far as i remember a kid (20s) brought an older colt sa into the shop, back in the early 80s. wanted $300 for it, i took a chance and gave him $100. the less than stellar person but a hellova engraver bernie wolfe was commissioned by the buyer (my dad) to engrave it. bernie at that time occupied a chair and desk in the back of the shop. i ordered a letter from colt at the same time. or there abouts, whatever. turns out it was made 1893, 41 cal, shipped to Simmons Hardware ST. LOUIS NO. it now rests in my safe, along with the letters from colt and wolfe. guess it's worth more now than the $100 plus $500 engraving? and no, its not for sale. yet. that will be up to my kids. be nice to know what its worth though.
pics by bill/oregon to follow soon.

These are the jpegs John sent:

Mr. Wolfe did a great job! That engraving is impressive.

Also, it looks like the revolver was silver plated?

Is it still chambered in .41 Colt?

I would hazard a guess that its value might just be a wee bit more than $600 these days!

yes, silver plated still 41 cal

John, if you are interested in a set of dies for 41 LC, I have a new set. My son took an SSA in trade a few years ago + I bought the die set to load for him, but in the interim he traded the gun off + I really don't need the dies. I might even have a box of factory ammo.

i appreciate it. i have 3 pistols in 41c. newest one is 1901 vintage. they will never be shot again. 2 are "strictly for lookin at" and the 3rd is probably unsafe. but thanks

those old early colts in decent condition fetch at least $2000.wake up gun collectors.

I sometimes wonder about how many colts, and other handguns, were lost to the wilderness they were carried in.

Ranching on the border and buying tow sacks full of Candelia wax from Mexicans, we would find old colts and Winchester along with tomahawk heads etc. All to add weight to the sack we bought by the pound.. We had a buyer for those old guns worth more than the wax.