Just a nickel DS for 8 bills?

N

nixterdemus

New member
Shiny DS

Never owning a Colt I thought perhaps an extremely reflective DS. Of course they're higher than a cat's back, some spots more so than others, but would I get skinned at this price, tax/ffl fee not included, in the apparent condition? Granted, the nickel hides modest use. It looks good for a 78 model. How far out of line is 8 bills that will end up real close to 9 after all is said and done?

On the last pic, being a close-up & clicking to maximum zoom, it shows a lot of detail. On the right of the trigger guard it looks as if two hash marks beside the H and isn't the left side triangle a proof mark? Both look clean along w/pony rampart, but what's the dealio w/slotted screw above the trigger? It appears to have some oddball triangle growing out of the bottom half. It really sticks out. Was that intentional? I find it hard to swallow that it's a second that slipped through the plating/polishing sequence.

Whilst perusing multiple sites I noted a DS w/serrations on both sides of the topstrap as well as the ramp site. Did year determined that or was it an option that could be ordered?

Thanks

ETA: I know the various auction sites have them priced from almost reasonable to outrageous fishing for a whale w/wallet. However, a lot of those lack clear pics w/high resolution for closer scrutiny.
I realize 5-6 would be more inline as a deal if I wished to look for half a year snooping around. The larger B&M chains need a wee bit more profit margin to keep the doors open. Plus, I can put it on a card. But, I don't wish to be burned beyond recognition either.
 
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Ouch! I bought my version of this Colt in 2008 for 3 and a half bills at my local gun/pawn establishment. Had chipped up grips but otherwise tight and clean. Carried for a good while until I got a S&W 642, now I alternate.
 
The picture is not coming up for me.

DS Colts in nickel are pretty common. "Back in the day", when they really were carried by detectives and stainless steel guns did not exist, a shoulder holster plus hot days could spell disaster for a revolver finish pretty fast. So a lot of nickel plated revolvers of that type were sold by Colt and S&W.

But a note for collectors - a good many folks who owned a DS or something similar, had them nickel or chrome plated after market. I have seen several and some looked like they were done by the local bumper shop, which they probably were.

Jim
 
Thanks guys. The thing being is w/o historical record I cannot verify if this was nickel when new. It looks good in spite of some honest scratches. However, in the end it'll be close to 9 bills after taxes/fees. That's quite the chunk of change regardless of what appears to be right at excellent condition.
I agree that price is somewhat through the roof as it appears 5-6 hundred is seen w/o box/papers. I don't know if they shipped w/any tools.

Here's the link again. I checked & seems to work:
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Colt...searchTypeByFilter=GunLibrary&x=25&y=9&Ntt=38

You might have to copy the addy & open from another window if you're so of mind.

I have one of the many S&W Model 1905 38 spl HE/M&P that took a dunk in the bumper tank. No collector value, yet still a shooter. The S&W will have a N stamp to at least show they came w/nickel from the factory. Maybe not the current coat.
 
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Seems pretty high to me. If it was an older DS in that condition, I would say yes, especially a 3". To me that's about a $550.00-$600.00 gun tops.
 
I don't know if they shipped w/any tools.
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I think the only Colts that shipped with tools were the Python, Diamondbacks and Gold Cups, and the tool consisted of a keychain screwdriver disc with three common slot screwdriver bits.
 
Cabela's probably paid 4 and want 8. Big B&M do have an appetite. Still, I think they could refuse a second helpin' at my expense.
 
One thing to look for in these Nickel DS is if the front sight is serrated. If it is (and it helps a lot with shooting in the sun). I picked one that was not serrated and it is hard to shoot well in bright sun.

ds_bag.jpg


I shoot mine a lot.

ds_target.jpg


50 shots, 15 yrds, offhand. They can be reasonably accurate. I find getting a good solid sight picture the limit of the accuracy though.
 
That's a lot of brass & good shooting. You prefer the pachs?

What determined if the ramp was serrated & did that always include the top strap as well? I've looked at a lot of pics and found one blued that included serrations on the ramp & top strap.

Many assortment of shots do not include the top strap. I'd think a checked or serrated trigger would more than likely retain it's given shape, but a serrated top strap it seems could take a tumble in a heavy buff refinish.

I suppose the same could apply to triggers/hammers. I've seen pics of S&W case hardened triggers/hammers that were plated. Yet, it seems most that I've seen were left w/case colours intact.

As I understand the second issue of PP & PPS starting in '28 came w/checked triggers and serrated top straps. I can see how some could've fallen to the wayside over time, but still maintain the checked triggers should have a better survival rate than tiny grooves on top of the frame.

