1902 Colt with Documents
Appraised Value:
$15,000
IMAGE: 1 of 2
Appraisal Video: (2:41)
Appraised By:
Brad Witherell
Arms & Militaria
Witherell's Americana Auctions
Appraisal Transcript:
GUEST: Well, it's an heirloom that was passed down to me. My grandfather died in 1967. He lived in Kentucky, and my parents and I, we all lived in California. And my grandmother called and said, "You're the oldest grandson, so you get to pick between a revolver or five-dollar gold piece." So I picked the gun. And I unwrapped it and it was still loaded. Had four loaded rounds and two empties. And I asked them what happened and they said, "Well, your great-uncle was killed by an Indian." They thought the date was 1910, but I get back his death certificate and he was killed December 1902. But the Indian shot him, one paper said, and my great-uncle got off two shots. Those were the two empty rounds that were still in the firearm. Well, then I got interested in the firearm, and I sent a check back to Colt Firearms and with all the descriptions and the serial numbers, and they send you a nice little brochure. And the gun was shipped to L. Zeckendorf Company in Tucson, Arizona, in June of 1902. And my great-uncle was killed in December of 1902.
APPRAISER: Oh, wow.
GUEST: So the gun's only six months old. And it's been wrapped up ever since then.
APPRAISER: That explains the good condition.
GUEST: Yeah. Although it has some wear-- but I felt that possibly that was from just the dirt and grime being in the leather.
APPRAISER: Holster wear is common, yes. That's what makes it so great is the provenance that you do have. It's indisputable. And so often these things get lost or misplaced. It's just a great story of the American West. The gun's got... most of the blue and most of the case colors. Like you said, it's a little bit worn there at the muzzle. Do you have any idea what the gun might be worth?
GUEST: Well, I looked up a gun book. I don't know the percentage of wear.
APPRAISER: Condition.
GUEST: So I put the value of the gun at between $4,800 and $6,000. But I understand if you can put some history with the gun, then it makes the value more, but... and that's what I don't know.
APPRAISER: Okay. I'm going to value the gun at $5,000. And then with the history, I'm going to add another $10,000, so it makes the package worth $15,000.
GUEST: That's amazing. And if I get more information, that helps...?
APPRAISER: It all helps, yeah.
GUEST: That interesting.
APPRAISER: Thanks for bringing it in.
GUEST: I'm surprised.
