Colt New Frontier .22LR/.22Mag 6" Value

firefighterjohn · Sep 29, 2021

My LGS has a very clean Colt New Frontier .22LR/.22Mag 6" revolver with wood stocks with a silver Colt emblem. No box or paperwork but does have the .22Mag cylinder in the original yellow box. I think it's a 1976. I've seen many on GB with the plastic stocks but not very many with the wood stocks. Not sure if this one would be valued higher with the wood stocks and that it has both cylinders. They have it priced at $750.

I don't know much about them but have watched some reviews. I'm not really a SA revolver collector so don't know how prevalent these Colts are these days. This would be my first Colt as I really prefer S&W revolvers; especially the P&R ones. I don't have any others in .22Mag so don't have any experience there either. Sorry, no pictures to show.

Is this Colt a good deal, a sought after model or just a low-end Colt SA? It's a beautiful gun but one I could easily pass on also. Maybe I've answered my own questions already.

Thanks in advance for any comments or your experiences with this model.

Fishinfool · Sep 29, 2021

I owned one I purchased back in the 1980s. They are a well-made nice-looking pistol. But, $750 seems like it's a little on the high side. Maybe paying a little extra for the Colt name? For about $250 less, you could pick up a brand new Ruger Super Single six with the interchangeable 22 magnum cylinder. As nice as they are, at $750 I would probably pass on the Colt.

Bullet Bob · Sep 29, 2021

Love mine (7 & 1/2" barrel). It's stayed with me over the years, the two Single-Sixes have long been gone, although they were good guns.

I don't know anything about money, sorry I can't help you there.

huntsman22 · Sep 29, 2021

I don't think they're too far outta line on price, in this market, with all the goodies. You won't be sorry to get it......

s&wchad · Sep 29, 2021

$750 for a 6” blue/CC New Frontier .22 combo would be high here in Michigan, unless it was in the box w/all. The wood grips were probably added. All the NF and Peacemaker .22’s I’ve seen had black plastic grips, with the exception of the commemoratives.

huntsman22 said:

That has to be a Marlin 1894M .22 Magnum. They didn’t make a lo of those. Cool rifle!

huntsman22 · Sep 29, 2021

yessir. and the walnut grips on the NF are factory stock.... as are the fake stags.

Walter Rego · Sep 29, 2021

$750 is not out of line if it is in top condition. The wood stocks were an accessory and they were usually shipped with the plastic stocks.

Sure you can get a Ruger for less. And it won't have a color case hardened frame nor the traditional 4 click action. And unless Ruger has stopped their cost cutting production method of boring the chambers straight through instead of having traditional chambers with appropriately sized throats, the Ruger probably won't shoot as well. Not that the Rugers are bad guns, but the Colt's were quite a bit more expensive than a Super Single Six when new and that was for good reason.

Of course I'd try and bargain down the price some, the disadvantage in buying from a retailer is that you'll have to pay tax.

BearBio · Sep 29, 2021

Colt's are nice but you are paying for the name and finish. The Single-Six is by far the better gun.

I had both at the same time and always carried the Ruger.

Price wise: Not great but a fair price!

6GUNSONLY · Sep 29, 2021

As I recall, in the mid 70s you could buy a Single Six for around $85 while the Colts were $115 or so. So. Percentage wise, the cost differential still holds pretty true based on the asking price you quoted. They are super slick little guns. Wish I'd bought a few of them at $115...

Fishinfool · Sep 29, 2021

Walter Rego said:
$750 is not out of line if it is in top condition. The wood stocks were an accessory and they were usually shipped with the plastic stocks.

Sure you can get a Ruger for less. And it won't have a color case hardened frame nor the traditional 4 click action. And unless Ruger has stopped their cost cutting production method of boring the chambers straight through instead of having traditional chambers with appropriately sized throats, the Ruger probably won't shoot as well. Not that the Rugers are bad guns, but the Colt's were quite a bit more expensive than a Super Single Six when new and that was for good reason.

Of course I'd try and bargain down the price some, the disadvantage in buying from a retailer is that you'll have to pay tax.

Can't speak to the new style Ruger Single Sixes, but my old style Single Six Convertible was more accurate than my Colt NF, and just as nicely made, though not with a case hardened frame finish like the Colt. That's why the Colt eventually went down the road. If you are really into the gun, then $750 might be fair, but it is a lot to spend on a gun that doesn't put a smile on your face.