Back to the DS. Why am I seeing most w/smooth top straps? Were the serrations on the frame a special order?
 
Cabela's doesn't give deals.

That's a nice looking DS, and it has the underlug barrel I prefer and the original, square-butt walnut grips. Price IMHO is ridiculous. A few years ago I paid $461 out the door for a blued version in probably 95% to 98% condition. Nickel isn't worth 75 percent more than blued.
 
I agree that nickel is only worth an extra 50 or so. It holds modest wear well. Cabela's will deal easier on something that has sat around for months, but again only 10-15% as a rule. Anything around a grand or up asking more so and anything around 5 bills less as much. They're fishin' for whales w/deep pockets that care not about the price. Gander Mountain is as bad if not worse. They triple their cost then offer a meager slice as an alleged discount. Even on your birthday, for CC holders, Gnd Mnt discount does not apply to firearms, ammunition, electronics, optics, etc. The only thing they ever mark down, for the most part, is their well overpriced apparel.

It's just the way of the world. Apparently they can afford to sit on those high prices indefinitely until some schmuck comes down the pike choking on a wad of moolah.

I've been keeping tabs at gone broker and 5 1/2 for neekid dS is about average. The blue w/pachs bring a little less than the wrap around on nickel, but nowhere near 8 bills and having to tack 7/8 of a C-note on top of that for taxes/FFL fee. That's a punch in the gut.

I really hate paying a sales tax when the one store in the state is a 300 mile round trip.
 
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I prefer pach's for my shooting with Colts. They just fit better in my hands than the Colt wood grips.

I made the mistake of buying mine without the serrations. I did not even notice it until later but having noticed it I see more with than without. I suspect that it was either a common aftermarket change or some "vintages" of DS's got them at the factory and some did not. Mine is a 76 vintage so it does not.

I think I picked mine up for about $500 but it was near NIB with the original box and paperwork. I figured it was worth it at the time.
 
On one pic I can see the side of the ramp is matte, but I don't see any bumps on the edge of the ramp. I can't say that the pics show it to be LN w/o box, but it's fairly clean. Even if I talked them out of a 50 spot after I pay taxes/FFL I'm still looking at a total of 8 1/4. Seems to be a bit much for no box/paperwork.

Another C-note & I could buy a S&W performance 986. One & a quarter less puts me in the model 69 5 rnd 44 mag.

[If that 69 came w/5.25" instead of a 4.25" brl I'd already have one. I can't for the life of me understand why they would offer a lightweight, relatively speaking, L frame w/o a traditional 5.5" brl to help reduce muzzle flip and glean extra velocity from the 44 magnum cartridge.]

Apples to oranges, but I'm just sayin' ...
 
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Hey... I have a factory nickel DS, 2nd issue, and $800 sounds like a nice price for me to see what cost me $300 not 10 years ago.

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Yep that one...

Keep up the prices folks!

Deaf
 
Bought a nickeled 3rd generation a few months ago for 499.00 off gunbroker. Cabelas is a ripoff on all guns. :mad:
 
The big stores have to compete on new arms much more so than used. New arms have a very small mark-up whilst w/used it's Thunderdome. Plus, they would rather wait for their price than make a quicker sale. Quick inventory turn over isn't a priority. They have the luxury of being able to sit and wait for a while before slowly dropping price.
Of course the deal being is that enough people are paying those higher prices. Nickel DS in close to excellent shape may not be in the least scarce, but they do not produce them anymore, so there's that factor helping drive the price.
I'm sure better deals can be had if you put in the time, but for Cabela's that price is on their low end asking. I agree it's still high compared to other venues.
 
Seems about $200 too high to me. But then I don't add a premium for nickel.

That being said, it seems that the prices an all Colt double action revolvers are climbing. I comb all the local gun shops and deals on Colts are few and far between.
 
The deal isn't quite sealed, haven't given up the CC, but they agreed in principle to 7 & 1/2 shipped. I tried for 7 & 1/4 though couldn't get them to bend that much.

Seems as if I overpay for everything else, so I see no reason for this deal to be any different. Apparently I'm the Rodney Dangerfield of firearm purchases.

I notice the hammer/trigger are also bathed in nickel. Did nickel DS come that way from the factory?
 
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Hey... I have a factory nickel DS, 2nd issue, and $800 sounds like a nice price for me to see what cost me $300 not 10 years ago.
Click to expand...

Seems to me that the ratio of blued guns to nickel 2" guns was over 20:1. I also read somewhere about 20 years ago the there were only eight 3" nickel DS from Colt.
 
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