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Rare collector Black powder pistol

mixermixer Member Posts: 35 ✭✭
edited January 2008 in Ask the Experts
Hey guys what would be the best way to sell a rare black powder pistol i have,it's been in the family for over 150 years and i know it's worth alot of money,i am thinking about selling it and wondering what would be the best way to go about it,any help would be apreciated.

thanks,
steve
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Comments

  • duckhunterduckhunter Member Posts: 7,687 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Post some detailed pics.
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  • perry shooterperry shooter Member Posts: 17,105 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Put it up for sale at this site BUT you will need detailed in focus close-up pictures from every angle with every marking if you want to get the highest bids. As far as value I don't want to sound like a gun snob but age alone does not make for high value desirability and condition . are the main two factors. IMHO listing with no reserve and a realistic starting price will get you the most and highest bids . Most collectors on this and other sites will not even look at reserve bid items .Good Luck being you need pictures anyway you might want to post them on this forum and ask for value before you list.
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  • He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 51,593 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Perryshooter is correct. Age alone does not equal value. If it is a Belgian knock off of a London Best, it will not be worth much even from 1840. Quality, rarity and condition are the factors creating collector interest which is what drives the price up. The photos will be your main salesman, so make them very good.
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  • mixermixer Member Posts: 35 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Well guys it's a origanal 1847 colt walker 44 cal black powder revolver,company C,ser# *** in pretty pristine condition,and what i need to know is how would i go about getting a certificate of authenticity?and i'm thinking i need a profesional auction site to sell it for me,what do you guys think?any help would be apreciated..

    thanks,
    steve
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  • bpostbpost Member Posts: 32,669 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by mixer
    Well guys it's a origanal 1847 colt walker 44 cal black powder revolver,company C,ser# *** in pretty pristine condition,and what i need to know is how would i go about getting a certificate of authenticity?and i'm thinking i need a profesional auction site to sell it for me,what do you guys think?any help would be apreciated..

    thanks,
    steve


    The GB auction site is the premier professional auction site for guns and gun related items. Other sites do not generate the traffic this site does.
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  • nononsensenononsense Member Posts: 10,928 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    bpost1958,

    While I think we all agree that Gunbroker is the best Auction site on the web, fully capable of terrific results, my guess is that mixer is referring to a "professional" auction house such as Christie's but highly regarded for their work with firearms.


    Mixer,

    Here is the link to getting a letter of Authenticity from Colt manufacturing:

    http://www.coltsmfg.com/cmci/historical.asp

    Best.
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  • mongrel1776mongrel1776 Member Posts: 894 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by mixer
    Well guys it's a origanal 1847 colt walker 44 cal black powder revolver,company C,ser# *** in pretty pristine condition,and what i need to know is how would i go about getting a certificate of authenticity?and i'm thinking i need a profesional auction site to sell it for me,what do you guys think?any help would be apreciated..

    thanks,
    steve

    As far as the certificate of authenticity goes, contact the Colt company themselves. The Walker is either the second or third-rarest of percussion Colts, and the possibility that you have an original would very definitely interest the company. Most likely they would be able to point you toward someone able to place a fair value on the gun, if not actually pay you that amount. A Walker in what you describe as "pretty pristine" condition would be rarer (and pricier) than usual, for the simple reason most were used pretty hard during their years of service -- I recall reading that there are slightly over a hundred of them left, out of some 1100 manufactured.
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  • TxsTxs Member Posts: 17,809 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Now you've gone and done it.

    With the description given you HAVE to post pics of this gun here. [:D]
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  • charliemeyer007charliemeyer007 Member Posts: 6,572 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Yes I would love to see pics. Walker's are real hand cannons.
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  • perry shooterperry shooter Member Posts: 17,105 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Sorry guys to add to the number of post but I did not know if mixer would read my post if I did an edit on my first one. Mixer along with a letter from Colt IMHO you need to have this appraised by one of the high end Colt Guys but make sure this item is not for sale to the appraiser. I would get a copy of the Collector magazine put out by the N.R.A. "MAN AT ARMS" this will have both appraisers and auction houses that can give this high dollar pistol wide coverage. If you want to have some fun with it take it to some big shows like NATIONAL GUN DAY in Louisville Ky in a paper bag and ask some of the dealer with older colts on their table what it is [:p][}:)][:0]
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