Esteban32696
New member
A friend of mine, who loves old long guns , asked me what C & R pistols would be great as collectibles, & are still reasonably priced ? I had no idea & am asking here.
C & R Pistol Collecting
- Thread starter Esteban32696
- Start date
carguychris
New member
A few favorites...
FWIW when looking at older European automatics, 7.65mm Browning = 7.65 = .32ACP, 9mm Short = 9mm Kurz = 9mm Corto = 9mm Browning = .380ACP. Different countries, different terminology.
- I frame Smith & Wesson revolvers, particularly pre-1950 models with a leaf mainspring rather than a coil mainspring. The I frame is the predecessor of the modern-day J frame; they can be found chambered in .32 Long (6-shot), .38 S&W (5-shot), and .22LR (6-shot), roughly in order to increasing rarity
- Colt Police Positive revolvers. FWIW the Colt cartridge names sound strange but are the same thing as more common S&W cartridges; Colt did not want to put their archrival's name on their guns
- Savage .32ACP & .380ACP pistols (Models 1907, 1915, & 1917); the 1907 is particularly nifty because it was designed to work around John Browning's patent on grip panels attached by screws (no joke, he actually patented the concept), and the entire pistol is designed without the use of a single screw!
- FN Models 1910 and 1922 .32ACP (common, inexpensive) and .380ACP (uncommon, more expensive) automatics. The FN 1922 is a descendant of the 1910 with a longer barrel, greater ammo capacity, decent sights, and a detachable nosecap that allows it to be taken apart without a special barrel bushing tool; it's also a lot more common due to abundant WWII bringbacks, but it's not necessarily a lot more expensive
- Mauser HSc and its more homely predecessors (Models 1910, 1914, & 1938); all are actually quite mechanically similar, but the HSc was radically restyled to compete with the Walther PP-series
- Beretta M1934 (.380ACP) & M1935 (same thing in .32ACP)
FWIW when looking at older European automatics, 7.65mm Browning = 7.65 = .32ACP, 9mm Short = 9mm Kurz = 9mm Corto = 9mm Browning = .380ACP. Different countries, different terminology.
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Are you talking just pistols or are you talking about revolvers too?
A great placve to start a C&R pistol collection is with CZ 52, Tokerev, CZ 82, systema Colt, Astra 400, and Star BM. If you want to get into revolvers too, Nagants are still real cheap. Oncr you get a FFL the best thing you can do is buy a box of envlopes, a book of stamps, a Shotgun News, then make 20 copies and then mail them to every FFL in SGN. You'll get flyers describing special pricing info and the latest inventory items.
A great placve to start a C&R pistol collection is with CZ 52, Tokerev, CZ 82, systema Colt, Astra 400, and Star BM. If you want to get into revolvers too, Nagants are still real cheap. Oncr you get a FFL the best thing you can do is buy a box of envlopes, a book of stamps, a Shotgun News, then make 20 copies and then mail them to every FFL in SGN. You'll get flyers describing special pricing info and the latest inventory items.
Esteban32696
New member
Thanks a lot. Keep the info coming on handguns, only. The only thing I knew to tell him was anything made by " Colt."
Esteban32696
New member
Pistols= revolvers or semi's are what he wants to start collecting. He really seems to like much older firearms, such as the antique, Cowboy revolver types, too. I have referred him to black powder forum as well.
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Actually Estebon, revolvers and pistols are two different types of handguns. just like shotguns and rifles are two different types of long guns.
A pistol is a handgun whose chamber is integral to the barrel. Sub types of pistols are single shot top breaks, muzzle loaders, derringers, and semiautomatics and pepperboxes.
A revolver is a handgun with a rotating chamber. Some subtypes of revolvers are blackpowder, cartridge, top break, and pepperboxes.
Many people often use the words pistol, handgun, and revolver interchangeably, but they really have a much different meaning much as a clip vs a magazine. There are revolvers that use clips and pistols that use magazines but no revolvers that use magazines and very few pistols that use clips.
I've seen some swiss 7.5 mm revolvers for sale lately too, but at $800 they seem overpriced.
A pistol is a handgun whose chamber is integral to the barrel. Sub types of pistols are single shot top breaks, muzzle loaders, derringers, and semiautomatics and pepperboxes.
A revolver is a handgun with a rotating chamber. Some subtypes of revolvers are blackpowder, cartridge, top break, and pepperboxes.
Many people often use the words pistol, handgun, and revolver interchangeably, but they really have a much different meaning much as a clip vs a magazine. There are revolvers that use clips and pistols that use magazines but no revolvers that use magazines and very few pistols that use clips.
I've seen some swiss 7.5 mm revolvers for sale lately too, but at $800 they seem overpriced.
