1877 DA Colt 38

[carveman]

I have come across a most interesting revolver--a Colt 1877 .38 DA, 4 1/2" barrel. I've looked around at various web sites and have been able to narrow things down to dates ranging from 1877-1904. If you found this in your attic, how would you approach establishing it's value?
Glad to be part of the forum, and thanks in advance for any comments.

 

[Old Fuff]

You will find the serial number stamped on the frame and front of the trigger guard, ans well as on the bottom of the backstrap (butt).

If you then go to www.proofhouse.com you can determine the year it was made.

An auction is being conducted this week (November 20-21-22, 2008) at: www.armsbid.com

A number of similar revolvers are being sold, and the results should give you an accurate and current range of values.

 

[carveman]

Old Fluff:
Thanks very much, indeed. I checked out the auction site and located the 1877's. Silly question--how do I check out the actual selling prices?
Cheers and thanks again

 

[Old Fuff]

Silly question--how do I check out the actual selling prices?

Not silly at all. There are 2 ways.

Go back to the Armsbid website and click on Proxiebid for today's date (Nov. 22, 2008). You can follow the action but not bid unless you sign up. Do not pay any attention to any bids before the "sold" flag goes up.

Or wait. Sometime next week all of the results will be posted. Just follow instructions to see them You can also see results from past auctions. Look toward the bottom of the homepage.

 

[Jim K]

Those guns were made in .38 Colt and .41 Colt; the name "Lightning" got hung on the former, the name "Thunderer" on the latter. Both names were advertising hype by a distributor, neither was ever used by Colt.

I saw several at a gun show today with prices ranging from $850 to 1300 depending on condition, but not many buyers. There were a lot made and they are pretty common.

That gun is quite fragile and parts break easily. Worse is that there are very few gunsmiths who will touch them as parts are scarce and may have to be made and the frustration factor is very high. If the smith charges by the hour, it is easy to run up a gunsmith bill more than the value of the revolver.

Jim