Colorado Centennial value

[jimbo1096]

What would be the value of a 1876/1976 Colorado Centennial 22 lr/mag with the wood box and booklet in 95% or better condition?
Got to decide whether I want to keep or trade so what I do depends on the input on value. Appreciate the replies.

jh

 

[Rumrunner]

A year or so ago I saw a couple that sold for $500.00 or in that ball park.

 

[rugerguy]

sold a mint one two weeks ago, gun ,in the wood case, NO boxes or papers and got $500 for it, have another one, complete, never had the case open, boxes for all, papers, and would be hard pressed to sell it for less than $600 as "new" as it is and complete,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,saw used ones sell for $450, NO boxes (case or box) so they can run the gamut.........

 

[Ruger45]

Seems to be plenty of them to buy at the 500 mark

 

[GRAMPS 51]

Hi These never seem to bring what I think they should around here they will sell for $450-$500 I have #114 and #115 I bought as an investment many years ago only opened to check serial numbers I'm surprised they are not bringing more I'm just going to give them to my two sons

Gramps

 

[jimbo1096]

Thanks for the replies. I would think they would have been a bit higher also. Guess I'll just have to hold on to it for a bit longer. This one doesn't have the ship for the outside box just the wooden presentation box the paperwork and the gun

 

[Ruger45]

I don't think any of them commemorative type guns ever bring as big of a return as people hope. Something about a gun being made to be collected seems to diversely affect its long term price. Could be that they all want to charge a premium up front so they take longer to catch up and pass what you paid for them.

 

[jpickar]

I have wanted a stainless one since they came out in 1975. I have had the chance several times but I was always short of cash. I do see lots of blued ones.
John

 

[Cholo]

They were only made in '76 in blue with a stainless grip frame. I used to have one.

 

[jpickar]

They were only made in '76 in blue with a stainless grip frame. I used to have one.

In Colorado they came out in late 1975. But they were Centennial models. I saw a few Colorado Centennial also marked "Made in the 200th year of American Liberty". It was a all stainless model.
John

 

[jimbo1096]

Haven't seen any of the stainless varieties, but I have heard of some going through with the 200th year markings. I would like one of those. They are a pretty gun with a nice walnut box. I think one of the nicer looking commemoratives Ruger made.

 

[chet15]

Prices are goofy aren't they?
When the Colorado Centennial came out it had a suggested retail of $250 complete with the nice walnut case.
Ruger's suggested retail today of a regular blued NM Super Single-Six convertible is $629...a price that will probably go up again in a few weeks.
On gunbroker a NIB blued Super Single-Six goes for $435 to $460.
So NIB Colorado Centennials with the Walnut case are a steal at $500 I.M.O.
Chet15

 

[chet15]

They were only made in '76 in blue with a stainless grip frame. I used to have one.

In Colorado they came out in late 1975. But they were Centennial models. I once saw a Colorado Centennial also marked "Made in the 200th year of American Liberty". It was a all stainless model.
John

If it was an all stainless model, it wasn't a Colorado Centennial. Such an animal wasn't made, not even in prototype form. I know the Ruger exec who was responsible for designing the Colorado Centennial and the stainless grip frame was given to it in the model stage to give it better "aesthetics". Then the decision was made to produce the model in that form.
Chet15

 

[chet15]

Haven't seen any of the stainless varieties, but I have heard of some going through with the 200th year markings. I would like one of those. They are a pretty gun with a nice walnut box. I think one of the nicer looking commemoratives Ruger made.