Now that the can is open, unleash the worms!!!
Historically, a firearm operated by one hand was called a pistol. The redefinition of "pistol" as a subset of handguns, specifically semiautomatic handguns seems to be a 20th century American phenomenon.
In the 19th century, as revolvers became commonplace, the two terms diverged in order to differentiate revolvers from single shot muzzleloaders.
Personally, I think that it's just easier to say "revolver" than "revolving chamber pistol", just as it's easier to say "pistol" than "semiautomatic pistol".
Anyway, I guess that the technical usage of the word depends upon which continent you hail from. My understanding is that the King's (Queen's?) English considers anything fired from one hand to be a pistol, regardless of its action.
FWIW, I tend to follow the American definition of the word...but it's not a settled matter.
Historically, a firearm operated by one hand was called a pistol. The redefinition of "pistol" as a subset of handguns, specifically semiautomatic handguns seems to be a 20th century American phenomenon.
In the 19th century, as revolvers became commonplace, the two terms diverged in order to differentiate revolvers from single shot muzzleloaders.
Personally, I think that it's just easier to say "revolver" than "revolving chamber pistol", just as it's easier to say "pistol" than "semiautomatic pistol".
Anyway, I guess that the technical usage of the word depends upon which continent you hail from. My understanding is that the King's (Queen's?) English considers anything fired from one hand to be a pistol, regardless of its action.
FWIW, I tend to follow the American definition of the word...but it's not a settled matter.
Off that old argument and back to collectibles.
The great Colt DA revolvers made from pre-WWI to pre-WWII. They are C&R, are beautifully made, and are still reasonably priced. They can often be found in near 100% condition, having sat, unfired, in desk and bureau drawers.
The vast miscellany of small pistols of the c. 1880-1920 era that are often scorned as "suicide specials". But there is a tremendous variety and they are just now coming to the interest of collectors; beaten up rusty junkers will never be any more than that, but many are in very nice condition and will increase in value. And some are very well made; the big F&W pistols are high priced, but the small ones, using the same mechanism, are often found in good shape for around $250. Same with guns like the H&A Safety Police, which had another take on the "hammer the hammer" safety, the small Colt revolvers, and S&W topbreaks, in good condition.
Jim
The great Colt DA revolvers made from pre-WWI to pre-WWII. They are C&R, are beautifully made, and are still reasonably priced. They can often be found in near 100% condition, having sat, unfired, in desk and bureau drawers.
The vast miscellany of small pistols of the c. 1880-1920 era that are often scorned as "suicide specials". But there is a tremendous variety and they are just now coming to the interest of collectors; beaten up rusty junkers will never be any more than that, but many are in very nice condition and will increase in value. And some are very well made; the big F&W pistols are high priced, but the small ones, using the same mechanism, are often found in good shape for around $250. Same with guns like the H&A Safety Police, which had another take on the "hammer the hammer" safety, the small Colt revolvers, and S&W topbreaks, in good condition.
Jim
Magnum Wheel Man
New member
I started collecting old top break & solid frame revolvers manufactured from the late 1800's & early 1900's this was the era of the black powder cartridge gun, & the switch to the 1st smokeless cartridges... these are normally pretty reasonably priced, good quality guns can still be shot albeit I load light loads of Trailboss & lead round balls for weaker or rarer guns if shooting them... even the S&W's in this era can often be purchased pretty reasonably ( most of which I'm talking about are 32 & 38 S&W ) there are alot of these guns that are Rim Fires, which I don't normally collect, except for a few examples, because they generally aren't shootable... excetions being the 22 Rim Fire which I shoot Colibri & Super Colibri ammo in those...
the Safety Police guns were mentioned, & I find them to be almost as shootable as the S&W's... BTW... there was a pleathora of gun inovations both in design & metal advances... I have a couple old Iver Johnsons, that have trigger safetys very similar to the glock trigger safety, & these are on pre 1900 guns...
BTW... in tha era, it was easier to produce a nice nickel gun than a nice polished blued gun, so the blued guns are more rare... & real MOP grips were not uncommon...
this is one of my nicer old Hopkins & Allen guns...
the Safety Police guns were mentioned, & I find them to be almost as shootable as the S&W's... BTW... there was a pleathora of gun inovations both in design & metal advances... I have a couple old Iver Johnsons, that have trigger safetys very similar to the glock trigger safety, & these are on pre 1900 guns...
BTW... in tha era, it was easier to produce a nice nickel gun than a nice polished blued gun, so the blued guns are more rare... & real MOP grips were not uncommon...
this is one of my nicer old Hopkins & Allen guns...
