New Member with Trojan questions

[Greg Loupis]

Thanks guys. I really appreciate the comments. I've learned a lot by buying this gun and having you critique it.
I have a book in front of me. It's the 2013 Standard Catalog of Firearms. It has the values on the Trojan as; Excellent $3800, Very Good $3000, Good $2000, Fair $1000 and Poor $600. Do these prices seem high? I own some Colt revolvers and the prices in this book are low (I think) for them. How do they come up with these figures?
With all the interest in the so called "assault weapons" lately, maybe I can find one of the dealers at the show asleep at the wheel or takes one (a Parker or other high end SxS) in trade and doesn't know what he has
Thanks again,
Greg

[B. Dudley]

Those prices are pretty much the same as my 2011 book says too. I say that seeing what the market is doing right now, that those values are on the higher end. Or at least many people won't always pay those prices right now.
A poor condition Trojan can usually be had for less than 600. But it may not be shoot able.
Also, those are collector prices based on percent of original finish. To some, the fact that a gun is a good shooter that can be worked means differently.

[Greg Loupis]

Originally Posted by Brian Dudley

Those prices are pretty much the same as my 2011 book says too. I say that seeing what the market is doing right now, that those values are on the higher end. Or at least many people won't always pay those prices right now.
A poor condition Trojan can usually be had for less than 600. But it may not be shoot able.
Also, those are collector prices based on percent of original finish. To some, the fact that a gun is a good shooter that can be worked means differently.

Thanks Brian.
Just wondering. What is the condition percentage cut-off point of a Parker (or any other 100 year old gun) becoming a collector piece or just a shooter? I mean, Parkers aren't a dime a dozen. I would think the condition percentage would be lower for the Parker than some mass produced newer gun. Especially if you want an all original gun.
Sorry for all the questions. I'm just trying to get as much information as I can before I go to the show.
Greg

[Bill Zachow]

I have collected Colts, Winchesters, and other fine doubles over the years. True collector demand for all of them is primarily predicated on CONDITION; and that condition quotient is the same for all of them. That is, original condition first followed by degree of original finish. With all of these guns, the price or value tends to go up in similar fashion. Just because a gun is a Parker does not mean it has any more value. In fact, because of a relatively small original production level and a resulting small collector base, Parkers actually tend to sell at lower levels than Colts or Winchesters. I have seen innumerable plain Winchester 1873s sell for double the price of a Trojan Parker in comparable condition. Considering that Winchester made over a million 73s versus the Trojans limited production gives you a feel for the level of demand. Winchester was still making the 73s while Parker was producing the Trojan, and the 73s sold for a lot less. Hope I haven't rambled on too long.

[Greg Loupis]

Originally Posted by Bill Zachow

I have collected Colts, Winchesters, and other fine doubles over the years. True collector demand for all of them is primarily predicated on CONDITION; and that condition quotient is the same for all of them. That is, original condition first followed by degree of original finish. With all of these guns, the price or value tends to go up in similar fashion. Just because a gun is a Parker does not mean it has any more value. In fact, because of a relatively small original production level and a resulting small collector base, Parkers actually tend to sell at lower levels than Colts or Winchesters. I have seen innumerable plain Winchester 1873s sell for double the price of a Trojan Parker in comparable condition. Considering that Winchester made over a million 73s versus the Trojans limited production gives you a feel for the level of demand. Winchester was still making the 73s while Parker was producing the Trojan, and the 73s sold for a lot less. Hope I haven't rambled on too long.

Thanks Bill. You are not rambling at all. The show is a week away. I need all the info I can get.
I understand that original condition is the most important thing. The problem I'm going to have is figuring out what is original? I never thought someone would be dishonest enough to take a junked out gun and fix it up and sell it for original. If I didn't post my Trojan on this forum I never would have known.
I too own Colts handguns and a couple Winchester shotguns. After I posted my Trojan here and found out what was wrong with it, I started looking at my other guns more closely. I found my 1899 Colt New Police has been renickled. Luckily it's worth a little more then I paid for it according to the guys on the Colt forum. I got lucky....again
Anyway, If I find a higher dollar gun that I like at the show I'm going to take pictures (if they let me) and post it on the appropriate forum before I buy.
Thanks,
Greg