Downsizing and restructuring.

[Logan]

Got a special here that I'm sure some hunter will want to buy and abuse.

Got an 1842 six shooter,) chambered in .45 long, early brass cartridge weapon. Decoration is a rock tied to the lanyard ring on the handle with a tree root, not sure what it's about but since the tree root was grown together tather than woven or spliced, I left it and the rock alone.

Now on to the reason I am not trying to sell it to an "average" collector.

1. It can't be locked away. Every gun case, gun safe, and armory I have put it in has unlocked and opened it's self within 12 hours of the colt being placed in it.

2. Something odd is up with the cylinder, I cant seem to get a silver round into it - even under bench conditions

3. the one time I actually used her she was loaded with ordinary lead, but she put 5 smoking holes I could almost see through in a blood-sucker.


For history, I pried her out of the hands of a hunter who got in over his head and paid the price about 12 years ago near Walla Walla. Took a few looks at it, had it dated, and checked the signature inscribed on it against known outhentic documents. Since we only got a 60% likelyhood match, I can't say for sure if the "samual colt" inscription is legit or not, nor the authenticitey of the "revolving gun demonstrator" inscription on the top of the frame.

[Ron Caliburn]

Sounds like some kind of native talisman or something. They were keen on adding goodies like that to their weapons, even firearms, believing that they imbued power to the gun.

Can't comment on the authenticity of the decoration, but I'd probably be able to confirm or deny the authenticity of the the six-shooter itself - if that matters to anyone.

[Joe Smith]

I collect interesting old guns like that. Lets talk price.

I will be driving down to texas for a shoot for september 28th. I could pick it up on the way. There is no importation restrictions on black powder guns

[Logan]

Well, given that she's an early Colt, and what evidence there is points toward her having had been made by Samuel himself before he got any government contracts, I'd say a starting number in the mid 6 digit range would be about right, I'd try for about 10 or 20 million, but I had to refund the last 3 collectors over the issue with cases or cabinets.

If you want I also have the prior owner's holster rig, but I am not that big on silver and turquoise. Belt with silver disks overlapping most of the way around it, turquoise buckle, fringed and beaded holster. (It doesn't seem to be a combat rig, but she would look great if your trying to look like a flashy version of Wyat Earp)

[Joe Smith]

Lol - your price is out to lunch.

That gun would be considered a Paterson Colt and worth maybe $25K if it is a rare preproduction piece. If its a modified production piece (which by your description sounds like it is) - its worth maybe $2K.

I suggest you do some research. Your entire story has holes in it big enough to drive a Mack truck through. Its well known that Sam Colt never made a single gun himself. He was an inventor, not a machinist. Also, its impossible to compare an engraving of a signature to the real thing - the engraving is a copy to begin with!

Does it have a loading lever? what is the frame/cylinder/barrel serial numbers? Is it a swing out cylinder? Is it double or single action? Damasc barrel?

Someone has fed you a pretty healthy line of bull on this one. Someone who has been watching that Supernatural show...

[Logan]

The folks at Lloyds and Christies know more about it than I do, tell me where to send them and I'll send you the papers from them. Christie's complained about having "security issues in the vault" and sent it back to me by courrier the day after I sent it in, before it reached the auction block.

These old peices aren't my gig, so I contacted professionals in the field of old collector's firearms, hence having had tried to sell it through Christies. (Do any of you know if their verification paperwork is supposed to take 141 pages of what looks like gibberish numbers formulas and charts?)

[Joe Smith]

Actually, your verification paperwork should be a dozen pages max. It should be the providence of the weapon (if it exists), a complete description of the item with all marks and flaws noted, and at least an expert opinion on the veracity of the weapon.

I am not an expert, but these sort of things I do have plenty of knowledge of. I would love to take a look at the weapon one day and will be travelling to texas for a shoot for this last gig. Its a period vampire movie set in the west texas desert. I am doing some of the weapons for this film and will be bringing a dozen repro guns, and can bring one of my patersons so you can compare. I will be driving down in the "Winibago of Doom".