I found a colt .357 magnum in my grandfathers old shed. It's a U.S.Army 1917 model 91 444. It's pretty old, I believe it's from world war one or maybe two. I just want to know what the value is.
2007-05-20 15:51:12 · 17 answers · asked by dlunaii 3 in Sports ➔ Outdoor Recreation ➔ Hunting
1917 is a model number, not the year it was made. At first I thought it was till my husband told me it was part of the model number.
2007-05-20 15:57:53 · update #1
Do you think I should maybe put it on Ebay?
2007-05-20 15:59:53 · update #2
The model number is from the butt of the gun. I think the serial number is 90444.
2007-05-20 16:50:02 · update #3
I did not intend to respond to this question since you have been given so much good information.
However, when I saw the foolishness posted by
Travis M. I felt I had to reply just to try to save others from such misinformation. My response is written in all capitol letters simply to make sure there is a differentiation between passages.
Travis M wrote:
"The colt 1917 was ORIGINALLY made in .357, but, as the war effort pressed on, it was harder for ammo manufacturers to make so many calibers, so, since the revolvers weren't general issue, they were sent in to (I think) the Picatinny arsenal to be rechambered to the .45 ACP cartridge, which was being used in the 1911 and the tommy gun, which were in much more general use."
COMPLETE AND UTTER BALDERDASH! THE .357 MAGNUM WAS NOT INTRODUCED UNTIL 1935. THE MODEL 1917 COLT IS AN ADAPTATION OF THE COLT NEW SERVICE REVOLVER, WHICH WAS CHAMBERED FOR MANY CALIBERS, INCLUDING .45 LONG COLT. THE M-1917 CAME ABOUT BECAUSE THE US ARMY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH M-1911 SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOLS. SMITH & WESSON MADE A SIMILAR REVOLVER WITH THE SAME MODEL NAME.
AND THE TOMMY GUN DID NOT COME INTO "GENERAL USE" DURING WORLD WAR I BECAUSE IT WAS NOT INVENTED UNTIL 1921! IT DID SEE WIDE USE DURING WORLD WAR II.
Travis M wrote:
I know someone's gonna say this can't be done, because they haven't seen it, but they should run a search. .357 Ruger Blackhawks are the most common gun there is to be rechambered to .44 magnum!
MATTER OF IDIOTS WITH MORE DOLLARS THAN SENSE. OLD MODEL RUGER BLACKHAWKS CHAMBERED IN .357 MAGNUM ARE NOT CONVERTED TO .44 REMAG BECAUSE THEY ARE BUILT ON A SMALL FRAME AND CAN NOT HANDLE THE RECOIL. HOWEVER, NEW MODEL BLACKHAWKS MAY BE RECHAMBERED BY A SIMPLE REBARREL AND FITTING A .44 REMMAG CYLINDER BECAUSE THEY USE THE SAME FRAME SIZE. MANY OLD MODEL BLACKHAWKS HAVE BEEN CONVERTED TO .44 SMITH & WESSON SPECIAL, NOT MAGNUM. HOWEVER, RECHAMBEREING A .357 MAGNUM NEW MODEL BLACKHAWK TO .44 REMMAG MAKES NO SENSE. IT WOULD BE MUCH CHEAPER SIMPLY TO PURCHASE A .44 REMMAG BLACKHAWK, OR SUPER BLACKHAWK, WHICH ARE VERY COMMON AND MODERATELY EXPENSIVE.
Travis M wrote:
Anyways, depending on the condition of your Grandad's revolver, it could be worth anywhere from $800-$2500! Finding one of these revolvers in the original condition is a remarkable, and valuable find! If you live near one of the Cabela's stores, get ahold of their "gun library" folks. They know more than I ever will, and will not only be able to tell you it's value, but will also be able market it for you.
If your grandad still has any of his papers from when he was in the army, go through them. If he has a copy for the receipt of this gun, it would possibly DOUBLE the value.
I BELIEVE THE PRICE QUOTED IS RATHER HIGH, AND ORIGINAL PAPERS WILL INCREASE VALUE, BUT NOT DOUBLE IT. LOOK TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY MILITARY ACCEPTANCE MARKINGS ON THE REVOLVER, THAT WILL INCREASE VALUE SOMEWHAT. TALKING TO THE FOLKS AT CABELA IS SOMETHING OF A CRAPSHOOT. YOU MIGHT GET A HIGHLY KNOWLEDGABLE AND HELPFUL PERSON, OR YOU MIGHT GET A GUNSHOP COMMANDO WITH JUST ENOUGH KNOWLEDGE TO BE DANGEROUS. IF YOU REALLY WANT TO GET AN IDEA OF THE VALUE, YOU NEED THE SERVICES OF A QUALIFIED FIREARMS APPRAISER. I'D OFFER MY SERVICES, BUT I AM NOT AN APPRAISER, JUST A GUN CRANK.