The rumor of the Liberty marked Colorado Centennial has been going since it was mentioned as a possibility by a Ruger exec in the early '80's. To date nobody has actually come up with one. If it was made, it wouldn't be a surprise if a factory employee latched on to them, but for the most part, the entire production of the Colorado Centennial was said to have been produced in 1975 although some are known to have been "shipped" in early 1976.
To have the "MADE IN THE 200th YEAR OF AMERICAN LIBERTY" rollmark, the inscriptions on the barrel would have been very "busy" because you would also have the two-line Sturm, Ruger address on top of the barrel and the Colorado Centennial rollmark on the side of the barrel. That left only two spots for the Liberty rollmark...between those two rollmarks or above the ejector housing.
Such a variation would also be 40 years old now, and not one example has shown up. All things considered, I've often wondered if the Liberty marked Colorado Centennial is more myth than truth.
Chet15

 

[jpickar]

Haven't seen any of the stainless varieties, but I have heard of some going through with the 200th year markings. I would like one of those. They are a pretty gun with a nice walnut box. I think one of the nicer looking commemoratives Ruger made.

The rumor of the Liberty marked Colorado Centennial has been going since it was mentioned as a possibility by a Ruger exec in the early '80's. To date nobody has actually come up with one. If it was made, it wouldn't be a surprise if a factory employee latched on to them, but for the most part, the entire production of the Colorado Centennial was said to have been produced in 1975 although some are known to have been "shipped" in early 1976.
To have the "MADE IN THE 200th YEAR OF AMERICAN LIBERTY" rollmark, the inscriptions on the barrel would have been very "busy" because you would also have the two-line Sturm, Ruger address on top of the barrel and the Colorado Centennial rollmark on the side of the barrel. That left only two spots for the Liberty rollmark...between those two rollmarks or above the ejector housing.
Such a variation would also be 40 years old now, and not one example has shown up. All things considered, I've often wondered if the Liberty marked Colorado Centennial is more myth than truth.
Chet15

Well you have a chance to learn something here. Yes I did see and handle a all stainless Colorado Centennial and I have seen 3 Colorado Centennials with the "made in the 200th year of American
Liberty". I don't care what any Ruger exc. said. I know what I saw and handled.
John

 

[Ruger45]

Well you have a chance to learn something here. Yes I did see and handle a all stainless Colorado Centennial and I have seen 3 Colorado Centennials with the "made in the 200th year of American
Liberty". I don't care what any Ruger exc. said. I know what I saw and handled.
John[/quote]
If you ever get the chance John get us some photos of them guns. I would love to see them.

 

[jpickar]

I wish I did have some photos of them, but taking pics is forbidden at all the guns shows I go to. And two of the times was back in the 80's when I phones didn't exist, let alone taking cameras to gun shows. And I know that is grounds for saying it didn't happen, but I have no interest in arguing the facts. I know what I saw and held. Take it or leave it.
John

I also bought and shot a Remington 700 with a factory barrel stamped 257 Roberts. Remington says they were never made in the 700. They did make them in the 722, but not the 700. But I had and shot a factory 700 in 257 Roberts.

 

[Hondo44]

Well you have a chance to learn something here. Yes I did see and handle a all stainless Colorado Centennial and I have seen 3 Colorado Centennials with the "made in the 200th year of American
Liberty". I don't care what any Ruger exc. said. I know what I saw and handled.
John

John,

Can you tell us where on the barrel the "Made in the 200th year of American
Liberty" was stamped?

Thx,
Jim

 

[jpickar]

Well you have a chance to learn something here. Yes I did see and handle a all stainless Colorado Centennial and I have seen 3 Colorado Centennials with the "made in the 200th year of American
Liberty". I don't care what any Ruger exc. said. I know what I saw and handled.
John

John,

Can you tell us where on the barrel the "Made in the 200th year of American
Liberty" was stamped?

Thx,
Jim

Jim,
If I remember correctly it was on the top of the barrel like all 200th guns. And the Sturm Ruger stamping was ahead of that if I remember correctly. I know the barrel had a lot of stamping on it. On two of the guns. The other one I don't think it had the Sturm Ruger stamping on it at all.
John

 

[rugerguy]

we had our shop at that time of the bicentennial and had the Ruger Colorado Centennial/US BiCentennials and had many more over the years since then, have a complete set right now, and have NEVER seen an "all stainless" version of this gun, yes a stainless grip frame, and NEVER seen or heard of ANY rollmarked "Made in the 200th year of American Liberty"
Even the Blue book had the info n this gun wrong fro quite a few years, as they thought the rollmarkings on the side of the barrel which is "1876 Colorado Centennial*US BiCentennial*1776 "as being a 200th year gun,,,,here is the picture.....




and the top...........



