Colt SAA .45 1890

  • Thread starter Thread starter AJ
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Thank you for sharing not much I can add except WOW ! If ever a gun needed a letter that one does. Museum quality I would be getting an accurate appraisal once you get the letter, and be talking yo my insurance about it.
 
AJ, do you have any of the backstory that you can share, without naming names? Since it was a gift to the present owner, and he wants to hand it down to his sons, does that mean it's a family heirloom?

Whatever you can share without revealing personal information would be great. It's not often that an Army Colt survives in that high condition, so it would be cool to know how that might have happened.

Oh, did you say it's not for sale? :D:D:D
 
Sounds about right AJ. The cavalry model I mentioned above I saw at a gunshow had a price of $7000 but that was 9-10 years ago. Sure was a thrill to just hold it!

AJ, do you have any of the backstory that you can share, without naming names? Since it was a gift to the present owner, and he wants to hand it down to his sons, does that mean it's a family heirloom?

Whatever you can share without revealing personal information would be great. It's not often that an Army Colt survives in that high condition, so it would be cool to know how that might have happened.

Oh, did you say it's not for sale? :D:D:D


As I was told a friend of his was helping her sister move from a home in Long Island to a home in Florida. She found it in the basement (with some others, I believe). He helped her and the sister get some things done. She offered him any of the guns he wanted, she knew he was a shooter. He had always wanted a Colt SAA, so that is what he picked. It will go to his sons when the time comes.
 
Thanks for the feedback AJ. Talk about a score for sure! Looks like the Holy Grail of finds to me. One beautiful gun!!!
 
Yes, we have an idea how much it is worth. Have posted this on the Colt Forum also. Their guess is at least $8000, and possibly more. I am not sure of the finish, whether or not, if it is 50-60% or more. If it is then add about $10,000 to that. It will not be sold.
That might be a tad low… There aren't may surviving examples in high condition and a lot of them were altered or messed with. I'm no expert on these, but your friends gun looks right as rain. It's probably worth an expert appraisal.

Here's an earlier Cavalry that sold at auction. It's a different inspector and a little nicer, but it give you some idea what these can bring.

SCARCE VERY HIGH CONDITION HENRY NETTLETON INSPECTED COLT CAVALRY SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER.
 
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That might be a tad low… There aren't may surviving examples in high condition and a lot of them were altered or messed with. I'm no expert on these, but your friends gun looks right as rain. It's probably worth an expert appraisal.

Here's an earlier Cavalry that sold at auction. It's a different inspector and a little nicer, but it give you some idea what these can bring.

SCARCE VERY HIGH CONDITION HENRY NETTLETON INSPECTED COLT CAVALRY SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER.


Assuming equal condition, the Henry Nettleton inspected Cavalry's command substantially higher prices than the RAC inspected Cavalry's due to both rarity and period of usage. The Nettleton Cavalry's were issued when the Indian Wars were still very active (1878) and thus very few of them are found in high condition; whereas the Indian Wars were all but over when the RAC inspected Cavalry's were issued (1890/1891) - with Wounded Knee being the primary exception - and more high condition RAC Cavalry's have surfaced. When I was collecting Colts I owned several Colt Cavalry revolvers including 1 Ainsworth inspected example, 2 DFC inspected examples, and 3 RAC inspected examples including one that was in somewhat higher condition than the one that is the subject of this thread. If it were mine I would not part with it under any circumstances for less than $15,000 and I believe that most knowledgeable dealers would be asking at least $20,000. Just one caveat…..the barrel and cylinder serial numbers need to be checked to insure that they match the last 4 digits of the frame serial number. My bet is that they do match; if not the value drops substantially.
 
That might be a tad low… There aren't may surviving examples in high condition and a lot of them were altered or messed with. I'm no expert on these, but your friends gun looks right as rain. It's probably worth an expert appraisal.

Here's an earlier Cavalry that sold at auction. It's a different inspector and a little nicer, but it give you some idea what these can bring.

SCARCE VERY HIGH CONDITION HENRY NETTLETON INSPECTED COLT CAVALRY SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER.


s&wchad,

I will talk to the owner. Just so happens that I have dealt with Morphy's "Antique Gun Authority". He is a good man.

AJ
 
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