Colt lightning value

shooterdownunder · April 30, 2016, 05:45 PM

I have found this 1903 lightning for sale. It looks nice but $3895 seems a bit steep for something that had a production run of almost 167,000.
Is this a reasonable price?

Thanks

Old Stony · April 30, 2016, 07:57 PM

No !!

shooterdownunder · April 30, 2016, 09:07 PM

thanks. I suspected not. What would a fair price be?

gyvel · May 1, 2016, 02:55 AM

A fair price? Does the seller have proof that the engraving original factory?

There is a small amount of original blue left on the gun, but not nearly enough to justify a price anywhere near that figure. (One question: Was that price U.S $ or Aussie?)

Additionally, the 'Lightning" revolver is one of the worst mechanical nightmares Colt ever came up with. It was designed by William Mason, and it's hard to tell what he was thinking when he designed it.

Anyway, I'm guessing that gun, since it appears to be in reasonably good condition, might bring around $1200.00 in the U.S. Others may disagree with me.

mapsjanhere · May 1, 2016, 08:17 AM

You can have factory engraving verified by Colt with a factory letter, cost $200 and takes 3 month. Might want to suggest that to the seller if he's so convinced he's got something special there.

JT-AR-MG42 · May 1, 2016, 09:11 AM

My .02,
The high degree of handling wear to those stocks would suggest to me that the pistol
was probably engraved when it was re-finished or cleaned up.

One does not see many factory engraved guns (especially to that high level of coverage)
that do not have MOP or ivory stocks on it, much less leaving the worn stocks on.

I see no traces of case colors remaining on the frame or loading gate as well.

Very nice looking gun though.
My best estimate of 'fair price' would honestly be what it is worth to you.
I might pay 800-1000 IF I really wanted it as a shooter, SA only.

JT

James K · May 1, 2016, 06:34 PM

The engraving is not bad, but the discrepancy between the well worn grips and the fresh looking engraving suggests that the gun was engraved at some considerable time after manufacture.

Not having actually seen the gun, it is difficult to evaluate it. But as a general statement, there has been a practice, primarily in Europe, of buying old guns (usually pin fires and the like), having them engraved in areas where such work is cheap, and then selling them at a huge markup. I have seen old Belgian pinfires so engraved, gold plated, and put up for sale at €5000 or more, sometimes with stories about ownership by royalty. And younger collectors with more money than experience buy them.

General thought: How do you make a rusty and worn gun with no original finish worth many times what it is? Easy - you have it engraved.

Jim

shooterdownunder · May 1, 2016, 06:52 PM

Thanks guys. Thinking it'll be a pass. The price by the way was in AUD so roughly 2965 USD

gyvel · May 1, 2016, 08:23 PM

Look around for an Enfield revolver made by Howard Auto Cultivators.

April 30, 2016, 05:45 PM	#1
shooterdownunder Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2013 Location: sydney Posts: 135	Colt lightning value I have found this 1903 lightning for sale. It looks nice but $3895 seems a bit steep for something that had a production run of almost 167,000. Is this a reasonable price? Thanks

May 1, 2016, 02:55 AM	#4
gyvel Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2009 Location: Northern AZ Posts: 7,172	A fair price? Does the seller have proof that the engraving original factory? There is a small amount of original blue left on the gun, but not nearly enough to justify a price anywhere near that figure. (One question: Was that price U.S $ or Aussie?) Additionally, the 'Lightning" revolver is one of the worst mechanical nightmares Colt ever came up with. It was designed by William Mason, and it's hard to tell what he was thinking when he designed it. Anyway, I'm guessing that gun, since it appears to be in reasonably good condition, might bring around $1200.00 in the U.S. Others may disagree with me. __________________ As always, YMMV. __________________________________________ MIIAA SIFE

May 1, 2016, 08:17 AM	#5
mapsjanhere Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2009 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 2,832	You can have factory engraving verified by Colt with a factory letter, cost $200 and takes 3 month. Might want to suggest that to the seller if he's so convinced he's got something special there. __________________ I used to love being able to hit hard at 1000 yards. As I get older I find hitting a mini ram at 200 yards with the 22 oddly more satisfying.

May 1, 2016, 08:23 PM	#9
gyvel Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2009 Location: Northern AZ Posts: 7,172	Look around for an Enfield revolver made by Howard Auto Cultivators. __________________ As always, YMMV. __________________________________________ MIIAA SIFE

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April 30, 2016, 07:57 PM	#2
Old Stony Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2013 Location: East Texas Posts: 1,705	No !!

April 30, 2016, 09:07 PM	#3
shooterdownunder Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2013 Location: sydney Posts: 135	thanks. I suspected not. What would a fair price be?

May 1, 2016, 09:11 AM	#6
JT-AR-MG42 Senior Member Join Date: December 27, 2008 Posts: 555	My .02, The high degree of handling wear to those stocks would suggest to me that the pistol was probably engraved when it was re-finished or cleaned up. One does not see many factory engraved guns (especially to that high level of coverage) that do not have MOP or ivory stocks on it, much less leaving the worn stocks on. I see no traces of case colors remaining on the frame or loading gate as well. Very nice looking gun though. My best estimate of 'fair price' would honestly be what it is worth to you. I might pay 800-1000 IF I really wanted it as a shooter, SA only. JT

May 1, 2016, 06:34 PM	#7
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	The engraving is not bad, but the discrepancy between the well worn grips and the fresh looking engraving suggests that the gun was engraved at some considerable time after manufacture. Not having actually seen the gun, it is difficult to evaluate it. But as a general statement, there has been a practice, primarily in Europe, of buying old guns (usually pin fires and the like), having them engraved in areas where such work is cheap, and then selling them at a huge markup. I have seen old Belgian pinfires so engraved, gold plated, and put up for sale at €5000 or more, sometimes with stories about ownership by royalty. And younger collectors with more money than experience buy them. General thought: How do you make a rusty and worn gun with no original finish worth many times what it is? Easy - you have it engraved. Jim

May 1, 2016, 06:52 PM	#8
shooterdownunder Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2013 Location: sydney Posts: 135	Thanks guys. Thinking it'll be a pass. The price by the way was in AUD so roughly 2965 USD