Signed Colt 1903 Mag

[bn12gg]

I have a chance to pick up a Colt 1903 mag (type 4 I believe). Two tone Colt 32 auto on the base. GunBroker rate seems $200ish for nice ones. The one offered has a guys name, home town and state engraved into its' back side. How much should I offer for the mag ?

Thanks. David.

 

[T. O'Heir]

That engraving drops it value by half. Mind you, Gunbroker prices are excessive. Auctions are like that. Gunparts lists 1903 Hammerless mags at $45($52.95 for a used factory mag they don't have) for a .32. $49.95 for a factory .380. Not that they have any of those. Other retailers are asking les than that too. As low as $33.

 

[bn12gg]

T.O. Thanks for 50% drop in value info re engraved signature. The GunBroker auctions seem to have that over the top starting bid -- wonder how a 1903 32 acp mag would do in a no reserve condition with a penny start.

Thanks David.

 

[tipoc]

You might could get some here for $40.

https://www.triplek.com/product/colt-pocket-m-1903-1926-32acp-8-rd-magazine-or-grips/

Some are about always on EBay.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro....TRS0&_nkw=colt+magazines+M1903&_sacat=177879

Sold out at present but...

https://www.gunpartscorp.com/Manufa...s-35748/1903PocketHammerless-43575.htm?page=3

tipoc

 

[bn12gg]

Tipoc - Thanks for the mag sources. I have a good mag for my 1903 -- just interested in a second be/c a guy ran it under my nose at my club. With the assistance. I've received from you guys I'm certainly not going to offer 1/2 of $200 -- more like $35. Eh!

Thanks again. David.

 

[James K]

"That engraving drops its value by half."

Even if the name happens to be George S. Patton, John M. Browning, Dwight Eisenhower.....??

Jim

 

[bn12gg]

Actually the engraving is a hand written signature plus town and state. If one of those generals had actually hand signed a mag and it could be proven -- well that would be a very valuable $$$$ mag. The elderly fellow who signed the mag is alive as per my brief Google search -- unfortunately he's just one of us common guys. Ha !

Thanks. David.

 

[bn12gg]

Jim K -- Next thing you see happening will be fake signed Colt 1903 .32/.380 mags showing up for auction on eBay.

David.

 

[James K]

Yep; I just made up a selection using my electric pencil - first come first served at $500 each. Extra for Abe Lincoln and R.E. Lee.

Jim

 

[Walt Sherrill]

I've had no personal experience with TripleK magazines, but have read (on the 'net) a lot of horror stories about them.

I think that if I needed mags for a Colt 1903, I'd try hard to find used factory mags, and look around for springs from Wolff or other sources.

 

[James K]

If you could find factory mags, you wouldn't need new springs. The old magazines had far better springs than most of those made today and will be working long after the modern junk is in the range trash can.

Jim

 

[Walt Sherrill]

Even if the name happens to be George S. Patton, John M. Browning, Dwight Eisenhower.....??

The fact that Patton, Browning or Eisenhower weren't NAMED in the listing (and that the prior owner's name also wasn't mentioned) might suggest that the prior owner was NOT someone of great historical significance, and that there was nothing special about his or her prior ownership.

Having a non-famous prior owner's name (or driver's license number, or something similar) scratched, etched, or engraved on a gun or gun part does NOT generally increase value.

Anyone can engrave stuff on a weapon. Provenance is generally established in other ways, including an impressive paper trail. I'd pay LESS for a magazine marked in that manner.