What is this worth?

tristar viper · May 1, 2013, 05:05 PM

It's a Colt open top pistol I am told. Came out of my grandma's house when she died, but no one from the family had guns....so this had to belong to one of grandma's boyfriends from after grandpa died.
Probably gonna sell it, what's it worth? Seems to function, it'll cock, pull the trigger and the hammer drops, and it rotates.

Kevin_d77 · May 1, 2013, 05:33 PM

Heirloom. Keep it.

tristar viper · May 1, 2013, 05:40 PM

Don't want it. What's it worth?

lamarw · May 1, 2013, 06:03 PM

Hopefully, one of the Forum staff will move your post to the The Harley Nolden Memorial Institute for Firearms Research Forum.

You will have a better chance of a helpful response. Your revolver certainly is not a sem-auto pistol.

I will go search the blue book and see if I come across anything.

Are you sure it is a Colt? What are the markings and the caliber if you know?

tristar viper · May 1, 2013, 06:09 PM

Yea....it's obviously a revolver, not a pistol.

tristar viper · May 1, 2013, 06:11 PM

And I apologize if this is not in the right forum. Forum staff, please move to apropriate area if it's necessary.

tristar viper · May 3, 2013, 05:34 PM

It says colt on the top of the barrel, and Hartford CT, USA.
As far as caliber, a 22 long fits nicely, but is too long. So I guess 22 short??

James K · May 3, 2013, 09:18 PM

It is a Colt "Old Line" Open Top Pocket Revolver. They were made in .22 and will fire both .22 Short and .22 Long (not Long Rifle). There were some 114,000 made from 1871 to 1877 in two versions; that is the first version.

The brass frames were nickel plated, some silver plated, the barrels blued. That gun looks like the finish has been stripped or worn down to the brass. The pictures are not good enough to provide any real evaluation, but as close as I can tell, the value might run to $700 or so, retail. One in like-new condition could bring over $3000, but the pictures don't indicate any such condition.

Jim

Armybrat · May 4, 2013, 09:47 AM

James is correct.... looks like a $700 gun.

I have one like it.

tristar viper · May 5, 2013, 06:21 AM

Thank you, I appreciate the information.
So where would be the best place to advertise it? Or would the firing line classifieds be just fine?

Ricklin · May 5, 2013, 10:12 AM

Our very own classifieds might work. For the greatest exposure check out Gunbroker.com

mapsjanhere · May 5, 2013, 04:41 PM

BTW legally that's an antique and not a gun, so you can mail it without FFL (local rules notwithstanding, I'm sure NY, NJ and CA would see something wrong with that).

TATER · June 10, 2013, 04:49 PM

Why do you assume "boyfriend" and not G-Pa.. If it were G-Pa's Love nor Money would
Get it from me….
I have obtained some really nice old guns from friends who were "Flabbergasted and Shocked"
To find a gun after the passing of loved ones… I remember One time I recovered a revolver from
the top drawer of a dresser a recent widow had found after the husbands death.
Some People feel that it is their duty to protect family even if the family don't know it.

**Mike Irwin** · June 10, 2013, 09:20 PM

Wasn't the Old Line also made in several other rimfire calibers?

Or am I thinking of the New Line?

hoghunting · June 11, 2013, 12:09 PM

Quote:

So where would be the best place to advertise it?

I would contact www.rockislandauction.com as you will probably realize a higher price than what you would get from gunbroker.

James K · June 11, 2013, 03:27 PM

Hi, Mike,

The gun collectors call the Open Top Pocket Model Revolver, or "Old Line", was made only in .22. As far as I can determine, Colt called it "Colt's Breech Loading Seven Shot Revolving Pistol" so it is easy to see why it got a shorter name. There were two versions, of which that is the first.

The "New Line", which was Colt's term (in full - "Colt's New Line Breech Loading Revolving Pistol"), had a top strap and a fluted cylinder with notches at the rear. There were several slightly different versions because of the caliber; they were made in .22, .30, .32, .38 and .41 rimfire and .32, .38., and .41 center fire. The .22 was seven shot, the others 5.

Jim

**Mike Irwin** · June 11, 2013, 09:36 PM

In other words...

