1929 Colt SAA Value

[PaulL]

My coworker has a 1929 Colt SAA s/n 353XXX with a 7 1/2" barrel. I was told it has been re-blued and it doesn't have the original grips. Condition is probably 80-90% other than that. The gun has a 3-digit number (490) stamped into the loading gate that differs from the last 3 of the serial number. I don't know if that's significant or not. It also looks like it was first stamped with "489" and then had "490" stamped over it. I'm curious as to the value because I have a chance to buy it, and I'd like to make the guy a fair offer. It belonged to his father and he wants it to have a good home. I'd really like that home to be mine (if I can afford it).

Thanks in advance for any help you guys can give.

[Bruce in WV]

That's a desirable gun. Refinishing and non-matching numbers makes it difficult to guess about value, but there are fanatics over at coltforum that live and breath these guns. Go to coltforum.com and get some help from the experts.

[CAVDOC]

loading gate number is an assembly number and has no correlation with the gun serial number so that is ok. Since it is refinished I'd put value in the 1500-2 range. if it had been the pictured condition in original finish you'd be looking at north of 5 grand. You do not mention caliber- generally the larger calibers (45, 44-40) have a bit more value than the smaller calibers. based on the appearance of the cylinder I am guessing it is a 45?

[PaulL]

Thanks for the replies. We came to an agreement that we both thought was fair and I'm now the proud new owner. I'm still curious about specifics on it, so I appreciate you guys' input. I'll be checking out coltforum.com for sure.

The gun also came with grips that this guy's dad made from walrus tusk. They looked freaking AWESOME, so I changed over to those. I figure it didn't have original Colt grips, so why not go with the pretty ones.

I'm also going to try to get the history from Colt. With the background story and Colt's info, it'll be a nice piece of gun history to pass on. I've always owned whatever the new whiz-bang hardware was, so this is a pleasant break from the norm.



**DISCLAIMER**
ONE WALRUS WAS HARMED IN THE MAKING OF THESE GRIPS

[Jake'sDad]

Beautiful gun. From the pictures, it looks like the refinish job was done right, especially the case coloring. Factory refinish maybe? A factory letter may answer that.

[PaulL]

I've got a call in to Colt to get some info and a letter. I had a couple of experts look at it and the case color is definitely original. Still not sure about the re-blue, though. It was done more than 50 years ago, so probably a factory job.

[g5m]

The color case certainly looks original so I'd wonder if it was reblued. Very nice revolver.

[Jake'sDad]

If that case color is original, I'd doubt it was reblued.