Maybe there was a special gun made up aftermarket for the Colorado Centennial ONLY???

 

[chet15]

Haven't seen any of the stainless varieties, but I have heard of some going through with the 200th year markings. I would like one of those. They are a pretty gun with a nice walnut box. I think one of the nicer looking commemoratives Ruger made.

The rumor of the Liberty marked Colorado Centennial has been going since it was mentioned as a possibility by a Ruger exec in the early '80's. To date nobody has actually come up with one. If it was made, it wouldn't be a surprise if a factory employee latched on to them, but for the most part, the entire production of the Colorado Centennial was said to have been produced in 1975 although some are known to have been "shipped" in early 1976.
To have the "MADE IN THE 200th YEAR OF AMERICAN LIBERTY" rollmark, the inscriptions on the barrel would have been very "busy" because you would also have the two-line Sturm, Ruger address on top of the barrel and the Colorado Centennial rollmark on the side of the barrel. That left only two spots for the Liberty rollmark...between those two rollmarks or above the ejector housing.
Such a variation would also be 40 years old now, and not one example has shown up. All things considered, I've often wondered if the Liberty marked Colorado Centennial is more myth than truth.
Chet15

Well you have a chance to learn something here. Yes I did see and handle a all stainless Colorado Centennial and I have seen 3 Colorado Centennials with the "made in the 200th year of American
Liberty". I don't care what any Ruger exc. said. I know what I saw and handled.
John

 

[chet15]

Well you have a chance to learn something here. Yes I did see and handle a all stainless Colorado Centennial and I have seen 3 Colorado Centennials with the "made in the 200th year of American
Liberty". I don't care what any Ruger exc. said. I know what I saw and handled.
John

[/quote]

Before being so sure of yourself, I should say you are really fortunate to see four guns that nobody else has ever seen before....and in 40 years of hunting for a Liberty marked Colorado. Everybody I've ever talked to who saw one went back to look again and realized it was the Colorado Centennial marking they were looking at.
I'll play along on the all-stainless Colorado Centennial...but it had to be a prototype if you really saw one. The prototype to the blue Colorado with stainless steel grip frame was serial number 63-89509 (Colorado Centennials have a 76- prefix).
The former Ruger exec peruses this site from time to time...perhaps he'll chime in on the circumstances of planning the Colorado Centennial, since it was his first project at Ruger and he was intimately involved with it.
Chet15

 

[chet15]

Well you have a chance to learn something here. Yes I did see and handle a all stainless Colorado Centennial and I have seen 3 Colorado Centennials with the "made in the 200th year of American
Liberty". I don't care what any Ruger exc. said. I know what I saw and handled.
John

Before being so sure of yourself, I should say you are really fortunate to see four guns that nobody else has ever seen before....and in 40 years of hunting for a Liberty marked Colorado...and I mean every serious Ruger collector in that 40-year span. Everybody I've ever talked to who saw one went back to look again and realized it was the Colorado Centennial marking they were looking at.
I consider Phil Harden to be the top Liberty collector for 30 years running, and he's never seen one. He owns 76-15605 and I've also noted 76-15294, 76-15751, 76-15769 and 76-15846 and none of them are Liberty marked. 76-15888 was the highest shipped by Ruger.
Our 76-01811 was shipped in January or February of 1976 and it isn't Liberty marked.
If there is one out there, it would be a holy grail for Ruger New Model single-actions.
I'll play along on the all-stainless Colorado Centennial...but it had to be a prototype if you really saw one. The prototype to the blue Colorado with stainless steel grip frame was serial number 63-89509. The only difference between that one and regular production is that the unfluted cylinder does not have the Colorado rollmark and regular production Colorado Centennials have a 76- prefix.
The former Ruger exec peruses this site from time to time...perhaps he'll chime in on the circumstances of planning the Colorado Centennial, since it was his first project at Ruger and he was intimately involved with it.
Chet15[/quote]

