Is it as easy to have as much fun collecting and shooting Colts?

[bushmaster1313]

Although twice I came close to buying a Colt revolver, all of my revolvers have been, and continue to be, S&W's. Something about the vintage S&W's makes them seem much more accessible than the Colts. For me it's two things: a) compared to the Colts, I feel that I have much better understanding of the market price of desirable S&W's; and 2) it seems to me that the average "nice" Colt is more pricey than a comparable S&W. Also, this Forum is a great resource.

So, my question is this, is it as easy (or is it significantly more difficult) to have as much fun collecting and shooting Colts.

(And BTW, when it comes to collection and shooting non-military rifles and shotguns, IMHO nothing compares to the accessibility of Winchester rifles and shotguns.)

 

[OldK22]

I see many more "nice" vintage Smiths than I see "nice" Colts.

 

[les.b]

I'm not really a "collector", but rather an "accumulator" of shooter grade firearms. I have about half as many Colts as I have S&Ws, and find that for most shooter grade guns, the prices are comparable.

I also belong over at the Colt forum, which I spend about 1/2 as much time at as I do here. Spend a little time over there and see. I really find that many of their members are members here as well!!

But this is my favorite site, and this is undoubtedly where my major interest is. But a nice Colt now and then adds a little variety to accumulating!!

Gratuitous Colt for your viewing pleasure:

Best Regards, Les

 

[bushmaster1313]

I'm not really a "collector", but rather an "accumulator" of shooter grade firearms. I have about half as many Colts as I have S&Ws, and find that for most shooter grade guns, the prices are comparable.

I also belong over at the Colt forum, which I spend about 1/2 as much time at as I do here. Spend a little time over there and see. I really find that many of their members are members here as well!!

But this is my favorite site, and this is undoubtedly where my major interest is. But a nice Colt now and then adds a little variety to accumulating!!

Gratuitous Colt for your viewing pleasure:

Best Regards, Les

Very nice.

How would you go about learning

Years that model was made
Year that gun was made
Configuration when that gun left the factory
Barrel lengths of that model
Numbers built
Are the stocks original to the gun
Market prices at various condition levels

 

[gman51]

Yes collecting Colts are in my opinion just as enjoyable to own and shoot. Yes they also have the same gotta have it syndrome that S&W has.
I am not big on any brand of semi auto but for me revolvers are another story. Colt is every bit a piece of gun history as S&W is. Colt is just as fun to shoot and have as eye candy.
Same illness but under a different sir name.

For Colt information you will usually find out an answer to any question by going to the Colt forum. That forum is very much like here in that there are so many with a great deal of knowledge.

I often see old Colts in the local pawn shop. Whatever Colt a person wants they can find one without to much time spent beating the bushes. A lot of Colts are not any more expensive than S&Ws are. Specialty guns are expensive no matter if they are Colt or S&W. I have seen quite a few S&W revolvers that sold for Python prices.

 

[bushmaster1313]

Yes collecting Colts are in my opinion just as enjoyable to own and shoot. Yes they also have the same gotta have it syndrome that S&W has.
I am not big on any brand of semi auto but for me revolvers are another story. Colt is every bit a piece of gun history as S&W is. Colt is just as fun to shoot and have as eye candy.
Same illness but under a different sir name.

Let's take for granted that the Colt fans enjoy their Colts as much as S&W fans enjoy their S&Ws. The question is whether it is as easy to acquire a basic knowledge of Colt revolvers and the market for same.

(I once thought I might get a shooter grade collectible Parker side by side shotgun. Now that is a hard nut to crack)

 

[Absalom]

Although twice I came close to buying a Colt revolver, all of my revolvers have been, and continue to be, S&W's. Something about the vintage S&W's makes them seem much more accessible than the Colts. For me it's two things: a) compared to the Colts, I feel that I have much better understanding of the market price of desirable S&W's; and 2) it seems to me that the average "nice" Colt is more pricey than a comparable S&W. Also, this Forum is a great resource.

So, my question is this, is it as easy (or is it significantly more difficult) to have as much fun collecting and shooting Colts.