I was thinking of the New Line.

cjmmc · July 1, 2013, 03:53 AM

if i were you id keep it, its something that not everyone has

May 1, 2013, 06:03 PM	#4
lamarw Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2010 Location: Lake Martin, AL Posts: 3,311	Hopefully, one of the Forum staff will move your post to the The Harley Nolden Memorial Institute for Firearms Research Forum. You will have a better chance of a helpful response. Your revolver certainly is not a sem-auto pistol. I will go search the blue book and see if I come across anything. Are you sure it is a Colt? What are the markings and the caliber if you know? Last edited by lamarw; May 1, 2013 at 06:23 PM.

May 4, 2013, 09:47 AM	#9
Armybrat Senior Member Join Date: May 10, 2009 Location: Round Rock, Texas Posts: 976	James is correct.... looks like a $700 gun. I have one like it. Last edited by Armybrat; May 4, 2013 at 09:55 AM.

May 5, 2013, 10:12 AM	#11
Ricklin Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2008 Location: SW Washington state Posts: 2,011	Our very own classifieds might work. For the greatest exposure check out Gunbroker.com __________________ ricklin Freedom is not free

May 5, 2013, 04:41 PM	#12
mapsjanhere Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2009 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 2,832	BTW legally that's an antique and not a gun, so you can mail it without FFL (local rules notwithstanding, I'm sure NY, NJ and CA would see something wrong with that). __________________ 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.

June 10, 2013, 04:49 PM	#13
TATER Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2002 Location: Mississippi Posts: 963	Why do you assume "boyfriend" and not G-Pa.. If it were G-Pa's Love nor Money would Get it from me…. I have obtained some really nice old guns from friends who were "Flabbergasted and Shocked" To find a gun after the passing of loved ones… I remember One time I recovered a revolver from the top drawer of a dresser a recent widow had found after the husbands death. Some People feel that it is their duty to protect family even if the family don't know it. Last edited by TATER; June 10, 2013 at 11:59 PM.

May 1, 2013, 05:33 PM	#2
Kevin_d77 Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2012 Location: SW FL Posts: 953	Heirloom. Keep it.

May 1, 2013, 05:40 PM	#3
tristar viper Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 889	Don't want it. What's it worth?

May 1, 2013, 06:09 PM	#5
tristar viper Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 889	Yea....it's obviously a revolver, not a pistol.

May 1, 2013, 06:11 PM	#6
tristar viper Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 889	And I apologize if this is not in the right forum. Forum staff, please move to apropriate area if it's necessary.

May 3, 2013, 05:34 PM	#7
tristar viper Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 889	It says colt on the top of the barrel, and Hartford CT, USA. As far as caliber, a 22 long fits nicely, but is too long. So I guess 22 short??

May 3, 2013, 09:18 PM	#8
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	It is a Colt "Old Line" Open Top Pocket Revolver. They were made in .22 and will fire both .22 Short and .22 Long (not Long Rifle). There were some 114,000 made from 1871 to 1877 in two versions; that is the first version. The brass frames were nickel plated, some silver plated, the barrels blued. That gun looks like the finish has been stripped or worn down to the brass. The pictures are not good enough to provide any real evaluation, but as close as I can tell, the value might run to $700 or so, retail. One in like-new condition could bring over $3000, but the pictures don't indicate any such condition. Jim

May 5, 2013, 06:21 AM	#10
tristar viper Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 889	Thank you, I appreciate the information. So where would be the best place to advertise it? Or would the firing line classifieds be just fine?

June 10, 2013, 09:20 PM	#14
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	Wasn't the Old Line also made in several other rimfire calibers? Or am I thinking of the New Line? __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

June 11, 2013, 03:27 PM	#16
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Hi, Mike, The gun collectors call the Open Top Pocket Model Revolver, or "Old Line", was made only in .22. As far as I can determine, Colt called it "Colt's Breech Loading Seven Shot Revolving Pistol" so it is easy to see why it got a shorter name. There were two versions, of which that is the first. The "New Line", which was Colt's term (in full - "Colt's New Line Breech Loading Revolving Pistol"), had a top strap and a fluted cylinder with notches at the rear. There were several slightly different versions because of the caliber; they were made in .22, .30, .32, .38 and .41 rimfire and .32, .38., and .41 center fire. The .22 was seven shot, the others 5. Jim

June 11, 2013, 09:36 PM	#17
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	In other words... I was thinking of the New Line. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

July 1, 2013, 03:53 AM	#18
cjmmc Member Join Date: June 8, 2013 Posts: 32	if i were you id keep it, its something that not everyone has