Esteban32696
New member
Well, I never knew there was a pistol/revolver,, etc debate. Just for ME , a pistol is pretty much like " hardcase " mentions. If I can fire it with one had, it's a pistol, which may be a revolver, semi, or whatever. I will just keep referrring to it that way.
I have always liked the Colt revolvers , too. A lot of American History is associated with that name. I have had a couple of the top break actions, like Iver Johnson, & " Lemon Squeezer." I guess the uniqueness of some of the " Saturday Night Specials " could be added to the list as well. I have always frowned upon those. I played hookie in high school & a friend & I went target shooting. I had an H & R 999 back then & he had an Italian .25 " Something." It blew up in my hand ! Lucky I wasn't injured badly !
Thanks for the suggestions & add more if you can.
I have always liked the Colt revolvers , too. A lot of American History is associated with that name. I have had a couple of the top break actions, like Iver Johnson, & " Lemon Squeezer." I guess the uniqueness of some of the " Saturday Night Specials " could be added to the list as well. I have always frowned upon those. I played hookie in high school & a friend & I went target shooting. I had an H & R 999 back then & he had an Italian .25 " Something." It blew up in my hand ! Lucky I wasn't injured badly !
Thanks for the suggestions & add more if you can.
I thought the Pistol/revolver thing went away in the 1960s. At that time, there was much pontification about it being ignorant to call a revolver a pistol because of the barrel/chamber thing.
Somebody finally noticed that Samuel Colt had called his invention a "Revolving Pistol" and the argument achieve the status of " Pneumologism" -a word or construct designed primarly to underscore the intellectual superiorty of a blowhard (no digs to present company intended)
Somebody finally noticed that Samuel Colt had called his invention a "Revolving Pistol" and the argument achieve the status of " Pneumologism" -a word or construct designed primarly to underscore the intellectual superiorty of a blowhard (no digs to present company intended)
Esteban32696
New member
Very nice pistol, Magnum. I'll talk to him this weekend & give him some ideas of what to collect. I recently saw a few of the above mentioned ones for sale. One old H & R topbreak, which should be cheap enough !
Knowing him,,, he wants to collect as an investment, rather than a hobby. He is like a politician. " He has money, but always wants more & more ! "
Knowing him,,, he wants to collect as an investment, rather than a hobby. He is like a politician. " He has money, but always wants more & more ! "
H&Rs in the 1890-1910 vintage seem to be horribly underappreciated right now. I've picked up a few "The American" models for well under a hundred bucks. They made a gazillion of them, to be sure, but if your friend is thinking in investment terms, it wouldn't surprise me to see a $70 gun become a $150 to $200 gun in the not to distant future. And that's not too bad a return.
^^$40 in the local classifieds late last year^^
You're channeling my wife! She calls me a blowhard all the time. I think I like you
^^$40 in the local classifieds late last year^^
mec said:
You're channeling my wife! She calls me a blowhard all the time. I think I like you
Magnum Wheel Man
New member
also the Iver Johnsons & some / most of these have almost a cult following...
I particularly like Hopkins & Allens over the H&R's & Ivers because of some of the options they offered that were not available on the other brands... on non top break models, most guns of this era had open loading ports... & while it looks like the cartridges could just fall out, the way the gun indexes, the cartridge never lines up perfectly with the open port which would allow the brass to slide out partially & lock up the revolver... but it could happen if shooting in an upward angle...
this is an example of the open loading port on a gun I'm sure was unfired, when I bought it... it was / is chambered in 30 rim fire, which became obsolite long long ago... I had some rifled chamber insered made for the cylinder, so I can shoot 22 rimfire safely in the gun.... ( I use Super Colibri ammo which uses only priming compound & no gun powder ) out of the short cylinder length barrels & through the 30 caliber barrel, where the bullet doesn't contact, I get about 500 + fps out of this lil spur trigger
2 of the options I like on Hopkins & Allen guns are the folding hammer & one of the 1st loading gates... finding guns in good condition with a couple of options makes them good investments...
( most of this ammo was corrosive, so finding guns with good finish & or good bores are pretty challenging ) BTW... the blued & pearl gun I pictured earlier is also in almost unfired condition with a good bore as well...
I bought this gun for $80.00 less than a year ago, it's in almost unfired condition, 38 S&W with the bore good with no pits, it has both the folding hammer & a loading gate... I think I got a great deal on it, & honestly feel it's worth more in the $175.00 range... but I wouldn't sell it for even $200.00 today
I particularly like Hopkins & Allens over the H&R's & Ivers because of some of the options they offered that were not available on the other brands... on non top break models, most guns of this era had open loading ports... & while it looks like the cartridges could just fall out, the way the gun indexes, the cartridge never lines up perfectly with the open port which would allow the brass to slide out partially & lock up the revolver... but it could happen if shooting in an upward angle...
this is an example of the open loading port on a gun I'm sure was unfired, when I bought it... it was / is chambered in 30 rim fire, which became obsolite long long ago... I had some rifled chamber insered made for the cylinder, so I can shoot 22 rimfire safely in the gun.... ( I use Super Colibri ammo which uses only priming compound & no gun powder ) out of the short cylinder length barrels & through the 30 caliber barrel, where the bullet doesn't contact, I get about 500 + fps out of this lil spur trigger
2 of the options I like on Hopkins & Allen guns are the folding hammer & one of the 1st loading gates... finding guns in good condition with a couple of options makes them good investments...
