I'm looking at an otherwise close to mint collectable pistol that has a drivers license engraved on the side plate about the same size as the serial #. The pistol is from the mid seventies and it was the last year of production. I have the itch to overlook the blemish, but was curious as to how much of the collector value is really lost? The real question is if it has been reduced to "Shooter" status?
Has it been reduced to "Shooter" status?
- Thread starter pdbertb
- Start date
I was able to acquire a Colt Official Police recently that was an unfired police department trade-in. It had sat in their armory un-issued since new in 1961.
The price was reduced by at least three hundred simply because it has an inventory number fairly sloppily electro-pencilled on the frame on the right side.
Collector value was obviously affected, but since I wanted a shooter, I essentially got a "new" 50-year old classic Colt at a very good price.
If you're looking for a collector as opposed to a shooter, I'd pass.
If you want a nice shooter, you can overlook the DL number.
If you're considering it as an investment, pass.
Denis
The price was reduced by at least three hundred simply because it has an inventory number fairly sloppily electro-pencilled on the frame on the right side.
Collector value was obviously affected, but since I wanted a shooter, I essentially got a "new" 50-year old classic Colt at a very good price.
If you're looking for a collector as opposed to a shooter, I'd pass.
If you want a nice shooter, you can overlook the DL number.
If you're considering it as an investment, pass.
Denis
I shoot everything I collect....( even guns I've paid over $3K for ) ...
but a blemish like that - makes it almost worthless to a collector ...or to me personally as a shooter.../ it would have to be real inexpensive ( and a gun that I did not have another one of in the collection ) for me to consider it personally....
but a blemish like that - makes it almost worthless to a collector ...or to me personally as a shooter.../ it would have to be real inexpensive ( and a gun that I did not have another one of in the collection ) for me to consider it personally....
Strafer Gott
New member
Pretty much only a shooter now. Those kind of personalizations bug the hell out of most guys. A real good way to reduce the value permanently.
No, its way less than 50% - in my view....
We don't know what gun is you're talking about ( and it may not matter ) -- but say its a model 27-2 S&W revolver, N frame, .357 mag ....4" blued...very collectable ...
If it was in near excellent condition ( 95% ) ...value these days is about $ 800....or maybe $ 750 - $ 800. With a hanling mark, or two, on the gun ....but with the drivers lic number on the side plate of that gun ....that's a big appearance issue...and I think it would drop the value ( on a blued mod 27-2 to maybe $ 150 ...)...which is really sad...so call it 20%...
Honestly, even with the collectability of a model 27-2 ....I'd pass on the gun ...and buy a different gun.../ I wouldn't even pay $ 150 for it....unless I need some of the parts off the gun ...so to me, its a parts gun.../ so even if it was priced at 20% ...a lot of us, might pass on it .
We don't know what gun is you're talking about ( and it may not matter ) -- but say its a model 27-2 S&W revolver, N frame, .357 mag ....4" blued...very collectable ...
If it was in near excellent condition ( 95% ) ...value these days is about $ 800....or maybe $ 750 - $ 800. With a hanling mark, or two, on the gun ....but with the drivers lic number on the side plate of that gun ....that's a big appearance issue...and I think it would drop the value ( on a blued mod 27-2 to maybe $ 150 ...)...which is really sad...so call it 20%...
Honestly, even with the collectability of a model 27-2 ....I'd pass on the gun ...and buy a different gun.../ I wouldn't even pay $ 150 for it....unless I need some of the parts off the gun ...so to me, its a parts gun.../ so even if it was priced at 20% ...a lot of us, might pass on it .
If the value is put on it by a dealer buying it, he will state that it has "no collector value", and is but a shooter. However, after he buys it and sets about re-selling it and a perspective buyer brings up the electric pencil marking, he will likely say: "A true collector may pass on it, but any gun is a collectors-item to someone."
Strafer Gott
New member
From personal experience, maybe as low as 35%. That was just some initials,
but man did they glare.
but man did they glare.
Magnum Wheel Man
New member
I've run into alot of these things lately... they used to push "Operation Identification" around here, & alot of people took the rotary engrave tool to all their valuables adding the ID number... in effect, reducing the value of most everything they had...
IMO, shooter value, maybe a little less, depending on how unable you are to cover up the number... some put numbers under the grips in tiny numbers, so people litterally wrote across the whole item
IMO, shooter value, maybe a little less, depending on how unable you are to cover up the number... some put numbers under the grips in tiny numbers, so people litterally wrote across the whole item
Colt Woodsman ..is a nice gun ...
and if it were not for that - addition - on the side / in very clean condition its about a $1,000 gun ...maybe a little more...