 

[jpickar]

Well you have a chance to learn something here. Yes I did see and handle a all stainless Colorado Centennial and I have seen 3 Colorado Centennials with the "made in the 200th year of American
Liberty". I don't care what any Ruger exc. said. I know what I saw and handled.
John

Before being so sure of yourself, I should say you are really fortunate to see four guns that nobody else has ever seen before....and in 40 years of hunting for a Liberty marked Colorado...and I mean every serious Ruger collector in that 40-year span. Everybody I've ever talked to who saw one went back to look again and realized it was the Colorado Centennial marking they were looking at.
I consider Phil Harden to be the top Liberty collector for 30 years running, and he's never seen one. He owns 76-15605 and I've also noted 76-15294, 76-15751, 76-15769 and 76-15846 and none of them are Liberty marked. 76-15888 was the highest shipped by Ruger.
Our 76-01811 was shipped in January or February of 1976 and it isn't Liberty marked.
If there is one out there, it would be a holy grail for Ruger New Model single-actions.
I'll play along on the all-stainless Colorado Centennial...but it had to be a prototype if you really saw one. The prototype to the blue Colorado with stainless steel grip frame was serial number 63-89509. The only difference between that one and regular production is that the unfluted cylinder does not have the Colorado rollmark and regular production Colorado Centennials have a 76- prefix.
The former Ruger exec peruses this site from time to time...perhaps he'll chime in on the circumstances of planning the Colorado Centennial, since it was his first project at Ruger and he was intimately involved with it.
Chet15

[/quote]


I saw the guns in question in Colorado when I lived there. I saw lots of the Colorado Centennials in Colorado. I have only seen one or maybe two in the last 25 years living in MT. If you don't live in CO your chances of seeing an odd stamp are much slimmer.
John

 

[chet15]

I saw the guns in question in Colorado when I lived there. I saw lots of the Colorado Centennials in Colorado. I have only seen one or maybe two in the last 25 years living in MT. If you don't live in CO your chances of seeing an odd stamp are much slimmer.
John

John:
The Colorado Centennial was distributed nationwide. Right up to 10-15 years ago it was common here in Iowa to see at least one or two at every show.
Excuse me for the triple reply above...kept finding more to say on this thread and hit the wrong buttons I guess.
The first time a Colorado Centennial with Liberty rollmark was mentioned was about 1981 or so when an issue of the Ruger Collectors' Association Journal came out with an article about "Commemorative" Rugers. The Colorado Centennial was of course listed there, along with the note that a few guns were believed to have been made with the Liberty rollmark in addition to the other two rollmarks. Thus far, nobody has come up with an example for actual photography, and I know of nobody who has one in their collection.
Chet15

 

[street]

I also looked for years for a 200th yr. marked Colorado Centennial and never saw one. I would like to have a dollar for every one of a kind Ruger that people said that they saw but never was able to produce, or show a picture of. Those dollars would buy me a nice 10in. Flattop.

 

[jpickar]

I saw the guns in question in Colorado when I lived there. I saw lots of the Colorado Centennials in Colorado. I have only seen one or maybe two in the last 25 years living in MT. If you don't live in CO your chances of seeing an odd stamp are much slimmer.
John

John:
The Colorado Centennial was distributed nationwide. Right up to 10-15 years ago it was common here in Iowa to see at least one or two at every show.
Excuse me for the triple reply above...kept finding more to say on this thread and hit the wrong buttons I guess.
The first time a Colorado Centennial with Liberty rollmark was mentioned was about 1981 or so when an issue of the Ruger Collectors' Association Journal came out with an article about "Commemorative" Rugers. The Colorado Centennial was of course listed there, along with the note that a few guns were believed to have been made with the Liberty rollmark in addition to the other two rollmarks. Thus far, nobody has come up with an example for actual photography, and I know of nobody who has one in their collection.
Chet15

