Need Advice On An Absentee Bid
 

I got a line on a Colt Single Action Army US Cavalry serial number 48XX.......the serial indicates its a CUSTER 7th CAV gun...or is in the block of numbers (4500 to 6500) that was distributed to the 7th in 1874. Anyway U want ot cut it its an Indian War Cav SA.

All the numbers match except the cylinder which is 530X...which is also in the Custer Range. All the Inspectors marks and markings on the gun appear to be correct for this period. The gun appears to be in 60% condition.

The Barrel has been SHORTENED form 7.5 inchs to 5.5 inchs...which would make the gun a Colt Artillery..this work was done in the 1895 to 1902 period. This does effect value....

Recently a Colt Calvary that had a shortened barrel but was all matching numbers went for 9800. It had no finish. and it appears the same gun is being auctioned with an estimate of 18K to 30K.

There are alot of fakes or put togethers on these guns espewcially in the Custer Range. Standard Artillery Colts go for 4 to 6 generally....

Now I have not seen a picture nor held it in my hands but have had a description given to me over the phone and all the questions I had about makrkings and condition were answered in a positive way. The consignor of the gun is dying of cancer and thus the sale of his collection of over 400 guns. .

What should I bid on this gun.???? I'm thinking 5K or 5.5K....if I get it fine and if I don't there is something always around the corner.

I don't know what to bid, but I'd do an escrow of some kind to make sure you actually get the thing. You didn't say where your bidding ebay?

I wish! Ebay went the "liberal Californian" route several years ago and does not allow legal, law abiding citizens to sell their firearms there.

They lost a lot of my business the day they made this move.

Tabs may be going through a auction house or www.gunbroker.com

Its an auction house in Kansas. I bought somethng from them before, and it worked out OK.

On Saturday I talked to the auctioneer about the gun, he had no other Absentees on the gun and everything about the gun that he described seemed to fit.

So I put 6K on the gun, I feel that makes me competative, and if it goes for more...OHHH WELL I tried..

Also on Saturday I was able to pick up an English Sporting Rifle with Whitworth Rifling made by Issach Hollis of London circa 1862. It went quiet a bit cheaper than I thought it would go for, 4K out the door...value on the gun is about 6K. Also when I get the gun I will have to check the Bore Diameter..if it is anything other than 451 it is rare.

I have maintained that at these secondary or Local auction houses the High End guns go reasonably cheap, the everyday type of collectables tend to go high...buyers tend to go ouu ouuu and get carried away...when at one of the First tier auction house the stuff just passes through.

Whereas the High End stuff they go ouuu I don't think I can THAT much money, especially on something they are not familiar with.

Kansas aint to far, get in the car, spend a few days and check it out.. 400 guns - there may be some deals if you go over the collection.

"....he died like a true warrior: his pistol blazing to the last round. As one Indian survivor of the battle later said of Keogh: "Like the flame of a coal blazed his eyes. His teeth glistened like a fighting grizzly."

http://www.great-race.com/myles.html

Wheere did U read that about Keogh????

Anyway that Colt went for $6700.....so I bought a new Samsung DLP 46" for $1500.00...at Costco.