For Your Viewing Pleasure
 

I was cleaning some guns tonight and thought I'd share one with you all.

Here is one of my favorites.... It's an all original, all matchingModel 1851 Colt Navy. Built in 1858, probably saw action in the great civil war.

Thanks for looking.

RE: For Your Viewing Pleasure
 

Very nice looking 6 shooter. Are the grips ivory? What is the value on it?

Thanks for showing it off....Show off!

Tom

RE: For Your Viewing Pleasure
 

LOL

Yep they are original handcarvedivory grips.

As far as values go for these old guns,it depends on condition, production model, originality of all of the parts and what accessories come with it. The values can go from $3,500.00 up to $15,000.00 and even well more for some of the more exquisite examples or ones with names engraved on them.

What fun is having them if you can't share every once and a while:).

RE: For Your Viewing Pleasure
 

Very True. I realy like that pistol. Very nice and rich with history.

Tom

RE: For Your Viewing Pleasure
 

if that was my gun i would be on the antiauq roadshow trying to unload it for that kind of cash that much money would buy you a new ar15 a new 6 shot revolver and a shotgun or two
but great gun would love to have it

RE: For Your Viewing Pleasure
 

bigtim,

Thanks for looking....

I'm kinda in the opposite frame of mind, I want to hang on to itand pass it on to my children and have them pass it on to theirs and so on. Think about how much it will be worth in another 150 years.

Besides I already have the AR's, new six guns and shotguns.:)

RE: For Your Viewing Pleasure
 

That looks like one of Wild Bill's Colt Navys!

RE: For Your Viewing Pleasure
 

eldequello,

Yep,old Wild Bill sported two ivory handled 1851 Colt Navy pistols both having hand carved eagles on them. I suspect that was a desirable mural to have carved at the time.

RE: For Your Viewing Pleasure
 

If you could of course prove that it was one of his... that would place the value just a wee bit above the $15K mark ;)

I had a guy bring an old Colt pistol he bought for $50 from as he put it "some old black guy in Ravenel". Stamped on the top was a nice to have little feature that read "US ARMY". A letter to the Colt factory later, and we find out that this gun was used in the battle of Little Big Horn.... How it made it back to SC... who knows.... but it was worth more than the $50 the guy paid for it ;)

RE: For Your Viewing Pleasure
 

Unfortunately both of Wild Bill's 1851 Colt Navy's are accounted for so this is not one of them.;)

I was just pointing out that the carved eagle design in the grip was popular back in the 1850's-1860's for those who wanted to show off their Colt Navy pistols like old Wild Bill did.

I suspect Wild Bill's Colts are worth somewhere in the six figure range. Talk about a piece of American history.

RE: For Your Viewing Pleasure
 

Oh yes I know BigJ. I was just pointing out for any of the laymen readers that having tangible evidence that x antique firearm was at x event on x day and in the hands of x person can turn a seemingly old or tired out gun (which yours is certainly not), into something worth a mint that has a heck of a story behind it.

RE: For Your Viewing Pleasure
 

I know what you meant and you are correct. Anytime you can put a history with an old firearm it will greatly increase it's value. Perhaps one day I will contact Colt with this pistols serial number, who knows maybe I might learn something more about it.

Thanks for looking.

RE: For Your Viewing Pleasure
 

My dad has an old pistol. Smith I believe. anyway thats not my point. Its old and not very attractive. I was never very impressed by it. He sent off once to research the history of the pistol. a few months later he showed me what came back. it was a letter from the manufacturer stating whom the original owner was etc. Dad done a little research and found out the original owner was a sherrif in a border town of texas at the turn of the century. He was able to get a couple of old newpaper articles about the gentleman. Nothing exceptional in any of it. Still the simple fact that you can read the history and know that the original owner was a lawman in the old west etc. makes this piece one of my favorites. I don't know if it increased the value but it certainly increased the "coolness" of the piece, to me at least.