doublegunshop.com - home
Posted By: Peter B. Colt 1883 - 09/01/07 12:35 AM
I was perusing a gun heap today and saw 2 interesting shotguns that I know nothing about. One is a Colt 1883/ sn 217 12b., 30 in. high quality damascus. This gun appeared to have been well built and finished in its day. The barrels and reciever are now silvered and the buttstock had been broken and poorly repaired. The other gun is a Winchester model 1897 12b. pump with a cracked stock but very smooth action. Both of these guns are beyond my realm of experience and any info on value or history would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Peter
Posted By: Pete Re: Colt 1883 - 09/01/07 12:42 AM
Another Peter B...welcome from this Peter B. The Colt is known to be the best made American double but was only made in Damascus which some fear. In that condition figure $700-$1100. It was also made in 10 Ga and in Grade 1, 1 1/2, and 2. Fine gun if you repair the wood. The Mod 97 used to be cheap but the cowboy action shooters have changed that. You did not mention general condition, but figure $250-650 for silver to high blue. The 97's are worth more than Mod 12's now.
Posted By: Deltaboy Re: Colt 1883 - 09/01/07 12:58 AM
The 97's are worth more than Mod 12's now.

The hell you say?
Posted By: PeteM Re: Colt 1883 - 09/01/07 02:08 AM
There has been a lot of discussion here about Colt 1883 guns.

The 1883 was produced from 1883-1885. About 6,000 were produced, though some think perhaps that figure is low. They were available in 10ga or 12ga with 28", 30" or 32" barrels. Damascus grades from 3 blade crolle to Turkish were available. There were a lot of custom guns ordered. The normal engraving that is seen with the setter on point was a $10 option at the time.

Originally Posted By: Michael Petrov

The source for the Colt damascus barrels:
Originally Posted By: PeteM
Something more:
Springfield Mass. le 12 juillet 1951 ... j'ai calculé nos affaires depuis l'année 1890 et j'ai noté que nous avions acheté des francs pour la somme de 2.150.000 dollars que nous avons payé à Lochet, à mon oncle (Henri Heuse) et à Heuse-Riga fils. Je n'ai pas calculé les francs que nous avons reçu pour cette somme (d'après le Crédit-Communal de Bruxelles, cette somme correspond à 2.305.616.614 francs en 1993)... la Colt fire Arms Co de Hartford Con achetait les damas les plus chers comme les crollés et les damas turc à six lames. Lorsque les Allemands ont détruit la fabrication des canons damas, cela a été une calamité pour Nessonvaux. Mon papa est l'homme qui a acheté le plus de canons damas, il en a vendu plus, tout seul, que tous les autres ensemble. Ce sont les Riga qui ont mis le canon damas en force ici...

the Colt fire Arms Co of Hartford Con bought the Damas most expensive like crollés and Turkish Damas with six blades. When the Germans destroyed the manufacture of the Damas guns, that was a calamity for Nessonvaux. My dad is the man who bought the most Damas guns, he sold some more, all alone, which all others together. They are Riga which put the Damas gun forces some here…

http://heuse.spahistoire.info/henriheuse.html


Here is an original butt stock for sale:
http://www.doublegun.com/Colt1883stock.html


Pete
Posted By: Pete Re: Colt 1883 - 09/01/07 03:36 AM
35 years ago when I started to do gun shows, the average Mod 12 went for $300. They are less than that now. The average Mod 97 now runs $350-450 depending upon what part of the country you are in. Custom Mod 12's are more but custom 97's (factory engraved 97's) are very rare and very expensive. Lil John had an engraved 97 cased with two sets of barrels which went for a lot of bucks (but I don't know how much). 97's are now more expensive than Mod 12's.
© The DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com