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Colt Single Action Army (SAA) Peacemaker |
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The Colt Peacemaker
pictured on the left, is a "First Generation" gun, chambered
in .45 caliber, click here for a
picture gallery. "I learned something very
important when I purchased this gun online and I will share it with
you on this page, it may save or make you hundreds or even thousands
of dollars."
"This is one of only two cowboy-style
guns that I own today. Bat Masterson special ordered a Colt SAA in
.45 caliber, with nickel finish, 4¾ barrel and
ivory grips. This is not that gun, but the appearance
would have been very similar." |
Gun Collecting: All original, good condition first generation Single
Action Armys, (those produced between 1873 and 1941), are among the most
valuable to the collector. These guns are distinguished by the serial
numbers below 375000 and with no letters.
After this gun arrived I checked the serial
numbers and immediately picked up the telephone to call the Office of
the Historian, Colt Archive Properties, LLC in Hartford, Connecticut to
order a letter of
authentication. The letter I had ordered for my Colt Python had
taken a full 125 days (4 months) to arrive. To my surprise, the very
nice lady on the phone, after taking my credit card information, asked
"would you like to hold just a moment while I check that serial number?"
I said, "sure", thinking she was just going to tell me that it was a
valid serial number when she returned.
When the lady came back on the phone in less than
a minute, she gave me all of the pertinent information that is contained
in their letters of authentication. I was astonished! I ask her how that
was possible. She said that Colt's Single Action Army records are more
readily accessible than the records for the Python.
Had I known that obtaining this information by
phone and in less than a minute was possible, I would have invested in
the letter before making the purchase. I discovered that the finish of
my gun was originally blue when shipped from the factory. The fact that
the gun had been nickel plated (refinished) at some point in it's life
greatly affected the collector value.
Although the gun is very valuable, it could be
worth three times as much with the original finish! Life Lesson #118:
Get the Colt SAA's serial number and call 1-800-962-COLT before
making the purchase. This is certainly worth it, when you are
considering purchasing one of these guns. NOTE: Colt's
website says the phone service is available for first generation
SAA's up to the 343,000 serial number range (although mine was slightly
higher) and the fee is $150 which includes the letter in two to three
weeks.
Now, it is true that had the lady told me the gun
was nickel, I still would not have known whether it was the original
finish or not, because I was buying this gun online from a dealer three
states away. But, I would have been a far better informed buyer. Who
knows? She could have came back to the phone and told me it was special
ordered by Bat Masterson.
First Generation .45 Colt Peacemaker: Questions to ask the seller before
buying a First Generation Colt; Do you have an authentication letter
from Colt? If the answer is YES, send it to me, (mail, fax or email), if
NO, you should factor in the cost of the letter in your offer,
Click here for more pictures.
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45 Colt SAA |
Nickel plated finish |
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Note: No letter in serial # |
Single Action Army |
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1871, 1872 & 1875 Patents |
Colt .45 Peacemaker |
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Elephant Ivory Grips |
Click here for picture gallery |
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Semi-Autos: |
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Colt Mustang:
.380 caliber, baby 1911 - DOM 1992, real mop. |
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1908 Colts: 24kt
gold plated, fully engraved with mother of pearl. |
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1911 Colt:
For nine
decades the Colt Government Model 1911 has been without challenge
the most ... |
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Colt Officer's Model:
Slightly smaller than a Government Model, with the barrel length
reduced from 5" to 3.5". |
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Browning .25 Caliber
Automatic Pistol: The 1968 Gun Control Act stopped the
importation of these guns. |
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Colt 1903 Pocket
Hammerless .32: Produced from 1903 to 1945. |
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Colt 1908
Hammerless .25 (Vest Pocket) Model N was made in 1916. |
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Revolvers: |
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Colt .32 Detective Special:
Made in 1950, this gun is chambered in the .32 New Police cartridge
(.32 S&W Long). |
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1965 Colt Python:
Pythons produced from 1955 to 1969 have no letter in
the serial number and are the most desirable to collectors. |
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Peacemaker:
The Colt
Single Action Army - this is a first generation gun. |
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1962 Colt Python:
Pythons produced from 1955 to 1969 have no letter in
the serial number and are the most desirable to collectors. |
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Detective Special: One of the most well known and most
copied guns in the world. |
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Colt Cobra: It was an
earlier version of this gun Jack Ruby used to kill Lee Harvey
Oswald. |
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Ruger .22 Single Six: Commonly referred to as a "Flat
Gate". |
| Holsters: |
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Gun Holsters and
Various Methods of Carry: The holster is a very important
part of "concealed carry". |
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Holster Gallery:
Pictures of holsters that I have found to be of good quality as well
as design, functional, easy to use and a good value. |
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Long Gun
Leather: Gun cases that are good for transporting long guns. |
| Rifles: |
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Colt Sauer Rifle:
Bolt Action, 30.06 caliber, 24" bbl., magazine capacity 3 or 4 rounds. |
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Winchester .30-30:
Lever Action, 30.30 caliber, saddle gun. |
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Savage Model 24J:
This Savage Model 24J O/U Combination Gun is a .22 Magnum Rifle and
.410 Gauge Shotgun combined. |
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Shotguns: |
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Ithaca 4E
Flues Single-Barrel Trap (1914 - 1922) |
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Ithaca 4E
NID (New Improved Design) 1922 - 1944 |
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Browning A-5:
Auto 16
gauge short bbl, stamped U.S. Property. |
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Remington Model 90-T:
A Single-Shot 12 Gauge Trap gun with a 34" bbl, Full Fixed Choke,
low vent rib and adjustable comb stock. |
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Remington Pump: Pump action 12
gauge with stamped patent dates... |
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Abercrombie & Fitch: 12 Gauge, Single Shot, 32" bbl.,
full fixed choke, made by Renato Gamba for Abercrombie & Fitch about
1978. |
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Knives: |
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OldPocketKnives.net:
A website where you can buy old pocket knives. |
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FaceBook: |
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