Travis M wrote:
If you can afford to NOT sell it, please don't. It's the kind of heirloom that should be left for your grandchildren to appreciate.
IN THIS INSTANCE WE ARE IN FULL AGREEMENT. IF YOU WERE CLOSE TO YOUR GRANDFATHER, IT WILL BE MUCH MORE VALUABLE AS A KEEPSAKE THAN ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU CAN MAKE SELLING IT.
Travis M wrote:
Send me an e-mail, as here in the next couple days, I should be able to find a recent article about these fine heirlooms!
IF HE WROTE THE ARTICLE, IT IS VERY SUSPECT.
11 hours ago - Report Abuse
2007-05-21 06:28:53 · answer #1 · answered by Doc Hudson 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If it is a .357 magnum, it is not a U.S. Army 1917, those were 45 ACP revolvers
.357 mag was not made until 1934.
There should be some print on the barrel that will tell you what caliber gun you have. Need that to start.
Ebay will not allow you to sell a gun of any kind on their site.
Did a little checking for you.
If you have a .357 mag. Colt revolver. The oldest it could be is 1954. That's when Colt finally decided to offer that Smith & Wesson caliber in their guns.
I could not find anything on a Colt model 91. No such animal. Could 91444 be a serial number?? The serial number should be just above the hinge, in front of the cylinder, when the cylinder is open. There might be another number on the butt of the revolver as well.
O.K., you have a serial number on the butt of the revolver. Is there another number on the frame, hidden when the revolver's cylinder is closed? Open the cylinder and just above the hinge there should be another number. When Colt sold these revolvers to the Army, the Army wanted a serial number on the butt of the gun. So, the number on the butt might be the Army inventory number and the number on the crane would be Colt's serial number.
You say you found this gun in your Grandfather's shed. What kind of condition is it in. Is it rusted shut? A coat of rust over the gun? Are there wooden grips on the gun? The condition of the gun is what will finally determine its value. If you have a clean, shootable, decent condition model 1917 it could be worth several hundred dollars. If it is just a rusted heap, it won't be worth much.
2007-05-20 23:00:45 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
The colt 1917 was ORIGINALLY made in .357, but, as the war effort pressed on, it was harder for ammo manufacturers to make so many calibers, so, since the revolvers weren't general issue, they were sent in to (I think) the Picatinny arsenal to be rechambered to the .45 ACP cartridge, which was being used in the 1911 and the tommy gun, which were in much more general use.
I know someone's gonna say this can't be done, because they haven't seen it, but they should run a search. .357 Ruger Blackhawks are the most common gun there is to be rechambered to .44 magnum!
Anyways, depending on the condition of your Grandad's revolver, it could be worth anywhere from $800-$2500! Finding one of these revolvers in the original condition is a remarkable, and valuable find! If you live near one of the Cabela's stores, get ahold of their "gun library" folks. They know more than I ever will, and will not only be able to tell you it's value, but will also be able market it for you.
If your grandad still has any of his papers from when he was in the army, go through them. If he has a copy for the receipt of this gun, it would possibly DOUBLE the value.
If you can afford to NOT sell it, please don't. It's the kind of heirloom that should be left for your grandchildren to appreciate.
Send me an e-mail, as here in the next couple days, I should be able to find a recent article about these fine heirlooms!
2007-05-21 01:56:47 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
If you want to know the worth, take it to several gun dealers and find an antquie dealer who deals with firearms. If it is old dont do anything to it ( like get it reblued or have the grips changed, leave it just the way you found it), because the second you start having things done to it, it lessen the value.
2007-05-21 00:27:02 · answer #4 · answered by jim_cree1 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Me personally I would hang on to it especially if it was my Grandfathers. But if you are set on selling it I would take it to a gun show and as you walk around and talk to people they will offer you different amount and that should give you an idea of the going rate.
2007-05-21 11:56:32 · answer #5 · answered by Andy S 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The value of a firearm depends on it's condition. Is it rust free? Does it look like it;s been used a lot? Does the inside of the barrel apear clean and uncorroded. If you want to figure the value, take it to a gun shop or a gunsmith and ask him/her to take a look at it.
2007-05-20 23:05:29 · answer #6 · answered by charliecizarny 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Better identify this a bit better. It cant be a 357 mag because there was no .357 in that year. Sounds like you have a 1911 .45 caliber. If so, there are millions of them out there and it really isnt worth THAT much.
2007-05-21 07:38:57 · answer #7 · answered by Junk 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
About $1500 in good condition. It must be your great great grandfather if it is from 1917.
2007-05-20 22:53:48 · answer #8 · answered by Heads up! 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thehighroad.com.Tons of guns freaks (I mean that in a good way,I'm one too) that can tell you it's worth.
2007-05-20 23:38:52 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Can't sell firearms on ebay
2007-05-20 23:01:58 · answer #10 · answered by cptndaveahoe 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