The two "things that are it" for you seem to be about the money, so studying closed auctions will quickly give you a decent grasp on where prices are at the moment, and whether that still qualifies as having fun for you

I have acquired Colts at various condition and price level without any more discernible difficulty than S&W. Since Colt's production was more diversified, while S&W did mostly revolvers, the numbers of some comparable models are lower, for example about 50,000 Colt Commandos vs. over 800,000 S&W Victorys, which may impact availability and price. Both have their collectible "holy cows" with whacky prices, whether RM or Python.

Colt firearms are as important as Smith & Wesson's as far as American firearms history is concerned, and in most topic areas pertaining to classic revolvers of the 20th century, I find it impossible to be very much into S&W without also being reasonably well-versed in the parallel Colts.

The resource situation is a bit different. There is no trusty reference on Colts comparable to our Standard Catalog. There is such a catalog for Colt, but it's riddled with errors, and nobody ever references it. On the other hand, for Colt there is Proofhouse.com and the Colt online serial look-up; both have some issues, but offer a general quick reference for years of manufacture we don't have for S&W.

A good place to start is this website: (It's called Coltautos, but the literature list on this page includes reference books on Colt in general, including revolvers.)

Colt Firearms Reference Books - Coltautos.com

So if you're interested in Colts, there is really no excuse not to buy some. And join Colt forum; it may not be as active as here, but you will get your questions answered. You'll also get an idea which models are most talked-about.

 

[6518John]

I have acquired Colts at various condition and price level without any more discernible difficulty than S&W. Since Colt's production was more diversified, while S&W did mostly revolvers, the numbers of some comparable models are lower, for example about 50,000 Colt Commandos vs. over 800,000 S&W Victorys, which may impact availability and price. Both have their collectible "holy cows" with whacky prices, whether RM or Python.

A recent thread about the S&W market led me to wonder about the numbers/proportions mentioned above. To explain a bit more, I have read about the Colt SAA collections of celebrities like Mel Torme, Sammy Davis, Jr, etc. And that they grew interested in the Colts due to the cowboy TV/movie craze of the 50's-70's. (For example Gunsmoke aired on TV from 1955-1975).

Colt prices, particularly SAA prices, seem to always remain stable despite the fact that many of that era of collectors would be getting up there in years. (Mel Torme would be 94 if alive today). Perhaps younger collectors have stepped in over the years to support demand. But I have always wondered if the supply on many Colt models was not MUCH lower than other companies because far fewer were made.

Whatever the reasons, I think the collector's market for Colts and S&Ws would make an excellent study of supply and demand economic modeling for some masters or doctoral candidate's thesis.

As those of us here and on the Colt Forum age I wonder if the demand will remain for these quality firearms? And if people collect the guns of their youth, will we see future generations of collectors after polymer models akin to the passion for first generation SAA or Registered Magnums?

 

[Wise_A]

So, my question is this, is it as easy (or is it significantly more difficult) to have as much fun collecting and shooting Colts.

I find it's much more difficult shooting with a bag over one's head.

 

[Andyd]

I consider myself still more of a shooter than a collector but have a couple of "themed" collections, more than just a wild accumulation of firearms. I do not so much plan on buying another gun of any specific maker but when I see a gun and feel it calling my name, I wait for my the heart to answers.

Doesn't matter if it is a S&W, Colt, Anschütz 54 sporter, Korth or Neuhausen SIG.

 

[murphydog]

In my observations, plenty of Colts out there at reasonable prices. With wear the revolvers tend to go out of time more easily than S & W and it is increasingly difficult to find someone to work on them if so. And the upper end "snake" guns are priced all out of proportion at present but they may eventually be affordable again. So have at it.

 

[Lonestar57]

I like and enjoy both Colt and S&W's in collecting and using. The Colts in my opinion are out there to find but can be a bit pricier. I spend time between the two forums but over at the Colt Forum of late it seems that Single Action Army models tends to dominate the members daily discussions and I'm not much into those so I tend to spend more time over here currently.

 

[NYlakesider]

I have 2 Colt revolvers in my safe. Both of them are in about 90+% condition and shoot very well. I have a blue DS and Cobra both in .38 special and two inch barrels.

