[mrwatch]

I know that you need to take information from the Antiques Road Show with a grain of salt. Once again they showed a man had a Colt revolver from 1902-3. Super nice condition which was said to be original like never used. They did not give a model number or the caliber of it. But he sent in the few dollars and got the papers of its history from Colt. The man said $5,000. With the papers it increased the value to $10-15 thousand. Is this for real and if you seen the show, what was it? He did not offer a grade of condition.
Bob

[CA357]

Smith & Wesson offer a service to "letter" your firearm. They'll check its history and give you a letter stating the information. It's pretty reasonable, although I don't remember the cost. I don't know about Colt or other manufacturers.

There are an awful lot of factors that determine the value of a firearm. Good luck.

[Musket]

I saw that episode too, and wondered if the person was a firearms appraiser or just an antiques person. There is more to deciding value, but maybe we did not see the entire thing (obviously the appraisal had already been done before the camera started rolling).

That being said, yes, you can obtain factory letters on certain firearms. I got one for my husband's AH Fox shotgun last year. I don't know if all the manufacturers do this, but essentially you pay someone to do the research in company records. Info included often covers name of the original purchaser, cost, placed shipped to, any special features (IE special inlays/engraving), factory specs--chamber depths, choke types etc.

These letters are really very fascinating. The ones I have seen range in price from 60 to 150 dollars.

Check this link for more information. http://www.bbhc.org/firearms/records.cfm

Also, here is a gun for sale that lists the Cody letter in the description:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=105304718

For those of you with older model guns (particularly shotguns) its a nice way to get some history on it. I have our letter framed on the wall.

Whether or not this letter would increase the value that much I don't know.....hmm.....I am not an expert in appraising, but it does make me wonder... It did not seem to help the gun for sale on gunbroker.....

[mrwatch]

I must have missed heard the man when he said he paid $25 or it sounded like less for the papers from Colt. But that adds $5G to the value. Not in my house! I'll buy it later. I have heard of guns taken from Little Big Horn with documents that would surely add value.

[Musket]

Thats what I thought he said too...so I am not sure what to make of it, except that we must have missed something behind the scenes. Maybe a low serial number or something???

[mrwatch]

Last night a lady came with I think it was her greater grandfathers stuff. A muscat. Powder horn and his log book. About 1810. Man said to find all together it was very rare. Then he asked how much? I'm thinking he will say $100 grand. And yes!!!!! He did say it. Not really surprised about that. But then it is an area out of my territory.

[Musket]

Do we have any firearms appraisers on this board who could offer comment?

I am very curious.

Heck, if the value is increased that much, I am going to send for the papers on everything in the safe

hahaha.