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U.S. PROPERTY WWII Colt 1903 Shipping Deal!
competentone
Member Posts: 4,698 ✭✭✭
(shameless self-promotion)
I have this U.S. PROPERTY marked Colt 1903 Hammerless Pocket Pistol from WWII starting on the auction side this evening.
http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=504355838
These are really neat pistols. You can still find nice shooting examples (of commercially produced 1903s) for around $500. Colt has just reintroduced this model, but it seems to be listing for around $1500 most places I've seen it for sale, and they don't look nearly as nice as the originals IMO (they are made under contract too, not manufactured directly by Colt).
The one I'm selling was purchased by the U.S. Government in 1944. From the looks of it, it probably saw use during WWII and was likely refinished by the government sometime after the war.
Many of these were issued to general officers (collectors often refer to U.S. PROPERTY marked ones as "General Officer" pistols), but not all were issued to officers; I have no documentation showing if this one was issued to any specific officer.
The neater thing -- at least in my view -- is that the OSS used many of these that were sold to the government during WWII (again, no historical information showing mine was directed to the OSS; the Colt Archive Letter I have on it just shows it was part of a shipment of 1000 that went to the U.S. Government).
The U.S. PROPERTY marked 1903s sell for a significant collector's premium over the more common commercially produced ones, so they aren't for everyone, but for the WWII firearm collector, or those who just like neat guns with history connected to them, they can be a nice item to have in one's collection.
Shipping Deal to Forum members: I'll offer free shipping (on just this listing, not any of the other items I have listed) to anyone who's been a Forum member here before the listing starts. (So if you're reading this as a visitor, you have just a few hours to sign up as a member to take advantage of that deal.)
Feel free to offer any input on my listing too. I'm not the "sensitive" type and won't be offended by any "negative" criticism.
--Joe
I have this U.S. PROPERTY marked Colt 1903 Hammerless Pocket Pistol from WWII starting on the auction side this evening.
http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=504355838
These are really neat pistols. You can still find nice shooting examples (of commercially produced 1903s) for around $500. Colt has just reintroduced this model, but it seems to be listing for around $1500 most places I've seen it for sale, and they don't look nearly as nice as the originals IMO (they are made under contract too, not manufactured directly by Colt).
The one I'm selling was purchased by the U.S. Government in 1944. From the looks of it, it probably saw use during WWII and was likely refinished by the government sometime after the war.
Many of these were issued to general officers (collectors often refer to U.S. PROPERTY marked ones as "General Officer" pistols), but not all were issued to officers; I have no documentation showing if this one was issued to any specific officer.
The neater thing -- at least in my view -- is that the OSS used many of these that were sold to the government during WWII (again, no historical information showing mine was directed to the OSS; the Colt Archive Letter I have on it just shows it was part of a shipment of 1000 that went to the U.S. Government).
The U.S. PROPERTY marked 1903s sell for a significant collector's premium over the more common commercially produced ones, so they aren't for everyone, but for the WWII firearm collector, or those who just like neat guns with history connected to them, they can be a nice item to have in one's collection.
Shipping Deal to Forum members: I'll offer free shipping (on just this listing, not any of the other items I have listed) to anyone who's been a Forum member here before the listing starts. (So if you're reading this as a visitor, you have just a few hours to sign up as a member to take advantage of that deal.)
Feel free to offer any input on my listing too. I'm not the "sensitive" type and won't be offended by any "negative" criticism.
--Joe
Comments
No one's going to comment about how I should have started it at a penny?
I was all ready to be responding to that "Locust-Fork-does-it-so-everyone-else-should-start-their-listings-at-a-penny" argument.
[;)] [:D]
What?!
No one's going to comment about how I should have started it at a penny?
I was all ready to be responding to that "Locust-Fork-does-it-so-everyone-else-should-start-their-listings-at-a-penny" argument.
[;)] [:D]
As a buyer, I think this is the best way to start an auction. Assuming your number is reasonable, it lets a buyer know where he will need to be to be competitive in the bidding of the firearm.
Good luck. It looks to be in great shape.
Brad Steele
i guess you really don't want to sell it.
but i do hope you get your price[:)][;)]
send it to Kasey she will get you the real value price for it.
PS you should have started it at a PENNY there i said it
Are you looking for an argument?
Me? Looking for an argument? Never heard of such a thing!