So what is the beef? You have now said that it has been said that Liberty marked Centennials have been seen. You just choose not to believe it. Then let it go. It is not a life or death issue. :roll:
I could say I don't believe that there were as many Centennials in Iowa as you "say" there were. You have no pictures to prove it!! But I guess it is possible! Get my point.
I have never met so many contrary gun folks as there are here on the Ruger Forum. :roll:
John

 

[chet15]

So what is the beef? You have now said that it has been said that Liberty marked Centennials have been seen. You just choose not to believe it. Then let it go. It is not a life or death issue. :roll:
I could say I don't believe that there were as many Centennials in Iowa as you "say" there were. You have no pictures to prove it!! But I guess it is possible! Get my point.
I have never met so many contrary gun folks as there are here on the Ruger Forum. :roll:
John

No...I never said that, and not trying to pick a beef. What I said was the "conjecture" was that some "may" have been made....as printed in that early '80's RCA Journal. A lot of collectors have come and gone since that time, including a lot of "Liberty" collectors.
I'm not going to say it doesn't exist...but come up with a picture of one and then the conjecture can stop.
I'll also have to say that an all stainless Colorado Centennial DOES NOT exist, again as mentioned unless you happened to have come across a prototype which I can't say was made in stainless either. That being the case, I'll be honest...it is tough to believe one person saw three Liberty marked Colorado's and one all stainless Colorado. Of course...Ruger being Ruger...anything is and has been possible. (Just from past experience, a lot of people have claimed to have a red eagle Single-Six as well).
We still need pics.
Chet15

 

[rugerguy]

wow, so for the past few months we've been called 'deplorables" and now we be "contrary", and which I feel the folks here on THIS forum are from that,,,, "contrary"...we're just trying to tell you like it is, what we and others all across the country who collect, buy and sell ALL forms of Rugers, old and new, and even the books will tell, what you said YOU saw, and handled , just has NOT been recorded ,let alone "seen", by ANY other Ruger collector, or author......I guess you are very fortunate, or just maybe a vivid imagination.........sorry, trying NOT to be "contrary", but VERY "skeptical" 8) :roll: :wink:

 

[jpickar]

So what is the beef? You have now said that it has been said that Liberty marked Centennials have been seen. You just choose not to believe it. Then let it go. It is not a life or death issue. :roll:
I could say I don't believe that there were as many Centennials in Iowa as you "say" there were. You have no pictures to prove it!! But I guess it is possible! Get my point.
I have never met so many contrary gun folks as there are here on the Ruger Forum. :roll:
John

No...I never said that, and not trying to pick a beef. What I said was the "conjecture" was that some "may" have been made....as printed in that early '80's RCA Journal. A lot of collectors have come and gone since that time, including a lot of "Liberty" collectors.
I'm not going to say it doesn't exist...but come up with a picture of one and then the conjecture can stop.
I'll also have to say that an all stainless Colorado Centennial DOES NOT exist, again as mentioned unless you happened to have come across a prototype which I can't say was made in stainless either. That being the case, I'll be honest...it is tough to believe one person saw three Liberty marked Colorado's and one all stainless Colorado. Of course...Ruger being Ruger...anything is and has been possible. (Just from past experience, a lot of people have claimed to have a red eagle Single-Six as well).
We still need pics.
Chet15

LOL You guys are too much. Why couldn't I see Liberty marked Centennials in Colorado?
I just offered what I have seen as additional information. LOL
Your chose not to believe me. You don't have to get your panties in a wad about it. LOL

Here is another unrelated piece of information. My Father-in-law owned and operated a standard gauge steam locomotive. I learned to fire and run a standard gauge steam locomotive and got to run it when I wanted. We had 7 miles of private track to run on. NOW that sounds far fetched doesn't it? Do you believe me on this statement? Or are you going to demand pictures to prove it? :roll:
John