Truckman - That was once a popular modification on Browning High Powers and Colt Government models...I can't remember the last time I saw one of those......Ben
Does this kind of thing look at all familiar? This SAA has other issues besides target sights and grips. Someone stored it, for an extended period, in a suede lined holster and one can detect the pattern of the suede in the pits on part of the cylinder and left side of the barrel. It functions flawlessly and is a fine target revolver. And it's still a SAA - generally.
It's unsurprising how many of those post war sights were installed on guns, they were so excellent for the money. I've seen a lot of colts sporting them, and while I may not personally like how they look, they don't really offend me due to the undeniably functional nature.
That SAA is great, I would love to own it, shame about the finish. But hey, if that takes an amazing shooter down into a price range for the average man, that's pretty neat. Plus there are plenty of guys out there that can re-finish an SAA properly, unlike S&Ws (which hardly anyone bother's to do)
I may not like some peoples moods. Some people don't like mine. Such is life. There was another thread about a guy getting a early 06. When I was in HS you could buy all you wanted for $20 at the discount store, they had a long rack full. If guys like my step dad hadn't bout them up, milled the sights off, trimmed off the front sight, straightened the magazine frame and modified the bolt, stuck in a cock on opening firing pin and stuck them in cheap Herters walnuts stocks those Enfields and Springfields in peoples collections wouldn't be worth nearly as much. Same goes for 1911s, 1817s and a a bunch of Mausers.
It's not merely about moods.
With these guns we have a benchmark for quality. If we take a pre-war S&W for example we can expect a fine action, sharp edges, sharp markings, and quality features (despite some upgrades being possible such as larger/brighter sights and better stocks).
This means we can apply objective standards to the quality of a modification.
Guns that are modified in an interesting and functional way, but to a quality standard that is far below the original workmanship of the gun diminish it's value significantly by constricting the market.
Guns that are modified in an interesting and functional way, but to a quality standard set by the original manufacture of the weapon may diminish the value by constricting the market somewhat, but ultimately may increase the value depending on what the base gun was. And, if the modification is functional and fun enough, may actually make the gun quite a bit more valuable then the base gun (even a high quality example of the base gun).
I think your guns are really cool and I expect they would bring pretty dang good money if you sold them. But that's because you think about what you are doing and aren't just slapping something together with JB Weld, then polishing the gun with an angle grinder, and trying to cover it all up with some chrome.
It's important that we can point out to new collectors why something isn't valuable because of poor quality modifications. Shiny re-blues cover up a multitude of sins that sellers hope an unsavvy buyer won't notice.