Actually, lew07, it's funny that you mention the "original box and paperwork." The picture I've seen of it when it sold at a Rock Island auction included an original-style plain box like it would have originally shipped in. From the picture though, it looked like a fake box (yes, those are out there); I'm guessing a collector decided to separate it from that box at some point before it reached me.
If it had reached me with a fake box, I would have separated it from it too as I don't like a mix of "original and fake" stuff. Some people like a box (even a fake one) for display purposes, but personally, if a firearm has real history attached to it (even if I don't know the specific details of that history) I feel like it's being "watered down" in some way if fake accessories are added.
NOAH, I'm not sure what you are comparing it to, but generally, USP 1903s sell for around $3,000. Ones that have provenance linking them to a specific General start at about $5,000 and move up based on the historical significance of the officer connected with it.
To the penny-start argument (all in good fun, but to make a point too): I think that works well for certain "popular and common" firearms, but one has to be careful doing such with firearms that appeal to a more niche market. As an example, I "stole" a nice 1903 that Locust Fork listed earlier this year -- IMO it should have been bid higher, but I happened to be the only one looking, with good knowledge about them, when it closed. (I have to get a Colt Archive Letter on that one; it might be "grand theft" if it comes back with a historical connection I think it could have.)
Generally, starting at a penny can work well as it gets people really excited, but since I'm not in any business (being just a collector) I don't feel any need to "keep turning over inventory" and can wait for another collector to pay what I think is a fair price.
Thanks for all the comments, even if I haven't addressed yours specifically; I enjoy them!
http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=497634191
He got a good price out of his. These have a nice following.
Here are the 1903...
http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=497634187
http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=497634186
Wrong one....that is the 1908......
Here are the 1903...
http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=497634187
http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=497634186
Those are actually 1903 Hammer pistols -- chambered in .38acp (which is not .380 acp). Different animal than the 1903 Hammerless .32acp (or .380acp -- commonly referred to as the "1908" -- like the one in the previous link you posted).
I think this is the 1903 (woodlawn boys sold with that collection) you meant to list: http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=497634189
That is a 1903 Hammerless U.S. Property marked one, but also has British proof marks. It depends on the collector and his particular interests, but that can have less interest from some WWII collectors since it was likely a Lend-Lease pistol and would have never been issued to someone in the U.S. military.
quote:Originally posted by Locust Fork
Wrong one....that is the 1908......
Here are the 1903...
http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=497634187
http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=497634186
Those are actually 1903 Hammer pistols -- chambered in .38acp (which is not .380 acp). Different animal than the 1903 Hammerless .32acp (or .380acp -- commonly referred to as the "1908" -- like the one in the previous link you posted).
I think this is the 1903 (woodlawn boys sold with that collection) you meant to list: http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=497634189
That is a 1903 Hammerless U.S. Property marked one, but also has British proof marks. It depends on the collector and his particular interests, but that can have less interest from some WWII collectors since it was likely a Lend-Lease pistol and would have never been issued to someone in the U.S. military.
I clicked on every auction but that one! [:D] These are a highly collectible area of firearms. There are two local buyers that send their items to me to transfer in that love these little pistols.
quote:Originally posted by Locust Fork
Wrong one....that is the 1908......
Here are the 1903...
http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=497634187
http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=497634186
Those are actually 1903 Hammer pistols -- chambered in .38acp (which is not .380 acp). Different animal than the 1903 Hammerless .32acp (or .380acp -- commonly referred to as the "1908" -- like the one in the previous link you posted).
I think this is the 1903 (woodlawn boys sold with that collection) you meant to list: http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=497634189
That is a 1903 Hammerless U.S. Property marked one, but also has British proof marks. It depends on the collector and his particular interests, but that can have less interest from some WWII collectors since it was likely a Lend-Lease pistol and would have never been issued to someone in the U.S. military.
This should give a good baseline for the penny vs. ballpark start return argument. I personally think anything with good demand will return more with the penny start due to early bidders having something invested (time, contemplation, bidding, anticipation...) early in the process. This often causes buyers to bid more than they would otherwise because of this perceived investment.
Items in low demand should start in the ballpark of or at what you want to get out of them.
This has been my experience selling in multiple venues. Your results may vary.
does the OJ glove come with it??[;)] Good luck in your auction
Ha!
I wasn't planning on including the "OJ glove" -- but along with the free shipping for any Forum member who wins, I'll include the glove (I actually have the pair, so that's particularly collectible!) [:D]