In that condition ...I wouldn't buy it even for $ 200 ...because there are so many around at my local gunshows....in better condition / its a gun that while not "real common" I can count on seeing at least half a dozen at most of our local shows...in excellent condition ---although it might vary around the country.
There are a lot of other "match grade .22's" out there as well ....from High Standard.../ S&W model 41's .../ Browning Challenger.../ and then there are the new guns - or newer guns from Hammerli, Pardini, etc... like on this site for Larry's Guns....
I'm not a "purist collector" either...every gun I buy / I shoot ...even if I bougth it new in box unfired...like an old model 27 S&W revolver...I'd still shoot it ...might shoot it a lot !! So I'm a shooter at heart ...vs a collector../ I just don't want to see you get burned on this gun ...and see 10 more of them over the next 6 months in better shape...
http://www.larrysguns.com/Departments/New-Pistols/FONT-SIZE3-COLORBLACKB--HammerliBFont.aspx
Its up to you ....but I'd pass on that gun / because if you try and sell it down the road...I think you'll have a really hard time selling it / and even if you had a good shop re-do the finish / and hopefully wet sand out most of the scratchings...losing the old patina on that gun is a sin too.../ making it almost unsaleable.
A case in point...a local shop in my area...has a K-22 masterpiece revolver, 6", .22 ...S&W ...and it has a re-done nickel finish on it ....and its been in the case for over 6 months ...and not a single bite on it. A lot of us would have sucked it up in a heartbeat ...if it were original...and I think the shop has it marked down now to around $ 400 ...and still no takers on it...
There are just too many old guns still out there for sale...
and if it were not for that - addition - on the side / in very clean condition its about a $1,000 gun ...maybe a little more...
In that condition ...I wouldn't buy it even for $ 200 ...because there are so many around at my local gunshows....in better condition / its a gun that while not "real common" I can count on seeing at least half a dozen at most of our local shows...in excellent condition ---although it might vary around the country.
There are a lot of other "match grade .22's" out there as well ....from High Standard.../ S&W model 41's .../ Browning Challenger.../ and then there are the new guns - or newer guns from Hammerli, Pardini, etc... like on this site for Larry's Guns....
I'm not a "purist collector" either...every gun I buy / I shoot ...even if I bougth it new in box unfired...like an old model 27 S&W revolver...I'd still shoot it ...might shoot it a lot !! So I'm a shooter at heart ...vs a collector../ I just don't want to see you get burned on this gun ...and see 10 more of them over the next 6 months in better shape...
http://www.larrysguns.com/Departments/New-Pistols/FONT-SIZE3-COLORBLACKB--HammerliBFont.aspx
Its up to you ....but I'd pass on that gun / because if you try and sell it down the road...I think you'll have a really hard time selling it / and even if you had a good shop re-do the finish / and hopefully wet sand out most of the scratchings...losing the old patina on that gun is a sin too.../ making it almost unsaleable.
A case in point...a local shop in my area...has a K-22 masterpiece revolver, 6", .22 ...S&W ...and it has a re-done nickel finish on it ....and its been in the case for over 6 months ...and not a single bite on it. A lot of us would have sucked it up in a heartbeat ...if it were original...and I think the shop has it marked down now to around $ 400 ...and still no takers on it...
There are just too many old guns still out there for sale...
motorhead0922
New member
Depends on whose driver's license number it is. Clint Eastwood....?
Winchester_73
New member
The problem with buying a gun with such a thing scratched into it is what if you had to sell it someday? Everyone will have the same problem you do.
Go buy a mint one, they're around! My eyes have been bothering me recently, as if I have double vision
Maybe I should see a doctor...
Go buy a mint one, they're around! My eyes have been bothering me recently, as if I have double vision
Maybe I should see a doctor...
Some of the value is in pride of ownership too ....
If that "ID scratching" doesn't bother you ...then its a good buy.../ at whatever price you and the seller agree on.
If the "ID Scratching" does bother you - whenever you look at it ---its a poor buy - at any price....in my view.
If that "ID scratching" doesn't bother you ...then its a good buy.../ at whatever price you and the seller agree on.
If the "ID Scratching" does bother you - whenever you look at it ---its a poor buy - at any price....in my view.