History Worth Sharing - Handgun Provenance

[martin08]

I've been trying in vain for a couple of years to buy one of my friends collectibles, but it's destined to become an heirloom when he passes on.

My friend worked briefly in a sporting shop back in the 1950's and he took this gun in trade for $30. He has never fired it. It comes in the original box, with cleaning rod, the original sales receipt from 1919, and a letter from the mayor of Philadelphia giving a doctor (original owner) permission to carry in 1921.

I've offered him a 100% profit on this gun and he just won't take it!


Any guesses as to what it's value is today?


Also, post your bits of history here.

 

[45collector]

You could offer him 25 times what he paid for it and he might still turn you down. If that model 51 is in unfired condition will box and accessories, I'd say easily worth $750.

See where it says "safe" pistol? No joke, the design of that pistola was the safest of it's time and was pretty popular back then.

Good luck stealing it from your friend!

 

[martin08]

I've actually offered him $500 a couple of years ago, and he just smiles. He truly does not know what it is worth, as he has no desire to get it appraised.

He just says, "It's something for #2 son to remember me by." And he has several more relics to pass on to #1 son. A great family man and friend, nonetheless.

 

[Carguy]

What a fantastic piece!

 

[Bugs100]

There's one on Gun Broker that is real nice for $475.00..

 

[jkeeley1]

false advertising. the box says the .380 cartridge is "obtainable anywhere"..... i wish. also do you think Menino would write me a letter saying I could carry a handgun?

 

[theGringo]

Nice piece of history, with papers intact. Lovely!

 

[AtlasShrugging]

I like the fact that it's "self-aiming". That's really cool!

 

[martin08]

I love the advertising wording of those days gone by, too. Safe, self aiming, fits in the pocket, obtainable anywhere - sounds a lot like the pitch from a snake oil salesman.

But I bet the bite is deadlier than most snakes!

 

[WILDCATT]

rem

whel the 380 was considered a valid defence cartridge.after all small police dept in those days had H&R 38 s&w.
I have a colt pocket 32 and a savage 32.my uncle bought the savage in SC in 1921.the colt was a back up for a medfield cop.and I have a like new S&W safety hammerless that a security guard caried for 30 yrs and never fired.
in those days no body fired very often.history is an interesting subject.you ought to find out what you childrens school is teaching.It aint much. from what I can get from my retired cousin.she does not know the constitution
"not her field" I was taught history and geography and civics.now its social studies.should be called what it is socialism studies.