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Back about '95 or so, I had a friend who was moving overseas permanently. One day he came to my house and had this old beat-up revolver and handed it to me. I know zero about old guns and not really interested in learning. I just literally threw it in the floor of my entry coat closet on a pile of cleaning rags that we kept there. That old gun stayed in that closet for maybe 2-3 years without being touched and being forgotten. One day I was cleaning out the closet and picked it up. I was headed into Houston that day anyway, so I thought I would stop by Collectors Firearms and see if it was worth a margarita or two.
I walked into Collectors with the old gun and asked to see someone that could put a value on it. A man came over and I unwrapped the gun. He picked it up and said "oh, another single action Army" (which meant nothing to me). He looked at it and said things like "it's in pretty sad shape", "one grip is cracked pretty bad" and "the extractor is missing", so I figured my "two margarita value" was dropping to a "two beer value". He said "let me go talk to the boss and see what he thinks". He walks to the rear and stands with another guy, looking at the gun and talking. After a few minutes he comes back to me and says "considering the condition, the best we can do is offer $1100.00 for it.
My reply was "write me a check".......and he did.
Who knew?

Good story, but I would have tried to do some research and know what I had before selling it to someone. I've seen some sell for little but quite a few for a lot more. When I think of "sad" shape for a pistol, it would be one with hardcore pitting, action is toast, etc - not one with a cracked grip and a missing part.

Still good story, but you might have been surprised by the history of the gun's owners if one were to research it.

oh, you are correct, and many times since then I have said that same thing to myself. I just never have been interested in antique guns. I will add that at that time Collectors had a showcase with maybe 50 single action Army revolvers in it, so obviously there is a market for them.

If Collector's gave you 1100 then it was probably worth double to triple that.

mrvmax wrote:If Collector's gave you 1100 then it was probably worth double to triple that.

OldCurlyWolf wrote:

mrvmax wrote:If Collector's gave you 1100 then it was probably worth double to triple that.

My thoughts exactly.

At least he got enough for a margarita or two to drown his sorrows.