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1851 Navy Colt Value

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keeneysr

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Hello,

I do not know much about these types of guns, but my father passed away and we are trying to get my mom set up financially to soldier on without my dad.

He had a very nice looking 1851 Navy Colt and I have tried doing as much research as possible to try and determine its' value, but it seems like the range is from $5,000 to $60,000 based on several factors.

I was hoping to post some pictures and see if anyone would chime in to give us a ballpark amount that we should be shooting for. I was also curious if I should spend the $100 to get any records Colt has. Not sure if anyone has done this.

This gun has been sitting in its' box for at least 35 years now, untouched and unmolested. All serial numbers match on the respective parts, and it looks to be in very fine condition.

I have put some pictures at the link below: http://s1380.photobucket.com/user/keeneysr/library/1851 Navy Colt

If anyone could please take a look and just give me an idea of what we've got here, it would be a huge help.

Thank you so much in advance.
 
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Your photobucket link never opened for me.

FYI there have been replica blackpowder revolvers made ever since 1965 when the 100th anniversary of the American Civil War got popular attention.
 
It would be best to contact a firearms appraiser that KNOWS Colt firearms. Any one else would be just "guessing". Some things about this firearm is putting up "RED FLAGS" for me. As I said "contact a firearms appraiser that KNOWS Colt firearms" :v .
 
We looked it up on Colt's site based on the serial number and saw that it was manufactured in 1868, so I do not believe it is a replica. And as I said, the SN matched between all the parts.
 
Thanks for the reply. I see you are located in CA, do you perhaps know any Appraisers in CA that would be good to contact?

Also, would you mind elaborating on the Red Flags you mentioned?
 
If I may, I'll try posting the photos shown in keeneysr's original post

















I am also moving this topic to the Firearms Identification area of our forum.

As for posting the pictures on the forum, they are set up exactly right.
To post them here just click on the three bars in the picture icon, select "Share" and then click on the word "IMG" at the bottom of the list of options.
After doing this, come back to our forum and use the "Paste" feature to insert the pictures address. :)
 
The revolver itself looks to be original without having more and detailed photos however I believe the flask, mold, screwdriver, 1 cap tin and probably the case itself are modern. Colt never marked anything Sam Colt till they came out with the 2nd. and 3rd. generation revolvers which date from the 1970's on.

The rifling in an original Colt turns in the opposite direction of the reproductions and the threads will not be metric. You may find in measuring the threads that the pitch is almost exactly like a metric screw (they are finer than current standards) but the diameter will not be the same. Best bet, take it to someone who really knows Colts and not the local gun store or pawn shop.

The embossing on the flask is similar to the original however it's slightly different from the illustrations of original flasks that I can find and specifically the words "Colt's Patent"
 
The case and the accessories are most certainly more modern than 1868 that's for sure. They probably wouldn't add materially to the value of the gun beyond what they individually currently sell for. My hunch is that that stuff came from the "Signature Series" recreation guns that were done for Colt by Uberti.

The one picture you showed of the ivory grips seems to show it's appropriately shrunken. To realize the bigger bucks however, it's probably going to need to go to a big name auction house, like James D. Julia, Rock Island, etc. Auction sites such as Gunbroker just don't have enough traffic with people looking to buy this stuff, and particularly from someone that is brand new to the site (no feedback) and is now selling a high end gun, in an area that's known to be fraught with fakes? I certainly wouldn't go there. That said, on those boards, there ARE those on those sites with lots and lots of feedback, and known to be selling real genuine items that are not fakes, that act as consignment sellers for people such as yourself. AS an example, they might be able to sell an item for $2000 when you as the seller might only be able to get $1500, if at all. They typically charge around 10% of the sale price, which is less than what the true auction houses take. So in that example, you'd be net money ahead.

Good luck in what ever direction you decide to do though, and please accept our condolences on the loss of your dad.
 
Thank you! Sorry this is my first time posting on a forum. Really appreciate the help.
 
The flask appears to be either an original or a good replication of flask # 816 (pg 353) in Ray Riling's book THE POWDER FLASK BOOK .

I do question the "Sam Colt" marking on the powder flask in the photo above though.

In his rather extensive discussion about the various Colt flasks, I did not see anything mentioned about any of them being engraved with "Sam Colt" in script and if this was done, I would think that Mr. Riling would have mentioned it.
 
Hello,

Does anyone know of any good Colt appraisers in Southern California? Specifically looking for an appraiser that would know about mid-1800 Colt firearms.

I tried doing a Google search but it is tough to weed through all the SIEO options. Yelp also did not have anything that helped.

Thanks in advance!
 
Thank you everyone for the replies!

Sounds like there are a ton of factors that need to be considered and pictures make it tough to nail anything down. I think I am going to try and find a good Colt appraiser in my area to try and determine what is real and what's not and maybe get a good idea of the value from them.

Also, will try and find someone willing to go on consignment to try and sell the gun.

Appreciate the help!
 
Remember, there is nothing "wrong" with a replica being a replica. It only becomes a "fake" (or more bluntly, a fraud) when somebody is trying to sell a replica with the representation that it is something it is not--or as an original.

Seeking out the advice of a true expert in the field is certainly prudent for you. I applaud your decision.
 
If you can take it to more than one appraiser so you can get a good estimate on value. In other words, get a second opinion. :thumbsup:
 
If you already haven't done so, consider joining the Colt Forum or similar Colt associations.

They would be your best bet on finding the source of a good appraiser.

Beware of any appraiser who tries to buy your pistol. Usually, they are quoting what they will pay, not what the gun is worth.
Of course, they don't tell you what they plan on getting as a profit margin.

This link may or may not work on our site because it is to a gun forum.
http://www.coltforum.com/forums/forum.php

If it doesn't work, Google "US Colt Collectors association forums".
 
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The gun looks like it is original, or mostly original, but some of the accessories are reproductions, as may be the wooden case.
The backstrap flares out more at the bottom of the grips, more like a Pietta, than any of the original Colts I have seen.
 
The pistol could possibly be genuine. If you can show more detailed pictures of the both sides, the bottom area including the front of the trigger guard, the area under the charging lever, and the top of the charging lever assembly it can be determined. I don't think the grips are original and the accessories are modern. They are from a Third Generation (aka Signature Series) set, and the powder flask is questionable at that. The box is a modern purchase display case. The razor doesn't belong there as well...

That being said, if you get on a couple of auction sites, those Signature Series sets go for a pretty decent dollar. Together the entire set would bring a nice piece of change but unfortunately no where near what you are hoping for.
 
Notice the New York address. Seems Hartford wasn't too popular down south but New York was more, sympathetic, so old Sam used that address

Wouldn't the serial number have a mark or an I or something if the ivory grips were factory?
 
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