Value of Semiauto Colt 1895 potato digger

[nklf]

Anyone have an idea of a fair value for a 1895 Colt that has been converted to semiauto? I have not had a chance to look at it yet so I do not know how they did the conversion and what kind of blocking pins were installed to prevent conversion back to FA.

I'm thinking it might be worth it just for spare parts, but again not real sure what this obscure stuff is worth. I don't have a big desire to shoot a semiauto 1895 so it would be for investment/collecting only. It does have the correct tripod.

 

[rybread]

Let’s see some pics when you get em. Sight unseen I’d quote 50$ - as in that’s what you’d need to pay me to haul and store it! A belt Fed is a lot of hassle for semi auto. That being said it really depends on condition, I’ve seen some beauties- I have a semi belt fed aircraft gun which is serviceable but I’ve only had it on display. It’d be so much work I’m happy keeping it mint for now.

 

[A&S Conversions]

So how was the gun converted? Once a machinegun... Certainly a parts set would have value. My concern would be how would the Tech Branch view the gun and how many of the parts were modified and how modified were they such that the parts would have no value to a RR owner? There would be an incredibly small pool of potential buyers. I would rather have a Gatling gun than a semi auto Potato Digger. I trigger finger is aching just thinking about it. It would be cool for a decoration. But would have a higher price than I would want to pay for a decoration.

Scott

 

[skoda]

You have to look at it and let your gut tell you the highest amount of YOUR MONEY that you would be happy to part with. Something like that is so odd and uncommon (I hate to use the term 'rare' here) that you will never find a going rate for it. Once you figure out your maximum figure it's up to your negotiating skills to get it as far below that amount as possible.

Like rybread says, a bet fed semi-auto is likely more pain than it's worth. You have all of the pain of a belt fed but not much of the fun. Unless you are really into it I bet that you'll find that it ends up more as a decoration that an actually used firearm. You mention getting it for parts. Do you have a live FA gun or are you looking to get one? If so then stocking up on parts for such an old gun is a wise move. A dedicate 1895 enthusiast will look at all of this differently - are you one of those?

 

[chili17]

1895 parts are all over the place price wise. Worked on one not to long ago and was able to locate a NOS bolt for 1K. Not a month later I found a mostly complete parts kit for 1K, go figure. Buying for parts? Like others have said, depends on how the conversion was done. Alot of the parts could be worthless now. They are super cool and I think you should get it, even if it is a semi auto. Belt spacing is different on them. I did have good luck with worn 1919 cloth belts, however I was only running 10-15 rounds at a time so a longer run might cause problems. 1895 belts are expensive, I can tell you that. Does it come with a tripod?

 

[nklf]

It has the correct tripod. The current owner bought it years ago as a semi and does not have any knowledge of how it was converted. I have a transferable Marlin so some of the parts may be useful if I ever break something on mine. It’s a big chunk of steel to just be sitting around and it would likely never get shot since I have a FA.

Having just paid Chili $1k for a NOS bolt I can appreciate the value of a parts gun but hopefully I will not need anything.

 

[chili17]

If reasonable, buy it

 

[Bobdaguy]

Did you purchase the 1895 colt semiauto? I would love to know more. Also if you didn’t would you be willing to share the contact. I would like to talk to the seller about it