Colt letter for a commercial Colt

[Truman]

I was luky enough to find this very nice 1951 commercial Colt that is as close to new in the wrap as can be. It came with the original box and still has the shipping grease on the gun. It will definitly be a safe queen. For the experts. Would it be worth the time and expense to obtain a colt letter for this gun? What would the letter say and would it enhance the value of the gun? Would it be worth it on a late production gun like this? Thanks Truman

Information

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[Duane Hansen]

It would tell you exactly when it was made and when it was shipped. Also who it was shipped to. It obviously was not used by anyone or carried so it's history may be quite boring. It probably sat in someones sock drawer for the past 58 years. A letter will cost you $100 and if it were mine, I would save my money.

[Johnny Peppers]

Unless you suspect that it was shipped to someone of note, or to an interesting place, you won't find out much. Unless shipped to a very boring dealer, the letter should add at least $100 to the value of the pistol.
The joke use to be that if you got a Colt letter on a Single Action Army that was shipped to Simmon's Hardware in St. Louis, Missouri, it was best to tear it up and let the next buyer hope that it went to the Copper Queen Mining Co. in Arizona.

[Truman]

Thanks Guys, Would the letter say if was shipped for an individual? There is a name of a Major Paloff penciled on the lid. Truman

[Johnny Peppers]

Some letters will, but with the Federal Firearms Act of 1938 the pistol probably had to go through a dealer.

[The Wizard]

I thought that the Firearms Control Act of 1968 was when the dealer requirement was put into effect! What the heck, spend the $100.00 you might get lucky and it was shipped to Major Paloff.

[Johnny Peppers]

I thought that the Firearms Control Act of 1968 was when the dealer requirement was put into effect!

Class is in session:


"The violent atmosphere of the Prohibition Era as well as the attempted assassination of President-elect Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1933 inspired the passage of the 1934 and 1938 firearms acts. Provisions of the 1934 Act include:

Tax on the manufacture, sale and transfer of sawed-off shotguns, sawed-off rifes, machine guns and silencers.
Requires the purchasers of those weapons to undergo FBI background checks and get approval from local law enforcement officers.

The Federal Firearms Act of 1938

Provisions of the 1938 Federal Firearms Act include:

Required annual licenses for manufacturers, dealers and importers of firearms and handgun ammunition.
Ban on firearms sales to known criminals."

[The Wizard]

Johnny Pepper,

Did the Federal Firearms Act of 1938 make it a requirement that new manufactured firearms be sold only through a licensed dealer? Is it possible that Major Paloff stop by Colt and purchased it directly or sent in the order while waiting transport to Korea. The condition of the pistol suggest he got shipped out before the pistol arrived. MAybe it got shipped to a military Rod and Gun Club or Post Exchange. For a mere $100.00 all can be revealed.

Truman,
You might want to try to track down Major Paloff.

[Johnny Peppers]

I have never seen a Colt letter stating anything other than the pistol was "Shipped To".
As to the marking on the box, it could mean anything. I have a Colt letter stating that the pistol was shipped to Captain so and so. Was he a Captain in the Military, Navy, local fire department, Salvation Army? Do we know that Major Paloff went to Korea? A letter would probably answer most of the questions on the pistol, and a slim chance on the owner.
I have another Colt letter stating the pistol was shipped to a certain town in a certain county for the sheriff with the sheriff's name. No speculation at all who the pistol went to.