After several years of searching my local area for a nice prewar Colt, I finally gave up and turned my attention to the firearms auctions of some well known auction houses. I realized I was going to pay a premium to swim in that end of the pool, but a recent promotion at work would soften the blow.
My criteria was somewhat simple…..condition, condition, condition, and authenticity. It had to be a smokeless frame (not black powder). So, generally speaking, manufactured from the teens to 1940.
I homed in on 5 examples in the same auction. Pre live bidding pushed four of them out of my price range.
The one remaining was a dandy in .38 special, of all things. AND in my preferred barrel length of 4 3/4". I half thought of driving 5 hours to view the lots in person, but too many obligations got in the way.
I threw my max bid in on the morning of the live auction and crossed my fingers. I listened to the live auction on my iPad as I drove to the Adirondack mountains. The bidding was brisk, and then it got to my max bid….and there it stalled. Going once, going twice, sold to internet bidder number XYZ. Hmmm, I think I just bought my first Colt SAA.
The gun is not yet in hand, but I have a couple of questions. See the included Colt letter. It is a documented .38 Special. Do I have a rare gun? It is my understanding that the ledger is now lost, so any further documentation for sleeper guns will be impossible? Knowing now what I didn't know during the bidding, I would have expected the bidding to be much more spirited. what do you think?
I love the .38 Special chambering, and am thrilled to have purchased this fine revolver.
I have not yet posed these questions on the Colt forum, as I have just been a lurker there, and need to introduce myself etc. Once I have it in hand, and can take my own photos, I'll venture over there.
My criteria was somewhat simple…..condition, condition, condition, and authenticity. It had to be a smokeless frame (not black powder). So, generally speaking, manufactured from the teens to 1940.
I homed in on 5 examples in the same auction. Pre live bidding pushed four of them out of my price range.
The one remaining was a dandy in .38 special, of all things. AND in my preferred barrel length of 4 3/4". I half thought of driving 5 hours to view the lots in person, but too many obligations got in the way.
I threw my max bid in on the morning of the live auction and crossed my fingers. I listened to the live auction on my iPad as I drove to the Adirondack mountains. The bidding was brisk, and then it got to my max bid….and there it stalled. Going once, going twice, sold to internet bidder number XYZ. Hmmm, I think I just bought my first Colt SAA.
The gun is not yet in hand, but I have a couple of questions. See the included Colt letter. It is a documented .38 Special. Do I have a rare gun? It is my understanding that the ledger is now lost, so any further documentation for sleeper guns will be impossible? Knowing now what I didn't know during the bidding, I would have expected the bidding to be much more spirited. what do you think?
I love the .38 Special chambering, and am thrilled to have purchased this fine revolver.
I have not yet posed these questions on the Colt forum, as I have just been a lurker there, and need to introduce myself etc. Once I have it in hand, and can take my own photos, I'll venture over there.
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