single action I acquire........you'll be sick if you sell this one and someone letters it and it was shipped to Copper Queen.......not likely to happen but you'll never go wrong spending the money on lettering a first generation single action.

You don't letter a single action like this to prove anything other than the shipping location but a lot of beginning collectors "must have" a factory letter....it's a security blanket for some.

 

[BigG]

38/40 & 38 WCF are one & the same.

Right but they are both official names. The SAA is marked 38 W.C.F. but shooters usually refer to that as 38-40.

 

[don62]

I couldn't get rid of a beauty like that,,,I just couldn't....

 

[ketch33]

Reconciler, it looks like you have gotten some good information but no answer to your question. I know the Blue Book would say that your gun, if it is in 70-80% condition, should retail for $6-8000. However, I don't see them bringing that kind of money. I would say your gun would be worth $3300-4000. That is based on sales I see, plus what I recently paid for a very similar .38WCF SAA in slightly better condtion on an online auction. This is just my opiinion. They may be worth more or less in other areas, but at least you have one idea.

 

[Rick]

In my neighborhood...3500.00

 

[tony56]

As we were saying in the other thread.....look at single actions for 30 to 50 years and the pure ones just scream out at you......no need to sweat those grips....they are as real as they come and when a gun has no more blue wear on it than your gun has you expect them to be sharp!

I letter every single action I acquire........you'll be sick if you sell this one and someone letters it and it was shipped to Copper Queen.......not likely to happen but you'll never go wrong spending the money on lettering a first generation single action.

You don't letter a single action like this to prove anything other than the shipping location but a lot of beginning collectors "must have" a factory letter....it's a security blanket for some.

Just as A matter of interrest, if this gun is worth $3500- $4000, if it letters shipped to copper queen,what value does that add to the gun in your part of the world.
thanks tony

 

[coltsixguns]

Just as A matter of interrest, if this gun is worth $3500- $4000, if it letters shipped to copper queen,what value does that add to the gun in your part of the world.
thanks tony

I would say it would add at least $1500 in real value Tony...maybe more. Not a bad return on the investment of a factory letter!

 

[hmaag]

A real beauty. The stocks are olde. New stocks see photo

 

[coltsixguns]

There are some good reproduction grips out there, but look at the interior differences. Just the lack of "COLT'S HTFD. CONN"
doesn't mean grips are authentic. Also, most of the reproductions are made out of plastic and not hard rubber. They sound different when you click them together. I haven't figured out why the same folks who make the reproductions can't manage to make them out of the right material and the right interior and exterior pattern. Colt could do it back in the 19th and 20th centuries.....what is keeping them from making them right now? Original prewar grips are bringing anywhere from $100 (well worn) to $350 (minty) at the collector shows I frequent.

 

[tony56]

I would say it would add at least $1500 in real value Tony...maybe more. Not a bad return on the investment of a factory letter!

thanks thats interresting.is copper queen the most sort after,apart from famous law people, etc. what about a one gun shipment, i have a 38/40 shipped to w.r.burkhard st paul mn.his name is engraved inside the grip, i believe one gun ships are not all that common.

 

[coltsixguns]

thanks thats interresting.is copper queen the most sort after,apart from famous law people, etc. what about a one gun shipment, i have a 38/40 shipped to w.r.burkhard st paul mn.his name is engraved inside the grip, i believe one gun ships are not all that common.

I did a quicky Google search and W.R. Burkhard was a gun dealer in St. Paul, Mn.

For instance Leroy Mertz has a single action shipped to him

"Black powder type frame and in the 112,XXX serial range. 4-3/4" bbl. Original wood grips. Overall gun is excellent+ throughout complete with Factory Letter. States the gun was shipped to W R Burkhard, St. Paul MN. 3 guns in the shipment on September 4, 1885. Gun is in superb condition with 97-98% bright original nickel and most original varnish on the grips. Fine gun. Excellent inside an out."

It's kind of like a Chicago shipped single action I have that was charged to a James H. Fisk who I assumed was an indiviual but city directory search of Chicago in 1889 found that Mr. Fisk had a sporting good store!