Fair value of this Colt 1903 Pocket 32ACP?

Skadoosh · October 5, 2012, 07:01 AM

I am trying to ascertain the fair market value of a Colt 1903 Pocket Hammerless chambered in 32ACP that I own.

This pistol has it's original grips and two-tone magazine. It also came with a set of Mother Of Pearl grips and grip screw when my dad got in the 1950's. It still shoots great and is surprisingly very accurate.

This pistol was apparently re-blued sometime before my father came to owning it. The mother of pearl grips, despite being quite thick, were never really used because my dad did not know how old they were and was afraid of them cracking if he shot this pistol with them on. Personally, I think they are more than thick enough to withstand any amount of shooting.

Interestingly, the serial number on the frame of this Colt is 388117...but the serial number on the slide is 389117. I am pretty sure it is a "9" and not a light strike that caused the 8 to look like a 9.

So, what is fair market value for this old Colt...including the pearl grips?

Winchester_73 · October 5, 2012, 07:55 AM

I'm going to say something controversial about the value of this one...

First of all, I would separate what you have prior to selling. I would say just the gun is worth $400 give or take $50. Now on the other hand, $450 is steep. The grips should bring over $100. Here is the controversial piece of advice. In this SPECIFIC situation, I would go out and get a replacement mag and ask $400 for the gun, maybe take $350. It will still sell for that most likely, even with the replacement mag. Then I would ebay the grips, and most importantly ebay the magazine. That magazine believe it or not is worth $150 to $250 by itself. Its not cost effective to sell that great magazine in a reblued gun, and if the gun WITHOUT a mag is worth $300 or so, WITH the mag its not worth $500. So you would lose $50 (selling without the mag) or so in what you might realize since the gun is reblued with a replacement mag, BUT you would gain $150 or so after selling the mag. That's a sought after mag. The mag does not ADD its value onto the gun. The person buying it doesn't think "add $150 for original mag"

Now of course, this advice would not make sense if you had a collector grade gun, but you don't, and most likely the buyer will accept that hes getting a fair deal because the gun does not have an original mag. The refinish of this gun isn't bad per se, but its also obviously redone. Someone would be buying it for shooting, or carry, or as a cheaper/entry level old gun. When the gun is say $350, they can't say "well without a mag its only worth $200" because thats not true at all. You might think its crazy or not worth it, but literally its $100s of dollars difference. The guy buying it would probably sell the pearls, so you should let people fight over them and fight over the mag. Just my opinion...(I've been in similar situations and this is how to make the most $$$)

Skadoosh · October 5, 2012, 08:49 AM

Thank you, Winchester_73. I did not realize the parts were worth more than the sum total.

Rodger_p · October 5, 2012, 10:16 AM

For what it might be worth, I have picked up several extra mags from Numrich.
I do not know what manufacturer they are. I have purchased both the .32 and .380 and all of them have worked flawlessly.

I did, however have to file a few thousanths of an inch off of the base of the .32 mags to get them to seat properly.

October 5, 2012, 07:01 AM	#1
Skadoosh Senior Member Join Date: December 13, 2010 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 2,016	Fair value of this Colt 1903 Pocket 32ACP? I am trying to ascertain the fair market value of a Colt 1903 Pocket Hammerless chambered in 32ACP that I own. This pistol has it's original grips and two-tone magazine. It also came with a set of Mother Of Pearl grips and grip screw when my dad got in the 1950's. It still shoots great and is surprisingly very accurate. This pistol was apparently re-blued sometime before my father came to owning it. The mother of pearl grips, despite being quite thick, were never really used because my dad did not know how old they were and was afraid of them cracking if he shot this pistol with them on. Personally, I think they are more than thick enough to withstand any amount of shooting. Interestingly, the serial number on the frame of this Colt is 388117...but the serial number on the slide is 389117. I am pretty sure it is a "9" and not a light strike that caused the 8 to look like a 9. So, what is fair market value for this old Colt...including the pearl grips? __________________ NRA Life Member USN Retired Last edited by Skadoosh; October 5, 2012 at 07:09 AM.

October 5, 2012, 07:55 AM	#2
Winchester_73 Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2008 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 2,863	I'm going to say something controversial about the value of this one... First of all, I would separate what you have prior to selling. I would say just the gun is worth $400 give or take $50. Now on the other hand, $450 is steep. The grips should bring over $100. Here is the controversial piece of advice. In this SPECIFIC situation, I would go out and get a replacement mag and ask $400 for the gun, maybe take $350. It will still sell for that most likely, even with the replacement mag. Then I would ebay the grips, and most importantly ebay the magazine. That magazine believe it or not is worth $150 to $250 by itself. Its not cost effective to sell that great magazine in a reblued gun, and if the gun WITHOUT a mag is worth $300 or so, WITH the mag its not worth $500. So you would lose $50 (selling without the mag) or so in what you might realize since the gun is reblued with a replacement mag, BUT you would gain $150 or so after selling the mag. That's a sought after mag. The mag does not ADD its value onto the gun. The person buying it doesn't think "add $150 for original mag" Now of course, this advice would not make sense if you had a collector grade gun, but you don't, and most likely the buyer will accept that hes getting a fair deal because the gun does not have an original mag. The refinish of this gun isn't bad per se, but its also obviously redone. Someone would be buying it for shooting, or carry, or as a cheaper/entry level old gun. When the gun is say $350, they can't say "well without a mag its only worth $200" because thats not true at all. You might think its crazy or not worth it, but literally its $100s of dollars difference. The guy buying it would probably sell the pearls, so you should let people fight over them and fight over the mag. Just my opinion...(I've been in similar situations and this is how to make the most $$$) __________________ Winchester 73, the TFL user that won the west Last edited by Winchester_73; October 5, 2012 at 06:16 PM.

October 5, 2012, 08:49 AM	#3
Skadoosh Senior Member Join Date: December 13, 2010 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 2,016	Thank you, Winchester_73. I did not realize the parts were worth more than the sum total. __________________ NRA Life Member USN Retired

October 5, 2012, 10:16 AM	#4
Rodger_p Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2004 Location: East TN. Posts: 207	For what it might be worth, I have picked up several extra mags from Numrich. I do not know what manufacturer they are. I have purchased both the .32 and .380 and all of them have worked flawlessly. I did, however have to file a few thousanths of an inch off of the base of the .32 mags to get them to seat properly.