I have always LOVED gunshows!
Last week three friends of mine and I co-ordinated an early Saturday morning departure for a small Gunshow here in SW Montana (Wisdom, Montana 70 miles from my home).
Anyway I am getting antsy on Friday and could not wait.
I decided to head out mid-morning by myself for the 1:00 P.M. opening of that Wisdom show.
I am glad I did!
I had several "items" I had accumulated of recent that I intended on re-selling there.
One item was an antique pair of wooden ice skates that had an American maker on the steel blades.
Another item that I re-sold very quickly was a Red Wing 2 gallon vat.
I sold a couple of knives and a Rifle scope as well.
Things were rather perky there and I was emboldened with the hundred dollars or so of "profit" I had made on the sold items.
Then, I come across a nifty little pistol that I knew NOTHING about.
It was a Colt Cobra (second model with 2" barrel and factory nickel finish) in 38 Special.
It was in especially nice (MINTY!) shape and I looked the little pistol over very carefully even checking the timing/lockup and double action - I was impressed.
In fact that little Colt locked up as tight as any revolving double action pistol I had ever handled.
I put it down as I had NO idea what it was worth (marked $550.00) and went about my business/snooping around.
I had concerns about the grips on that tiny six shot revolver as they appeared different than any I had ever seen on the smaller Colt revolvers - in that they did not have the rampant Colt insignia on them.
Turns out, later, that the first model Colt Cobras had the insignia on their grips but the second models did not.
I eventually head home but can't get the minty little Colt out of my mind.
Once back home I consult my Blue Book of Gun Values and the pictures and listings on gunbroker.cheatme.
I almost paniced when I saw that the pistol in question was indeed "all original" with those grips the book value was $725.00 for a 95% Colt Cobra AND then add $100.00 for the nickel plated models!
And, the pistol in question was way better than 95%!!!
I got very little sleep Friday night and my travel mates Saturday morning wondered why I was driving faster than my normal "pokey" speed as we headed for Wisdom.
Thankfully said pistol was still there and I got it for $500.00 cash and it came with a set of Pachmeyer grips and a nifty gun rug to boot.
I don't plan on selling this cool little revolver any time soon but feel good about getting a good deal on an older (1977) and minty Colt!
Long live gunshows!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy
Last week three friends of mine and I co-ordinated an early Saturday morning departure for a small Gunshow here in SW Montana (Wisdom, Montana 70 miles from my home).
Anyway I am getting antsy on Friday and could not wait.
I decided to head out mid-morning by myself for the 1:00 P.M. opening of that Wisdom show.
I am glad I did!
I had several "items" I had accumulated of recent that I intended on re-selling there.
One item was an antique pair of wooden ice skates that had an American maker on the steel blades.
Another item that I re-sold very quickly was a Red Wing 2 gallon vat.
I sold a couple of knives and a Rifle scope as well.
Things were rather perky there and I was emboldened with the hundred dollars or so of "profit" I had made on the sold items.
Then, I come across a nifty little pistol that I knew NOTHING about.
It was a Colt Cobra (second model with 2" barrel and factory nickel finish) in 38 Special.
It was in especially nice (MINTY!) shape and I looked the little pistol over very carefully even checking the timing/lockup and double action - I was impressed.
In fact that little Colt locked up as tight as any revolving double action pistol I had ever handled.
I put it down as I had NO idea what it was worth (marked $550.00) and went about my business/snooping around.
I had concerns about the grips on that tiny six shot revolver as they appeared different than any I had ever seen on the smaller Colt revolvers - in that they did not have the rampant Colt insignia on them.
Turns out, later, that the first model Colt Cobras had the insignia on their grips but the second models did not.
I eventually head home but can't get the minty little Colt out of my mind.
Once back home I consult my Blue Book of Gun Values and the pictures and listings on gunbroker.cheatme.
I almost paniced when I saw that the pistol in question was indeed "all original" with those grips the book value was $725.00 for a 95% Colt Cobra AND then add $100.00 for the nickel plated models!
And, the pistol in question was way better than 95%!!!
I got very little sleep Friday night and my travel mates Saturday morning wondered why I was driving faster than my normal "pokey" speed as we headed for Wisdom.
Thankfully said pistol was still there and I got it for $500.00 cash and it came with a set of Pachmeyer grips and a nifty gun rug to boot.
I don't plan on selling this cool little revolver any time soon but feel good about getting a good deal on an older (1977) and minty Colt!
Long live gunshows!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy