Colt SAA fans and collectors

[19leben]

I'm looking at a Colt Frontier Six Shooter 1st Gen in .44-40 Winchester. Appears to have been nickel finish with timing issues and maybe 30% finish. Non original grips but serial numbers match on frame, trigger guard and butt. Someone added fire blue screws to it. Do these guns bring big money?

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

It can...but originality, mechanical condition and grips all affect the asking value. Is the nickel finish original? A Colt Archives letter will tell the original configuration of the piece...either confirm or expose it.

The Colt Frontier Six-Shooter only came in .44-40 but two styles of markings...either acid etched barrel markings or more traditional roll markings...and that makes a difference in value as well.

 

[lestert357]

As you described it, probably not. The vintage makes a huge difference in value of Colt SAA's. A late 1870's vintage gun as you described might be worth $5K+ if the barrel and cylinder serial numbers also matched. A 1930's vintage gun as you described might bring more like $2K.

 

[19leben]

I looked it up on Colt's website and it's an 1883 gun. The barrel marks appear to be roll marked but I'm not positive. Which version brings more money? And where would the barrel sn be marked? Under the extractor housing? And I didn't remove the cylinder. Where is cylinder sn marked?

Thank you guys for your help!

Hugh

 

[lestert357]

Barrel serial# (last 4 digits probably) is under the ejector housing. It's possible the cylinder on an original nickel gun from 1883 would not be marked with the serial#. If the cylinder is marked the last 4 numbers of the serial number would be easily visible on the periphery. A 44-40 that early should have "COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER" acid etched on the left side of the barrel. If it is roll marked then it's a replacement barrel.

 

[19leben]

Okay how do I tell the difference between acid etched and roll marks?

 

[lestert357]

Acid etched (up to about 1889), usually very hard to see on an original gun with wear)…..

Rolled (about 1890 forward, the 44-40 added about 1915)…..

 

[19leben]

Attached picture of the markings. It is faint.

 

[lestert357]

That's rolled, and a replaced barrel if you have dated it correctly. Personally, I would pass on that gun if you are looking for a representative original example.