Inherited some antiques - need help

[wang949]

Hi all,

Several years ago, I inherited 3 firearms:

1. Colt 1903 Pocket Pistol, SN: 853## (older)
2. Colt 1903 Pocket Pistol, SN: 4394## (newer)
3. L.C. Smith 12 gauge side by side shotgun, SN: 371##

I really don't know much about any of these fine firearms, other than they are OLD. The first Colt is obviously much older than the second. And I don't know anything about the L.C. Smith.

What do you guys know about them? How much are they worth?
Thanks.

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[wang949]

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[wang949]

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[wang949]

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[usedto]

With all those photos, you ought to rename them so a person doesn't have to tiptoe through all of them so see what he wants.

[EmmaGoldman]

I'd guess the Elsie around 1899. Worth a couple hundred bucks with all that rust.

[wang949]

Yea, the L.C. Smith has seen better days. Unfortunately, it was stored for 50+yrs unprotected in a closet by the ocean (high salt in air).

I looked up the serial numbers on the guns. The shotgun was made in 1895. The 1st Colt is 1909. The 2nd is 1924.

If I were to sell the colts, what would be a fair asking price? The shotgun is going to stay in the family for now.

[Pred@tor]

You have a type I or II colt with the barrel bushing and the other could be a type III or V I'd say either of those are worth 300 to 400 bucks maybe even thats high in the condition they're in. I see some on GB for 600 bucks in a little better shape and those guys are dreamin..... lol

[Bigyates]

They may have been stored improperly but why don't you get some oil on the LC? The barrels still show a lot of pattern.

[PEZHEAD265]

The 2 old Colts are not considered antiques by Fed. gun laws.The LC is because it was made in 1895.Federal gun laws are pre 1899 made weapons.The Colts are C&R guns even through 1 is over a hundred years old.GET SOME OIL ON THAT LC!!!! That is a shame because that was your best peice it if it was in better shape.

[wang949]

Thanks for the information everyone.
Does restoration work, such as re-bluing the scratches ruin the value of the gun?

[OHOD]

Thanks for the information everyone.
Does restoration work, such as re-bluing the scratches ruin the value of the gun?

I'm not an expert, but from what I understand, you should keep the condition of them as is and not reblue them. I think get devalued if you do that, I think.
Personally, I would clean them up, gingerly, and apply a nice coat of oil.

The experts will weigh in on how to restore them.

[pullnshoot25]

1. You are a lucky bastard and I am just a tinge of green with jealousy.

2. Do not butcher them. If you do, know there is a special place in hell reserved for child molesters and people who talk at the theatre and you will fit right in there. (WHERE DID THAT QUOTE COME FROM?!?!)

3. Again, awesome.

[gun toting monkeyboy]

The quote came from the Firefly episode "Our Mrs. Reynolds".

Ok, with refinishing, don't. It looks like one of the Colts was refinished badly some time ago. The clues on that are the washed out lettering/logo and the pits in the surface that have bluing in them. That means that at some time in the past, it was rusted, and somebody removed the rust and reblued it. I didn't look too closely at the second on e because you put up too many unlabled pics for me to bother wading through. I wouldn't play games with refinishing any of them. But some bronze wool and oil would go a very long way towards stopping the rust and making them look more presentable.

In terms of what they are worth, the LC is the more expensive toy in the lot. The other two are nice, but not in collectable shape. They are shooters in that condition, nothing more. Clean them up and enjoy them. But don't expect people to pay top dollar for them, even though thet have that "My Little Pony" logo on the side. If you can get $300 a piece for them, you would be doing well. Probably closer to the $200-250 range is more realistic.

-Mb

[hybridatsun350]

Very cool guns. You're a lucky man!

Thanks for the information everyone.
Does restoration work, such as re-bluing the scratches ruin the value of the gun?

Don't touch them with any more than some good oil for preservation! They have 100+ years of patina, don't mess it up.