When I wrote about the possible originality of the nickel finish on this 1932 Colt New Service .45 Colt almost everyone here felt it was original. Well, my colt letter arrived. It was from the factory stating that there is no information on this gun in the Colt records. They returned my $100 which was very nice of them. Now I have this phantom Colt that can't be factory verified. Or factory verified that it ISN'T original.
My question, which can apply to S&W guns, too is, Is the value of this gun in terms of authenticity now just up to the opinions of collectors? Does the paperwork I got act as a sort of verification in it's own right? Since it looks so good can it be "assumed" it's original since there's no letter to prove otherwise? Here's the gun again. Your feedback on letter /factory integrity in this situation would be appreciated. Matt

Matt, what makes you even wonder that it might not be original?

I do but just wanted that letter saying so. If I ever sell it, which I might, I don't want a potential buyer to use the lack of a letter to try to lowball me, which I wouldn't let happen anyway.
The letter would be a Willie Wonka Golden Ticket. I just wonder what the status of the gun is when a factory comes up blank and what advantage, if any, that gives me as far as value.

Expect all buyers to lowball.
I expect all sellers to keystone.

If there is a point at which a deal is made, that is the "happy medium" and balance is restored in the universe.

I kinda said that tongue in cheek, but in reality as my father once said, "It only has a true value on it when it changes hands."

All that matters is if you like it- #$@% anyone else.
Until you have to sell it that is...

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Lost it all in a boat accident

Hey Matt, there is an old maxim that state's, "the value of a thing is what it will bring". Now I have a good idea that you are not a fool and paid what you felt it was worth and it seem's that you are happy with it and rightly so, it's a fine revolver and now is offically a rare early black op's gun! It would have been nice to have it factory documented but what the heck Im sure you will enjoy it.

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Stay safe people!

Sometimes I wonder about Colt record keeping. I had a case where a Colt AR-15 was taken from a suspect. I had BATF do a serial number trace. They came back that I had the wrong number. I checked the number, and the number was traced again. This time Colt came back that the rifle receiver had been destroyed during manufacture.

I'm not one to give up so easily. I photographed the markings on the lower receiver with an additional close-up photograph of the serial number. I sent the photos to the president of Colt asking how could this receiver been destroyed if I was holding it in my hands? I got a very nice letter saying that the photographs had been forwarded to one of Colt's attorneys. I later received a nice letter from the attorney telling me that according to their records the AR-15 receiver had been destroyed during manufacture.

I am convinced that the AR-15 was a lunchbox gun. If there are no records of the nickel-plated Colt New Service, then I'm willing to bet that it is also a lunchbox gun.

All I know is that is a BEAUTIFUL revolver, 'original' or not.

I would be proud to own it!

As one who admires and owns a number of both the Colt and S&W 1917's and has been itching to start the New Service collecting, I would not hesitate on your gun. While it is true places like Fords can re-nickle a gun and re-etch the lettering, I see no indication of such on your gun. I tend to agree that this piece was a lunchbox gun and that occurred a lot during the wars.

In my opinion, any so-called collector who hesitates on this piece has very little experience. Based upon quite a number of years admiring and collecting and having reviewed the auction sites and GunsAmerica classifieds, I think it's safe to say that, without papers, you are still pushing a sale price (as opposed to book price) of $1,750-$2,000. After all, this was the Python of its day... but, that's just my 2 cents.

If I read your post correct,,, Colt responded and said that they have no information available/on file on that NS.
..and that's why they returned your $$ (which is standard practice from Colt).

There are alot of blanks in the shipping records of the Colt ledgers. That doesn't mean the gun in question didn't leave Colt in the configuration it's in.

Yes, a 'letter' would be a crowning touch, but it's not unheard of to get a response such as you have received.

What would be a disappointment would have been to receive a letter stating the revolver left the factory with a blued finish.

I've previously posted pictures of my "mutant" New Service. It was given to me as a gift by a retired Chicago cop who took it off of a Mexican criminal in the early '60s. I think it took a long and winding road from Mexico, at some point changing from .45 Colt to .45acp and acquiring a nickel finish.

I'd like to know what it REALLY is and how it started out, but without a job, a Colt letter is an insane luxury.

I do wonder a bit about the hard rubber grips on a 1932 gun. I thought they were using checkered walnut after about 1928.

The grips may be replacements, of course.

T-Star

Thanks, folks. I didn't mention the grips. They were added later. I was mainly concerned about how a lack of factory info effects the value. And since there are so fewer nickel Colt N.S. guns out there it would be great having a letter stating the finish is original.

No good Colt guy will worry about it.
Show a good closeup of the trigger guard proof, and everyone will understand why.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

This pic came out a little fuzzy but that proofmark up front there is crisp, deep, and sharp.

I hope it won't disappoint you when I solve the mystery. What you have is a Spanish copy of a Colt.

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To be a rock and not to roll

Damn shiney boat anchor! I guess I'll dig out my hacksaw and make a Fitz Special out of it now.

Matt,

It's definitely a blatant fake! In fact, I'm almost sure that it wasn't even made by Colt. Tell you what, I'll give you $300 for it so you can stop obsessing about it and get on with your life.

Hey, what are friends for?

Buck

Damn Spainiards! I bid $301.00!

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James L. "Jim" Rhiner

OK, I'll bite. What does the proof mark tell us?

BTW, that is one Colt that I would be very proud to own. Also, IMHO I still think Colt charges too much for their letters.

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

I think the point is that that the Triangle-VP mark is located on a promontory of steel that would be particularly subject to rounding and loss of detail if the gun had been repolished before getting a new nickel coat. Since the proof mark looks sharp and intact, the gun was probably not refinished. For that matter, note the sharp "3" on the other horn of the frame/trigger guard transition.

I was one of the few guys that thought the gun was refinished when I saw the first photos, but I backed off when other photos showed that what I thought were flattened pin and stud ends were just tricks of the light. I would have no qualms calling this the original finish. But if selling this for the price I believe it would bring, I would qualify that as "believed to be original finish." Then point out the details supporting that interpretation.

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David Wilson

The VP mark is the final view inspection mark stamp and was done on the finished piece.
It was stamped thru/into the finish,,so wether blue or plated,,it should be seen to break the surface of the finish upon very close inspection.

Same as the 'WP' Winchester oval proof mark.

One thing to watch for when looking for a re-done gun. But there are plenty of proof mark stamps around now too!

+I have a Colt SAA built in 1900 in .45Colt. I also wrote looking for a factory letter.They wrote back that the records were destroyed in a factory fire and returned my money.A year later I wrote again on the same gun and they found the info on the gun. Except, they said that two guns left the factory with the same serial number. They said it was a .44 cal but my gun is a .45colt.I know who orginally bought the gun in 1901.Go figure. Bob

I'm certainly no recognized 'authority' on Colt.

However, I've owned or brokered a few hundred over the decades, including some good SA's, autos, N.S.'s, Officers Mod's, etc. I think I'm pretty good with Colt finishes and refinishes. I'm also pretty good with photo interpretation. I've never been fooled by GOOD pics.

I haven't had eyes on that gun, but judging by your pics, that gun is righteous.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett