GUN VALUES
Identification And Values- July 2009
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Q: I inherited a Colt U.S. Navy .45, serial number 74XX with two magazines and a leather holster in very good condition. I would appreciate any information on it. —D.F., Clarksville, VA
A:The serial number verifies you have a U.S. Navy 1911 Government Model made in 1912. The Navy ranges for that year were 501-1000, 1501-2000, 2501-3500, 4501-5500, 6501-7500, 8501-9500, 10501-115- and 12501-13500. Navy-marked 1911s are much rarer than Army guns (some 31,000 Navys were made between 1912 and 1914) and, as such, bring something of a premium. Your 1911 in 80 to 90 percent condition is worth between $3,000 and $4,000. The spare magazines, assuming they have lanyard loops, are worth another C-note or so each. If the holster is the M1912 swivel-type, that’s good for another $150 to $200 or more, depending upon the shape it’s in.
EIG Revolver
Q: A friend of mine has an EIG Model E15 .22 revolver. It is stamped “Germany,” but I cannot find any info online for it. The gun has plastic grips, which he wants to replace with wood. Any info you can provide will be appreciated. —A.A., Harrison, TN
A: EIG revolvers were inexpensive little handguns made by Rohm GmbH in Germany. Most of the guns were listed under the “RG” name. They are of mediocre quality and have little value. To my knowledge, no one makes aftermarket grips for them, so if your friend wants wood panels, he’d better get a-whittlin’.
Webley Mark V
Q: I have a Webley Mark V in .455. I have seen some references in past issues concerning the Mark IVs and Mark VIs but never a mention of the Mark V. I would like to know its place in the history of the Webley evolution. Is it scarce? Mine shoots very well and is in perfect condition mechanically, but the blueing is about 50 percent. The serial number is 455XXX. I would also like to know its value if possible. —J.L.C., Longmont, CO
A: There was indeed a Mark V Webley. It appeared, appropriately enough, between the Mark IV and Mark VI in 1913–15. The Mark V had a four-inch barrel, and little was changed from its predecessor other than the addition of a slightly larger-diameter cylinder and an alteration in the frame to accommodate it. A good number of Mark Vs were issued to the Royal Navy and will be found with naval markings. Late in production, some guns were also given to the Army and fitted with six-inch barrels. A Mark V Webley in good, unaltered condition is worth in the $500 to $600 range. Make sure the cylinder hasn’t been shaved for use with .45 ACP rounds. If it has, the value is diminished by a good $200.
Ranger Shotgun
Q: I have a double-barrel shotgun from my father, and the only markings on it are “Ranger” on the side and an “X.” The bores are in excellent condition. The metal is original, but the wood has been refinished. The condition is good. I would like to know who made it and its approximate value if possible.—D.B., Cleveland, OH
A: Ranger shotguns were made by a number of companies (Stevens, Harrington & Richardson, Winchester and Marlin) under many different model numbers. They were good, reasonably priced working guns. Unfortunately, the “X” you note doesn’t really mean much. I would assume there’s a model number stamped somewhere on the gun. You might check under the fore-end. In any event, Ranger shotguns have little collector value. If yours is in good shooting condition, it’s worth $150 to $200.
Western Field Shotgun
Q: I have a Western Field 12-gauge Model 550AB pump shotgun, serial number G456XXX. Can you tell me who made it and when, and if I can still get barrels for it?—T.A., via email
A: The Western Field Model 550 AB was manufactured by Mossberg. Mossberg used the same model as a member of its highly popular 500 series. Barrels are going to be pretty much catch as catch can. I would start by contacting the Gun Parts Corporation, 877/486-7278.
Odd 1911 Marking
Q: I have a Model of 1911 SN 4385XX. It has an unusual marking: a flaming bomb with the letter “S” inside a backward “C.” It’s stamped in the left side of the slide just to the right of the normal patent dates and Colt’s stamp. My first guess is Springfield Armory. What can you tell me about this unusual stamp? Is it a rare original or a “parts gun”?—J.B., via email
A: Based on the serial number, your pistol was manufactured by Colt in 1918, so that leaves out the Springfield connection. The flaming bomb marking is something of a mystery. It has been proposed that slides so marked were actually produced under contract by the A.J. Savage Company in San Diego, California, but there is no conclusive evidence to support that. They may, in fact, actually be replacement slides for already existing guns. In any event, the good news is, the slide is contemporary with your auto.
Stevens Trainer
Q: I inherited a Springfield 87M .22 semiauto military trainer rifle. It has a Weaver Cub 3X scope. There are no serial numbers, but there is the number 45 stamped into the end of the wooden stock under the buttplate. Just above the ejection port, the receiver is stamped “Springfield 87M J. Stevens Arms Co. Chicopee Falls, Mass.” On the receiver end of the barrel, under the wood stock, is stamped “22 Short, Long, or Long Rifle only. 87M patent 2094577 2223093.” It has a 17-shot tube magazine. It is fun to shoot and accurate. I’d like to know a little more about it. Also, it is missing the triggerguard, so I’d like to know where I might obtain parts.—M.S., via email
A: The Steven Model 87 began manufacture in the late 1930s and continued to be listed by the company until around 1984. It was manufactured under a variety of names for a number of different retailers. The 87 worked well and, as you say, was fun and accurate. The Gun Parts Corporation, 877/486-7278, lists parts for the Savage/Stevens/Springfield 87 under the heading “Model 6A, 6AB and 6B,” which were also other model numbers the gun went by.
’03 Springfield Sporter
Q: I have a Springfield Model 1903 (serial number 1471XXX) that I understand was made as a target rifle in 1934. It has a sporter stock with cheekpiece and Lyman peep sight. There is an “N.S.” on the bolt handle. What do you think it is worth? It is in excellent shape.—B.R., Glenwood Springs, CO
A: In 1924 Springfield Armory began producing an NRA Sporter version of the 1903. It has a stock like that of the Model 1922 .22 rifle and was fitted with a Lyman No. 48 receiver sight. It originally sold through the DCM for $49.50, though the price was reduced to $42.50 by 1932 when production was ceased (with the exception of 29 rifles made in 1937-38 for the Department of Justice.) Production was ceased because of complaints by gun companies that Springfield was competing with them on the civilian market. Assuming your rifle is in excellent shape and is an original NRA Sporter (if the stock has an integral cheekpiece, that means it’s not, as the 1922 stock didn’t have one, plus the serial number you note puts the gun’s date of manufacture at 1934), according to the Twenty-Ninth Edition Blue Book of Gun Values it’s worth $4,500 in 95 percent condition. If it’s simply a 1903 that someone sporterized (which I believe you probably have), then its value is only a couple of hundred dollars as a shooter. There was also a short-lived NBA Sporter produced in 1926 that was similar to the NRA with the exception it had dual reinforcing screws. Some 6,547 NRA Sporters were made and 589 NBA Sporters.
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