Colt Walker 44 cal.

[rmkc2222]

I am seeking information on the how to determine the value of a Colt Walker 44 caliber, model 1847. There are 4 places with the serial number of 1948 stamped. The cylinder has scroll work by W. L. Ormsby SC. NY.
Also has COLT'S PATENT scrolled in cylinder. Top of gun past cylinder, there is engraved (stamped) ADDRESS. SAM L COLT NEW-YORK CITY.
On the side above the wedge, is stamped US 1847.
I have attached a few photos.
Any information on this would be appreciated.
Thanks
rmkc22

 

[Steve C]

A genuine Walker will be quite valuable and should be appraised by a professional. Go to Google and type in "antique Gun appraisals". You will most likely have to pay for the appraisal but if you intend to sell or just for insurance purposes it will be worth the money.

 

[tube_ee]

Not only

Is it quite valuable, just by virtue of being a Walker Colt, but once you get into the collector world, it's a whole different landscape.

Differences you can't easily see can multiply (or divide) the value by an arbitrarily large number.

An experienced professional that you can trust is the right answer. If you're going to sell it, spend the money up front, and research the appraiser carefully. It'll be money and time well spent. Follow his or her recommendations as to venue of sale, as well. They're unlikely to say "Gun Broker." There's a reason for that.

You've seen the "Antiques Roadshow" where there's always somebody who bought something at a garage sale for $23 that's worth 50 grand? Don't be the guy who owned the garage, 'cuz that guy is really, really bummed.

Don't take that as an estimate of your gun's value, as I am in no way qualified to have an opinion. I only wish I had the cabbage to be a gun collector. I do know that those guys don't play the same sport that we do. There are people, like the guy who writes the "British Gun Auctions" columm for Double Gun Journal, who make a very good living attending collector gun auctions and buying guns with other people's money.

Me, I'd probably keep it and shoot it, because a piece of living history in my hand is nearly priceless. But I'm weird.

--Shannon

 

[earplug]

I had a friend with a very nice collection of prewar S&W revovlers. He was a very advanced collector. Anyway he was ripped off by a supposedly real Walker Colt. They are worth enough money that some people doctor moderen replicas to sell as the real deal.

 

[Dienekes]

Last I heard there were 127 genuine ones in existence, and a trainload of replicas. The odds are with the latter.

Buyer beware. Look for European proofmarks.

 

[Malamute]

The original Colt's Walkers were made in 1847. The also made a limited re-issue in the late 1970's-early 1980's. It CAN be a genuine Colt, but not an old one. Old ones could be in the 5k to 20k range, probably more. A new version sells for about $600 to $700 new in the box. IF this is a new version, it has had the finish removed to make it look old, and would be worth considerably less than a new in the box gun. Condition is everything regarding newer guns.


It's in very good condition for an old original Walker. IF it's an original OLD Walker, and it isn't "on the radar screen" in the collecting world, That is, one of the known examples, it will make the national news in gun news. You may want to start looking at houses, or perhaps a new Hummer. If it's not an OLD original, see the values mentioned below. It would need to be very carefully examined by a recognized professional before anyone would pony up serious money for it tho. There have been too many fakes.


It won't have foreign proof marks if it's a new Colt. If it's an Italian copy, like Uberti or other maker, it's worth what you can get for it. They are about $300 to $375 new in the box, and with the finish removed, considerably less. Someone may have taken an Italian gun and had it marked with Colt markings. It shoulk be researched carefully if there is any chance it is an original OLD Colt.


Does it have any other marks on it? Under the loading lever perhaps?


Do you have any history of that particular gun?

 

[pohill]

If it's authentic...

http://julia.hanovercomputer.com/firearms/mar06/Highlights/index.htm

 

[mykeal]

Authentic original production Colt Walkers range from $60,000 for a gun in 10% condition to over $400,000 and perhaps much more. From the pictures it would appear that this gun, if authentic, would be valued near the high end of that range. There are a large number of very good fakes in existence. It is impossible to determine authenticity without a professional appraisal.

Colt did manufacture a Second Generation of black powder revolvers in the 1970's and early 1980's. The "F" series production run included almost 3,000 Walkers produced from 1980 to 1982. These guns had 4 digit serial numbers, except for a couple hundred which mistakenly had a 5 digit Dragoon serial number applied. They range from $1000 to about $300 or less for one in the condition of the gun in the pictures.

 

[Roswell 1847]

Besides the replicas and reissues, some of which have been aged to pass as originals, some outright forgeries were made in Mexico long before replica guns came into fashion.
These were palmed off on unsuspecting tourists as genuine relics of the Mexican American war.

Mexico does have a well deserved reputation as a place where many authentic rare revolvers ended their service life.

 

[mukluk]

The Walker was originally produced in 1847 to the tune of a bit less than 1200 examples (serial numbered consecutively). What you have there is a genuine colt, but it is what's referred to as a 2nd series or F series made between June 1980 and April 1982. Given its current condition the likely value is in the $250-$400 range.