single action

[Mescalero]

Guy's,
Need to find the value of a Colt lettered single action
all matching numbers except loading gate,
refinished in nickle by Colt
have the letter,
51/2 inch barrel

[kimwcook]

Mesci, we need to know what generation.

[Mescalero]

Does 5 digit serial number help?
Delivered to government inspector Jan. 31 1877

[kimwcook]

Well, it's definitely a 1st gen. How about some pic's? Got any of those? Your out of my price league therefore knowledge, but there's plenty of the boys here that can. Be sure to let us know when you've got it.

[Mescalero]

Rjohns is interested , but unk is pestering me to get a ballpark figure.

[Mescalero]

Have a pic, but don't know how to get it on the forum.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

If it's gov purchased it's most likely a 45lc. Does the letter say it left the factory with the 5.5 barrel (Artillery)? Does it still have the wood grips with the inspector cartouch?
My experience with refinished 1st gens is they go for around $1500 to $2500 on up depending on a lot of variables.

Email that pic abd I'll get it posted for you.

[Mescalero]

It IS .45 Colt ( see Joe I got it right )
The letter says MOST of these were shipped with 5.5 barrels
Unk is getting the gun now
I do not see any marks on the grips

[Mescalero]

Kodak easy share is telling me your email address is invalid?

[Sixgun]

Mescalero,
The loading gate number is an assembly number. Its not supposed to match. ALL SA Colts delivered to the government were 7 and 1/2". Some were returned to Colt to be chopped to 5 and 1/2" as "Artillery Models", and only a very few of these had matching numbers and even fewer were nickel plated as only a handful of cavalry models were originally nickeled. The cylinder should have the last four digits of the serial number stamped on the outside. (between the flutes)

You have to watch factory letters. The only thing the person knows when writing the letter is the serial number. People are known to get a gun and "make" it match the letter. ---------Sixgun

Its most likely a cavalry model that someone played with over the years.

[klhill]

The loading gate had a 2 digit assembly number not related to the serial number.Colt generally did a very high quality repair/refinish job so it would not hurt the value as much as a typical refinish.Does it have a small star or asterick stamped on the trigger guard, right behind the trigger?The early guns usually get a premium over the later ones (post 1898).

[klhill]

Sixgun beat me to it with a good explanation of Calvary vs Artillery models.Does this gun have the "US" stamp on the left side of the frame and inspectors marks?

[Booger Bill]

Go here and axe!
http://coltforum.com/forums/

[kimwcook]

axe!

We slummin now Bill?

[Mescalero]

Uncle says he has a letter that it was nickle plated to issue to indian scouts, I have not seen it.

[Hobie]

Provenance adds to the value.

[BC in TN]

Go here and axe!
http://coltforum.com/forums/

Booger, thanks much for the colt link - I'll spend more time on the net now....

[Mike D.]

You have to watch factory letters. The only thing the person knows when writing the letter is the serial number. People are known to get a gun and "make" it match the letter. ---------Sixgun

Nooo! Tell me it can't be, Jack. Who would do such a thing? Seriously, it happens with all collectables, not just Colts and Winchesters. I have examined "Fairy Tale" 1886s and if you don't know your sh*t, 'yer gonna get bit.

[Sixgun]

Nooo! Tell me it can't be, Jack. Who would do such a thing? Seriously, it happens with all collectables, not just Colts and Winchesters. I have examined "Fairy Tale" 1886s and if you don't know your sh*t, 'yer gonna get bit.

Mike,
Some individuals just need to be taken out back and given a large dose of lead. Its all in the name of money. How many pieces have we seen over the years that have been butchered so some thing could put a few extra bucks in his pocket?? Lots of 1849 Colts have been welded up to make so called 'Wells Fargo" guns. In fact, the name "Wells Fargo" has been stamped on more guns than Carters has liver pills.-----------Sixgun

[Mike D.]

Wells Fargo everything! ain't that the truth. One of my friends is a high end W.F. Co collector and he has shown me some real eye openers. Morons will do anything for a few greenbacks. They seriously need to be publicly bi**h slapped. There was clown at the last Reno show with a "real deal" W.F hammer shotgun. Jeez! He got all bent out of shape when I dogged him about his fakery, but not a soul would touch that thing. It had a HUGE Well Fargo, Dutch Flat stamp on the stock. DF is a gold town in the Sierra.

On the other side, I have seen some fabulous W.F Co hand stamps. Walnut handled with steel letters. I'm trying to score one from Davisville, Ca, where my GGGF was station agent on the California Pacific RR. I have recently seen one from Todd's Cal, to. Todd's is now called Todd Valley, a small community in Placer Co, CA. great stuff is out there, but it ain't for cheap.