View Full Version : What do you think it's worth? A Colt from the Little Big Horn
A recently rediscovered and authenticated Colt Peacemaker that survived the Battle of the Little Big Horn is coming up for auction at R.I.A. next weekend. The serial number of this revolver is 4552. The frame of the following serial number, 4553, was discovered on the battlefield during an archeological dig in 1992. What do you think it's worth, and how much do you think it will sell for?
https://youtu.be/o-JgK1A15Jk
One More Time
05-07-22, 16:44
It's in better shape than the other one that sold for $33,000
https://holabirdamericana.liveauctiongroup.com/EXTREMELY-RARE-and-HISTORIC-RELIC-CUSTER-LITTLE-BIG-HORN-BATTLEFIELD-COLT-45-REVOLVER_i24628319
Coal Dragger
05-07-22, 20:57
That’s an understatement.
I bet it goes for half a mil.
I bet it goes for half a mil.
Right there. SAA are more scary than collecting Lugers. I still need a "single example" in my collection.
I worry about provenance for something like that. Wouldn't be impossible for it to be a plant. It's happened before.
Take an insanely collectible item and associate it with an important event and quadruple the price.
It's in better shape than the other one that sold for $33,000
https://holabirdamericana.liveauctiongroup.com/EXTREMELY-RARE-and-HISTORIC-RELIC-CUSTER-LITTLE-BIG-HORN-BATTLEFIELD-COLT-45-REVOLVER_i24628319
Ain't nobody gonna give 33,000 fir that!
Ain't nobody gonna give 33,000 fir that!
It never ceases to amaze me what some people buy. I know a collector who bought a German WWII helmet that was dug up at Normandy near the beach, would be an amazing collectible except it was about 65% missing due to rust. The bottom rim of the helmet was there and barely attached to what remained above it.
I get it's possible association with the D Day invasion and the Atlantic wall, but in 100 years despite any efforts at preservation, this helmet will be dust. It was buried at a salt water beach for almost 50 years, there is no saving it.
Similarly I think that Colt revolver (the one that sold for 33k) is going to have a limited life span. Some things you just put in a museum for it's novelty status.
About 20 years ago, a Colt SAA with serial number that put it at the battle was sold for around $2k.
This revolver had the barrel cut down to 4.5 inches at some point and had some finish issues.
So I passed on it.
I still want a revolver from the battle and the other gun I really want is anything that had belonged to John Wesley Hardin.
Teddy Roosevelt's Colt went for $1.75 million two years ago.
https://youtu.be/aLQOvPMAjqk
I can see The Little Big Horn Colt going for at least a million.
The Little Big Horn Colt went for $763,000.
https://youtu.be/tOl75MvECRM
The Little Big Horn Colt went for $763,000.
https://youtu.be/tOl75MvECRM
Mack wasn't far off with his half mill estimate.
https://youtu.be/QAcQZruv3Vc
No indication if it had been forensically matched to samples from the battlefield, or did I miss it?
Coal Dragger
05-25-22, 19:09
Pretty detailed video on the provenance of that SAA.
No indication if it had been forensically matched to samples from the battlefield, or did I miss it?
Not exactly, historical records in the opinion of an expert "strongly indicate" it would have been present but actual provenance is a family who brought it to a gun store with a story that "in Indian gave it to our grandfather and he got it off the battle field." Gun is original config, but honestly there is nothing actually linking it to the battle other than "could be."
Not exactly, historical records in the opinion of an expert "strongly indicate" it would have been present but actual provenance is a family who brought it to a gun store with a story that "in Indian gave it to our grandfather and he got it off the battle field." Gun is original config, but honestly there is nothing actually linking it to the battle other than "could be."
I would add that there was an archeological dig done on the battlefield back in the 1990's and a Colt frame with a serial number one digit after the one in the auction was recovered.
I would add that there was an archeological dig done on the battlefield back in the 1990's and a Colt frame with a serial number one digit after the one in the auction was recovered.
And I believe THAT one was involved. The one auctioned is still something of a "maybe." I try and learn from things like all the Wyatt Earp personal firearms that were sold after his death.
Coal Dragger
05-26-22, 18:49
The method of an armory issuing those revolvers in lots is very strongly indicative that 4552 was at the battle.
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