Signed Colt 1903 Mag

bn12gg · September 24, 2016, 10:40 AM

I have a chance to pick up a Colt 1903 mag (type 4 I believe). Two tone Colt 32 auto on the base. GunBroker rate seems $200ish for nice ones. The one offered has a guys name, home town and state engraved into its' back side. How much should I offer for the mag ?

Thanks. David.

T. O'Heir · September 24, 2016, 11:39 AM

That engraving drops it value by half. Mind you, Gunbroker prices are excessive. Auctions are like that. Gunparts lists 1903 Hammerless mags at $45($52.95 for a used factory mag they don't have) for a .32. $49.95 for a factory .380. Not that they have any of those. Other retailers are asking les than that too. As low as $33.

bn12gg · September 24, 2016, 12:31 PM

T.O. Thanks for 50% drop in value info re engraved signature. The GunBroker auctions seem to have that over the top starting bid -- wonder how a 1903 32 acp mag would do in a no reserve condition with a penny start.

Thanks David.

tipoc · September 24, 2016, 04:36 PM

You might could get some here for $40.

https://www.triplek.com/product/colt...zine-or-grips/

Some are about always on EBay.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from...&_sacat=177879

Sold out at present but...

https://www.gunpartscorp.com/Manufac...575.htm?page=3

tipoc

bn12gg · September 24, 2016, 08:53 PM

Tipoc - Thanks for the mag sources. I have a good mag for my 1903 -- just interested in a second be/c a guy ran it under my nose at my club. With the assistance. I've received from you guys I'm certainly not going to offer 1/2 of $200 -- more like $35. Eh!

Thanks again. David.

James K · September 24, 2016, 09:08 PM

"That engraving drops its value by half."

Even if the name happens to be George S. Patton, John M. Browning, Dwight Eisenhower.....??

Jim

bn12gg · September 24, 2016, 09:16 PM

Actually the engraving is a hand written signature plus town and state. If one of those generals had actually hand signed a mag and it could be proven -- well that would be a very valuable $$$$ mag. The elderly fellow who signed the mag is alive as per my brief Google search -- unfortunately he's just one of us common guys. Ha !

Thanks. David.

bn12gg · September 24, 2016, 09:28 PM

Jim K -- Next thing you see happening will be fake signed Colt 1903 .32/.380 mags showing up for auction on eBay.

David.

James K · September 24, 2016, 09:42 PM

Yep; I just made up a selection using my electric pencil - first come first served at $500 each. Extra for Abe Lincoln and R.E. Lee.

Jim

Walt Sherrill · September 24, 2016, 09:48 PM

I've had no personal experience with TripleK magazines, but have read (on the 'net) a lot of horror stories about them.

I think that if I needed mags for a Colt 1903, I'd try hard to find used factory mags, and look around for springs from Wolff or other sources.

James K · September 24, 2016, 09:54 PM

If you could find factory mags, you wouldn't need new springs. The old magazines had far better springs than most of those made today and will be working long after the modern junk is in the range trash can.

Jim

Walt Sherrill · September 24, 2016, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Even if the name happens to be George S. Patton, John M. Browning, Dwight Eisenhower.....??

The fact that Patton, Browning or Eisenhower weren't NAMED in the listing (and that the prior owner's name also wasn't mentioned) might suggest that the prior owner was NOT someone of great historical significance, and that there was nothing special about his or her prior ownership.

Having a non-famous prior owner's name (or driver's license number, or something similar) scratched, etched, or engraved on a gun or gun part does NOT generally increase value.

Anyone can engrave stuff on a weapon. Provenance is generally established in other ways, including an impressive paper trail. I'd pay LESS for a magazine marked in that manner.

September 24, 2016, 10:40 AM	#1
bn12gg Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2011 Location: Winter Park, Florida Posts: 470	Signed Colt 1903 Mag I have a chance to pick up a Colt 1903 mag (type 4 I believe). Two tone Colt 32 auto on the base. GunBroker rate seems $200ish for nice ones. The one offered has a guys name, home town and state engraved into its' back side. How much should I offer for the mag ? Thanks. David.

September 24, 2016, 11:39 AM	#2
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	That engraving drops it value by half. Mind you, Gunbroker prices are excessive. Auctions are like that. Gunparts lists 1903 Hammerless mags at $45($52.95 for a used factory mag they don't have) for a .32. $49.95 for a factory .380. Not that they have any of those. Other retailers are asking les than that too. As low as $33. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

September 24, 2016, 12:31 PM	#3
bn12gg Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2011 Location: Winter Park, Florida Posts: 470	T.O. Thanks for 50% drop in value info re engraved signature. The GunBroker auctions seem to have that over the top starting bid -- wonder how a 1903 32 acp mag would do in a no reserve condition with a penny start. Thanks David.

September 24, 2016, 04:36 PM	#4
tipoc Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 2004 Location: Redwood City, Ca. Posts: 4,114	You might could get some here for $40. https://www.triplek.com/product/colt...zine-or-grips/ Some are about always on EBay. http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from...&_sacat=177879 Sold out at present but... https://www.gunpartscorp.com/Manufac...575.htm?page=3 tipoc

September 24, 2016, 08:53 PM	#5
bn12gg Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2011 Location: Winter Park, Florida Posts: 470	Tipoc - Thanks for the mag sources. I have a good mag for my 1903 -- just interested in a second be/c a guy ran it under my nose at my club. With the assistance. I've received from you guys I'm certainly not going to offer 1/2 of $200 -- more like $35. Eh! Thanks again. David.

September 24, 2016, 09:08 PM	#6
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	"That engraving drops its value by half." Even if the name happens to be George S. Patton, John M. Browning, Dwight Eisenhower.....?? Jim

September 24, 2016, 09:16 PM	#7
bn12gg Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2011 Location: Winter Park, Florida Posts: 470	Actually the engraving is a hand written signature plus town and state. If one of those generals had actually hand signed a mag and it could be proven -- well that would be a very valuable $$$$ mag. The elderly fellow who signed the mag is alive as per my brief Google search -- unfortunately he's just one of us common guys. Ha ! Thanks. David.

September 24, 2016, 09:28 PM	#8
bn12gg Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2011 Location: Winter Park, Florida Posts: 470	Jim K -- Next thing you see happening will be fake signed Colt 1903 .32/.380 mags showing up for auction on eBay. David.

September 24, 2016, 09:42 PM	#9
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Yep; I just made up a selection using my electric pencil - first come first served at $500 each. Extra for Abe Lincoln and R.E. Lee. Jim

September 24, 2016, 09:48 PM	#10
Walt Sherrill Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 1999 Location: Winston-Salem, NC USA Posts: 6,348	I've had no personal experience with TripleK magazines, but have read (on the 'net) a lot of horror stories about them. I think that if I needed mags for a Colt 1903, I'd try hard to find used factory mags, and look around for springs from Wolff or other sources.

September 24, 2016, 09:54 PM	#11
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	If you could find factory mags, you wouldn't need new springs. The old magazines had far better springs than most of those made today and will be working long after the modern junk is in the range trash can. Jim