( most of this ammo was corrosive, so finding guns with good finish & or good bores are pretty challenging ) BTW... the blued & pearl gun I pictured earlier is also in almost unfired condition with a good bore as well...
I bought this gun for $80.00 less than a year ago, it's in almost unfired condition, 38 S&W with the bore good with no pits, it has both the folding hammer & a loading gate... I think I got a great deal on it, & honestly feel it's worth more in the $175.00 range... but I wouldn't sell it for even $200.00 today
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Magnum Wheel Man
New member
BTW... the S&W is still probably the most collectable, though you'll likely pay more for them in the 1st place...
this is a S&W in 38 S&W, top break & a "lemon squeezer" the picture hides alot of its faults, but it's over all a pretty nice gun... I don't particularly like shooting this model... it's longer in the grip frame area, which I find I don't prefer... the "squeezer" function is very light & IMO, doesn't change the shooting charictoristic... just don't like that extra length between the back of the cylinder & the front of the grip...
my preferences here don't seem to hurt the collectability though
BTW... the 38's seem more a bit more rare & carry a higher value than the 32's with all the guns of this era...
& the 22 rim fires are harder to find in good shape & can carry a higher price... probably for at least these 3 reasons
they got shot more, & guns in this era were often of marginal quality in the 1st place, it was not uncommon to "wear them out"
the smaller bore & chambers were harder to clean, & the 22's often belonged to younger shooters... the black powder 22 rim fire cartridges that alot of these were made for, was corrosive, so lots of them look pretty abused
there is no chamber difference between high velocity 22 lr & the old black powder cartridges, so alot of guns that were design for realitively low pressure black powder 22 cartridges got subjected to modern 22 cartridges & the actions, the hinges & or latches on top breaks, or even the cylinders have been destroyed...
I had to look for quite a while before I found a "good deal" on a top break 22... this is my US Revolver ( made by Iver Johnson ) that is in really good shape, bore is perfect... it still cost me more than most of the other guns in this part of my collection...
this is a S&W in 38 S&W, top break & a "lemon squeezer" the picture hides alot of its faults, but it's over all a pretty nice gun... I don't particularly like shooting this model... it's longer in the grip frame area, which I find I don't prefer... the "squeezer" function is very light & IMO, doesn't change the shooting charictoristic... just don't like that extra length between the back of the cylinder & the front of the grip...
my preferences here don't seem to hurt the collectability though
BTW... the 38's seem more a bit more rare & carry a higher value than the 32's with all the guns of this era...
& the 22 rim fires are harder to find in good shape & can carry a higher price... probably for at least these 3 reasons
they got shot more, & guns in this era were often of marginal quality in the 1st place, it was not uncommon to "wear them out"
the smaller bore & chambers were harder to clean, & the 22's often belonged to younger shooters... the black powder 22 rim fire cartridges that alot of these were made for, was corrosive, so lots of them look pretty abused
there is no chamber difference between high velocity 22 lr & the old black powder cartridges, so alot of guns that were design for realitively low pressure black powder 22 cartridges got subjected to modern 22 cartridges & the actions, the hinges & or latches on top breaks, or even the cylinders have been destroyed...
I had to look for quite a while before I found a "good deal" on a top break 22... this is my US Revolver ( made by Iver Johnson ) that is in really good shape, bore is perfect... it still cost me more than most of the other guns in this part of my collection...
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dogtown tom
New member
The first gun I bought with my C&R was a Colt Woodsman .22 pistol.
All of the Woodsman (inc. Huntsman, Targetsman, Challenger, etc) are C&R regardless of the actual year of manufacture.
There are enough variations among the three series to make collecting fun....and they are fine shooting little .22's.
I've also bought a couple of Remington Model 51 .380 pistols. Until this year it was the only semiauto ever made by Remington.
All of the Woodsman (inc. Huntsman, Targetsman, Challenger, etc) are C&R regardless of the actual year of manufacture.
There are enough variations among the three series to make collecting fun....and they are fine shooting little .22's.
I've also bought a couple of Remington Model 51 .380 pistols. Until this year it was the only semiauto ever made by Remington.