Larry

firefighterjohn · Sep 30, 2021

Fishinfool said:
I owned one I purchased back in the 1980s. They are a well-made nice-looking pistol. But, $750 seems like it's a little on the high side. Maybe paying a little extra for the Colt name? For about $250 less, you could pick up a brand new Ruger Super Single six with the interchangeable 22 magnum cylinder. As nice as they are, at $750 I would probably pass on the Colt.

Thanks for the advice Fishinfool. I'm gonna pass on this Colt. Guess I'd rather spend $750 on something I'd really want.

firefighterjohn · Sep 30, 2021

Bullet Bob said:
Love mine (7 & 1/2" barrel). It's stayed with me over the years, the two Single-Sixes have long been gone, although they were good guns.

I don't know anything about money, sorry I can't help you there.

Thanks for sharing your experiences Bullet Bob. I feel that way about my 3-screw Blackhawk .357 but just don't have that same interest in this Colt when even comparing with my other .22s.

firefighterjohn · Sep 30, 2021

huntsman22 said:
I don't think they're too far outta line on price, in this market, with all the goodies. You won't be sorry to get it......

I really didn't think the price was too out of line either but think I'd rather spend the $750 on something that I'd like even better.

firefighterjohn · Sep 30, 2021

s&wchad said:
$750 for a 6” blue/CC New Frontier .22 combo would be high here in Michigan, unless it was in the box w/all. The wood grips were probably added. All the NF and Peacemaker .22’s I’ve seen had black plastic grips, with the exception of the commemoratives.

Thanks for the info s&wchad. The black plastic grips, paperwork nor box was with it so I wasn't sure about the wood.

firefighterjohn · Sep 30, 2021

Walter Rego said:
$750 is not out of line if it is in top condition. The wood stocks were an accessory and they were usually shipped with the plastic stocks.

Sure you can get a Ruger for less. And it won't have a color case hardened frame nor the traditional 4 click action. And unless Ruger has stopped their cost cutting production method of boring the chambers straight through instead of having traditional chambers with appropriately sized throats, the Ruger probably won't shoot as well. Not that the Rugers are bad guns, but the Colt's were quite a bit more expensive than a Super Single Six when new and that was for good reason.

Of course I'd try and bargain down the price some, the disadvantage in buying from a retailer is that you'll have to pay tax.

Thanks for passing on that info, didn't know about the differences between the Colts and Rugers. Paying the sales tax is always a gotcha at the end too. I'm gonna pass on this Colt.

firefighterjohn · Sep 30, 2021

BearBio said:
Colt's are nice but you are paying for the name and finish. The Single-Six is by far the better gun.

I had both at the same time and always carried the Ruger.

Price wise: Not great but a fair price!

Thanks for sharing your experiences with the two. I'm not a Colt collector so it's really not THAT special of a find for me. I do like the Rugers I have though...strong and more affordable.

firefighterjohn · Sep 30, 2021

6GUNSONLY said:
As I recall, in the mid 70s you could buy a Single Six for around $85 while the Colts were $115 or so. So. Percentage wise, the cost differential still holds pretty true based on the asking price you quoted. They are super slick little guns. Wish I'd bought a few of them at $115...

Boy don't we all wish we would have bought more of them at prices from days gone by! There was always a reason we didn't buy. Funny, can't remember any of those reasons now though.

firefighterjohn · Sep 30, 2021

Fishinfool said:
Can't speak to the new style Ruger Single Sixes, but my old style Single Six Convertible was more accurate than my Colt NF, and just as nicely made, though not with a case hardened frame finish like the Colt. That's why the Colt eventually went down the road. If you are really into the gun, then $750 might be fair, but it is a lot to spend on a gun that doesn't put a smile on your face.

Larry

Larry, thanks for showing the pictures of your two. Seen togther like that, I really prefer the looks of the Ruger. You're right...this Colt really didn't put a smile on my face...like when I find a nice P&R S&W sitting in the used case. Ooooh...gotta take a look a that S&W right there!

I'm passing on the Colt...no frown but no smile either.

Colt New Frontier .22LR/.22Mag 6" Value

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