School Me On Collectable Hand Guns

[Rick Lee]

That is an older one, mid-90s. And I have another of those. The E2 grips make it pretty slim and the longer barrel makes it print less when in the small of my back, because it stays flush instead of sagging and pulling against my belt like the shorter barrel guns do. I don't need to be too discreet in AZ, as it's no big deal if I print or it sticks out from under my shirt. Will be carrying something smaller on next trip to CA.

[aigel]

Local gunstore has a S&W model 60 no dash stainless on consignment. Looks nice with the diamond grips. Not sure if it has the box / papers and how early it is. I can go back to research further looking at the serial number. $525 - seems like a reasonable price?

G

[fred cook]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Here is a good example of the "plum" color common on Rugers. This is my old #1 in .375 H&H, one of my all-time favorite hunting rifles. It's about 30 years old. It was "blue" when I bought it.

Here is a Ruger with the "plum" colored frame. A Single Six Convertible with both 22LR and 22WMR cylinders. This one dates to about 1964, bought used in 1972 for $65.00 including the nice stag stocks! A picture.........

[aigel]

No box or papers. Serial number is R27xxxx putting it at late 70s maybe very early 80s. Pinned barrel. Not much wear or turn line - 90% condition (?).

Seems like a good shooter that certainly will never go down in value. It would be fun to own and play with.

What do you think - for 525? I am leaning towards picking it up if it is still there this weekend ...

G.

[targa911S]

I'm a shotgun guy, but any old Colt is money in the bank..

[Joe Bob]

LOS ANGELES, Aug 27 (Reuters) - The gun that killed American Wild West outlaw Billy the Kid sold for more than $6 million at auction on Friday in Los Angeles, more than double the pre-sale estimate.

Bonhams auctioneers said the Colt single-action revolver that Sheriff Pat Garrett used to take down Billy the Kid in 1881 was bought over the phone by a person who wished to remain anonymous.

Bonhams, which described the gun as "the most iconic treasure of early Western history," said the $6.03 million price was a world record for any firearm. It had been expected to fetch between $2 million and $3 million.

Billy the Kid was a wanted man in Arizona and New Mexico, killing eight men. After a monthslong pursuit, Garrett tracked him down to a ranch in Fort Sumner, New Mexico, and shot and killed him on July 14, 1881. Billy the Kid was 21 years old.

The story of the 19th-century outlaw has been chronicled in pop culture for almost 100 years, including in movies such as "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid" and "Young Guns."

The gun came from the collection of Texas couple Jim and Theresa Earle, who amassed Western firearms and other artifacts for some 50 years. Jim Earle died in 2019.

[ckcarr]

Handguns, you have to just get lucky.

Long ago - back in 1994, my brother and I each bought two Colts at Country General stores in Greeley and Loveland. Paid $500 each for them, new in the box. The Colt Grizzly .357 and the Colt Kodiak .44 magnum. I just put in the safe, in their respective boxes, with all paperwork, as he also did. Never paid much attention since. Now, I'm seeing those going for $4,000 to $5,000 each... There was supposed to be a third in the set, a .38 Cal, but Colt ran into trouble so it never happened. Not sure what I'd really get but not interested in selling anyway.

I've also got a bunch of NIB other Colt's that I accumulated at gun shows over the years, from the older men that were selling their collections for retirement.... Ha-ha! Now I'm becoming them, 30 years later...

[tabs]

Originally Posted by ckcarr

Handguns, you have to just get lucky.

Long ago - back in 1994, my brother and I each bought two Colts at Country General stores in Greeley and Loveland. Paid $500 each for them, new in the box. The Colt Grizzly .357 and the Colt Kodiak .44 magnum. I just put in the safe, in their respective boxes, with all paperwork, as he also did. Never paid much attention since. Now, I'm seeing those going for $4,000 to $5,000 each... There was supposed to be a third in the set, a .38 Cal, but Colt ran into trouble so it never happened. Not sure what I'd really get but not interested in selling anyway.

I've also got a bunch of NIB other Colt's that I accumulated at gun shows over the years, from the older men that were selling their collections for retirement.... Ha-ha! Now I'm becoming them, 30 years later...

You can do that well in old spoons!!! WOW...

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

LOS ANGELES, Aug 27 (Reuters) - The gun that killed American Wild West outlaw Billy the Kid sold for more than $6 million at auction on Friday in Los Angeles, more than double the pre-sale estimate.

Bonhams auctioneers said the Colt single-action revolver that Sheriff Pat Garrett used to take down Billy the Kid in 1881 was bought over the phone by a person who wished to remain anonymous.

Bonhams, which described the gun as "the most iconic treasure of early Western history," said the $6.03 million price was a world record for any firearm. It had been expected to fetch between $2 million and $3 million.

Billy the Kid was a wanted man in Arizona and New Mexico, killing eight men. After a monthslong pursuit, Garrett tracked him down to a ranch in Fort Sumner, New Mexico, and shot and killed him on July 14, 1881. Billy the Kid was 21 years old.

The story of the 19th-century outlaw has been chronicled in pop culture for almost 100 years, including in movies such as "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid" and "Young Guns."

The gun came from the collection of Texas couple Jim and Theresa Earle, who amassed Western firearms and other artifacts for some 50 years. Jim Earle died in 2019.

What are they gonna do when they find out that Billy the Kid in fact survived that day, and lived a happy, quiet life right up into the 1940's? Mounting evidence suggests Pat Garrett, an old friend from the Lincoln County Wars, "covered" for him after allowing his escape. The first guy other than Garrett who saw the body (and yes, there was a body, it just wasn't Billy - it was a far more deserving man), the only other guy present who had ever seen Billy beforehand, exclaimed, in front of all present, "that ain't him"...

[Joe Bob]

Shizzle happens. Not like I woulda spent that much scratch for a rusty old POS.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by tabs

You can do that well in old spoons!!! WOW...

I figured you had a spoon that killed Billy too .... NIB

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

Shizzle happens. Not like I woulda spent that much scratch for a rusty old POS.

Heh heh... ain't that right? I find it amazing that some will. Then when (or if) the real story comes out, whatever "provenance" it held diminishes and its value goes to schitt.

There are way more "Walker" Colts than there were ever men in the good Colonal's unit. There are way more "Custer battlefield pick-ups" than there were men in the 7th Cavalry. Lots of "rusty old POS's" have been made to be extremely valuable by charlatans preying on those who value provenance over substance.

[Joe Bob]

Probably with fried chicken grease spilled on it...

[tabs]

Originally Posted by KC911

I figured you had a spoon that killed Billy too .... NIB

I have 4 of them..do ya wana buy one..i will give you a real deal on one..let me know?

[cassisrot]

Are quality Colt clones like the USFA SAA’s ever going to be collectible?

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by cassisrot

Are quality Colt clones like the USFA SAA’s ever going to be collectible?

Those fill kind of a unique niche. I'm not sure about "collectible", but they are certainly worth more than when they were new. I'm not all that well versed in their nuances and variations, but from what I'm told, their best efforts were at least as good as, if not better than, the Colts being produced at the same time. Many suggested Colt simply farm production out to them. I believe early ones were assembled from Uberti supplied parts, then they went fully in-house, or something like that. Maybe someone knows for sure...

[otto_kretschmer]

any decent gun you buy now is probably going to go up in value

just watching the news..