I bought the DS from a LGS I hit a lot, the price was good and the little Colt was surrounded by many bigger S&Ws and looked kind of dejected. So like going to the animal shelter I rescued it, my good deed for the day..

I saw in a local "for sale'' paper a Cobra listed. Talked with the owner, looked at the gun, it had hammer shroud and I believe its original box. Box still had the name of the Texas hardware store and a price of just over a $100 attached to the box.(yes I paid more that the price tag on the box) The description on the box listed the shroud!

Got him down a couple bucks and because of our state laws had to go to a LGS to complete the paperwork..

 

[Babysitr]

I love my Colts too! Like les.b I am a shooter, and buy mostly shooter grade..The Colts are out there,but, I find that the "snakes" are overpriced....I'm loving the Officers Models....Shooting both I think the Smiths hang right there and often better! Hope I don't need a colt gunsmith...

 

[Donn]

I'm not a collector, (although there are those who'd argue that), I shoot everything in the safe. The Colts are,
7.5" Single Action Army 45.
4" Police Positive 38spl.
3" Detective Special 38spl.
3" 2019 King Cobra 357mag.
Except for the Peace Maker that I got when Dad passed, and the KC that just came out, the other two were right place, right time, right price acquisitions. I'd love to have a Python or Diamondback, but not for what they're bringing these days. Won't get into a better/worse debate, like both my Smith and Colt wheelguns. The biggest advantage my S&W's have over the Colts? I won't EDC the Colts. Should the worst ever happen and my sidearm winds up in a property room, a S&W revolver would be much easier to replace than a vintage Colt.

 

[dmthomp32]

I was collecting colts for a while but have quit as the prices for them have skyrocketed and I can still find good deals on Smith's! Flipping colts was fun for a while, buying selling and increasing the quality of my collection but now it's just not worth the cost of entry. I think most shops just generally overprice theirs out of the gate assuming someone will pay because it's a Colt. I'm hopeful it will be a while before that happens with the vintage S&W firearms.

Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using Tapatalk

 

[boatbum101]

Yes it is , but do your homework . No definitive reference book on Colts . Many fakes including boxes etc. Also they command higher prices especially in high condition . Also a lack of people who know how to work on the older V spring revolvers .

 

[Grayfox]

I have some Colts in my safe. Most are 1911s, but there are about a half dozen revolvers as well. I never set out to collect Colts. It was always a case of stumbling across a good deal at the right time.
I have a 6" Python that I wish I'd never gotten. It was left to me when my best friend passed away. I really wish he still had it. But, its a fine gun and I think about him every time I shoot it.

I've always been partial to the "D" frames. I really like that size. My first carry gun was a 2" Detective Special. My wife laid claim to it for about 20 years. But I still have it.
Here's a pair of Diamondbacks. A 6" .22 and a 4" .38. Absolutely wonderful guns!

The grips on the 6" have been changed since this pic was taken.

The only other one I have a picture of is this 6" Trooper Mark III. This thing is a great shooter.

No pic, but I've got a 1940 .38 Officer's Model that'll drive tacks!

No I'm not a real Colt collector. I'll just buy a good gun if I stumble over it. So far I've been pretty lucky.

 

[oddshooter]

I grew up in Texas. Do I really need to explain how I got into Colts.

SAA's, Pythons, 3 5 7's, Diamondbacks, Officers's Model, Troopers, Cobra, Woodsman, Official Police, Targetsman, Huntsman, Cadet, DS.

If you can't have fun with this group, then you are a Hater without parallel.

Prescut

 

[oddshooter]

Collecting is all together a different issue.
I'm lucky that I got started years ago. Colts today can command high prices on a few models (SAA, Python, 1911), but have you seen the prices on SW 16-4 climb in the last 2 years.

As far as collecting goes, I was told years ago that the word Collecting implies buying the very best and waiting.
That's why most of us are accumulators. We have a false hope of buying a sleeper at a great price and watching it grow upward. We will be lucky to see a 20% rise over 10 or 20 years. Collectibles can see a 10% per year rise.

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