This ca. 1909 1st generation Colt Bisley in .38-.40 is up for sale locally from a private seller. It is mechnically sound, and all original( except someone fiddled with front sight). I'm very tempted. Can't anyone here advise me re; approx. value ( I'm thinking $1500 ) ?? Thanx in advance for your comments/help

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John

It looks like the only original finish remaining is in the cylinder flutes. I’d pass, even at $1000. Replacing the grips won’t be cheap and I doubt you’ll see any appreciation in a Bisley with an altered front sight.

If you really want a Bisley, spend a bit more and buy a decent one.

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"I also cook."

That one would not draw my money. It looks just about used up.

You want a recent sale for comparison? Here is a really nice one that sold 2 days ago: https://www.gunbroker.com/item/771050864

Where would you rather put your money?

I've been watching Bisleys off and on for some time. I never have owned one and don't really like what I see price-wise for a nice one. I'm just not a Colt collector. But if I do ever jump on one I will pay more for high condition and never consider one that is chewed up and spit out.

Just my $0.02 worth.

Curl

I would go to the colt forum and ask. I bought a fst. gen colt last year for 800.00 but it had mixed match parts. I ended up trading it off because of that and came out on it. it was common for the old timers to file the front sight for the load they were shooting. I am no expert on colts but I think with the broke grips and if it is tight and "all" numbers match and it being a bisley, 1200 would be about right.

It doesn't look to have ever been refinished/repolished. Nice sharp lines to the frame and guard.
No rounded edges. Looks like to me that there is considerable case color still left on the sides of the frame,,but it may just be the pic and lighting. That and the remaining bluing % is something only in-hand inspection can really determine.,,and then everyone comes up with a different number anyway.

38-40 is a fairly common Bisley caliber. Not the most sought after for a shooter,,seems everyone likes the 45 and 44. But they generally get more attention than the 32-20's of which there seems to be quite a few of in this Model.

Yes the front sight looks to have been altered, but it's not a pristine out of the box example. Not at all uncommon to find this on SAA's.

How are the mechanics?,,Does the 1/4 and 1/2 cock positions still exist on the hammer and do they 'hold' or are they broken out and allow the hammer to fall with a pull of the trigger from those positions.
Does the cylinder spin easily for loading/unloading at the 1/2 cock position, or does the hammer need an extra little tug to the rear to allow it.
Bisley hammers, just like regular SAA hammers can be re-built by welding up the notches and recutting them. It's not cheap, about $250/$300 last I recall. Probably more now.

Timing OK,, hows the bore and chambers,,
Does the bbl show a tiny '41' stamped on the bottom up close to the frame, remove the cylinder pin to see it. (used the same bbl as the 41Colt)
Should have 'Bisley Model....' marking on the left side of the bbl.

4 3/4" bbl should have a 2-line bbl address on top.
A single line address and the short bbl shows a cut bbl from a 5 1/2 or a 7 1/2.

Ser# match all the way around?.

# on the inside of the loading gate will be different. That's an assembly #. It will match with the same assembly# (if original) stamped on the bottom surface of the frame covered by the TG.
You have to remove the trigger guard of course to see the frame assembly number

I don't recall that the cyl and bbl were numbered,,so these can be re-caliberd with another cyl and bbl and you wouldn't know the difference from what they left the factory as in many instances. Only a pricey letter will tell you that.

Broken grip,,they are gutta percha,,a hard natural rubber substance and they are fragile. Can be repaired, but not everyone can do the work and end up with the finished job not looking like a repaired broken grip.
Orig grips should be hand written ser# inside the grip panels,sometimes hard to read but it's there.
I'd probably remove the orig's for shooting and replace with some nice walnut checkered grips. Colt offered them orig. They had a nice full pattern on them.

The days of the $400 Colt SAA and the usually cheaper Bisley model (cause no one wanted them) are long gone.

If you want one now under $1000, and a nice one at that,,you'll probably have to settle for a Cimmaron or a Ruger.
Even then the price is in the $700 range.

If the mechanics and the bore and chambers on this one are in good shape,, and you really want an orig Bisley,,the caliber suits you,,
$1000 would be a decent price IMO.
Gently creep up from there depending on how bad you really want it.
It's not a collectors condition gem for sure, but few are these days.

$2000 will certainly buy you a nicer condition Bisley,,but so will $3000.
All depends on what you want to spend and what you want to be able to do with it,,
Sit and stare at it,,or holster it, take it out for walk and shoot it.

I bought a 45 Bisley a year or two back at auction for $500. Not much finish, and a broken mainspring. Replacing the spring left me with an unaltered, slightly ghtly loose shooter. I'm happy with it.

A few years ago I was offered an original US 1873 Springfield Trapdoor rifle in marginal condition, lots of wear and tear but complete and probably functional. I wasn't particularly interested, but made a low-ball offer based on condition. Seller came back a few days later to take me up on my offer. I then spent a year or so selling it off, piece by piece, to others needing correct original parts for their treasured antiques. Amazing what people will pay for each and every part, piece, and screw! I ended up nearly a grand on the profit side with very little effort.

I love the old guns, and I would like to see everything kept original and functional. I've even done a couple of restoration projects, each requiring many months of searching and begging for period-correct parts to complete a decent but mildly deficient piece to original condition.

There might be an opportunity coming with that old Bisley SAA.

Hey Oldster PM me I have something I need to send you. Bill


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For $ 1,000.00 you could hang it on the wall of your man cave and call it art.

I do not know about the values, but it is just plain cool. I'd probably put it in a glass display box and if I got bored part it out...unless it could be shot with mild loads than maybe a once a year target practice at the range with a couple cylinders.

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Rather be outdoors

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This is mine==1901 in 41 LC. Letters to Mexico City. Remnants of gold washing. Real, carved ivory with ruby eyes. Local Native American craftsman did the engraving (Yaqui Indians with a jaguar, Indian attack, Aztec masks).

Paid $3500, been offered $5K.