Rating and value of Colt rifles

If you own a Colt rifle and would like to know its value, and if you don't know, the era and model of your weapon, our state-approved experts and auctioneers will offer you their appraisal services.

Our specialists will work to carry out a free appraisal of your weapon, and provide you with an accurate estimate of its value on the current market.

Then, should you wish to sell your property, we will direct you to the best possible device to obtain the optimum price.  

Rating and value of Colt rifles

Colt rifles are sought-after items among collectors. However, price differences can be considerable, depending on the model and state of preservation.

Nowadays, prices for these objects can rise considerably at the auctioneer's gavel. Buyers from all over the world are interested in the sale of certain rare pieces.

The price at which they are selling on the art market ranges from €450 to €16,800, at the moment, a consequent gap but one that says a lot about the value that can be attributed to these weapons.

In 2024, a Colt Paterson Model 1839 revolver carbine sold for €16,820 while it was estimated at between €3,000 and €4,000.  

Order of value ranging from a simple order to the most prestigious

History of Colt rifles   

Colt rifles have military origins. Production began in the 19th century, following the success of Colt revolvers, with the intention of supplying long arms to the US armed forces.

The first true Colt carbine was the Colt Model 1855 Revolving Carabine, which featured a revolving cylinder like that of revolvers, but this design proved unreliable in the field.

The manufacture therefore opted for a transition to more modern mechanisms, Colt gradually abandoning the barrel system in order to adopt safer mechanisms, particularly after the emergence of the repeating rifle.

Colt would collaborate with the US government throughout the 20th century, becoming a major supplier to the US Army, especially with the production of the M16 and M4 carbines, which were derived from the AR-15 rifle designed by Eugene Stoner.

One of the most iconic models, the Colt M4, was adopted by the US Army in the 1990s. It is compact, light and versatile, and becomes the standard weapon of many units around the world.

Colt rifles also experience strong development in civilian circles (sport shooting, collecting) but also within police forces, thanks to their reliability and modularity.

Colt consequently becomes the symbol of an American tradition. Through its rifles, the Colt factory embodies both technical innovation and the gunmaking heritage of the United States, between the conquest of the West, modern warfare and the contemporary market.

Historical focus : the Colt Model 1855 Revolving Carbine during the Civil War

The Colt 1855 carbine is an innovative but controversial weapon. Used by some Northern troops during the American Civil War, it was a barrel weapon derived from Colt revolver.

its design was problematic since its rotating barrel exposed the shooter to the risk of " chain shots ", when several chambers ignited at the same time, causing serious accidents including injuries to the hand holding the barrel.

The anecdote is documented : soldiers from the First Michigan Cavalry Regiment complained because of the incidents, many reporting that they refused to use the weapon in operations, preferring safer percussion rifles.

Some soldiers modified their rifles themselves, adding leather or cloth trimmings to protect their left hand, or limiting their powder charge to avoid multiple flashover.

Faced with danger and criticism, the army quickly reduced orders for the Model 1855, and Colt was forced to rethink its long-armament plans. This setback marked a turning point in the firm's history, which would later abandon this system to concentrate on more modern repeating weapons.

This anecdote illustrates both Colt's technological daring and the practical limits of certain innovations, and reflects a delicate balance between invention and battlefield effectiveness.

The history of Colt

The company was founded in 1836 by Samuel Colt, inventor of the revolver with rotating barrel, with the creation of Colt's Patent Fire-Armes Manufacturing Company.

It revolutionized industrial weaponry with the Colt 1836 revolver (Paterson model), which marked a decisive advance in personal weaponry, offering repeated firepower without immediate change.

Colt models, notably the Navy 1851 and Peacemaker 1873 (Single Action Army) became benchmarks during the conquest of the West and in the major conflicts of the 19th century.

Colt soon became an official partner and supplier to the US Army, reinforcing its reputation through the Civil War, the Indian Wars and then the two World Wars.

The company participated in the modernization of weaponry with semi-automatic models such as the Colt M1911, designed by John Browning and used for over a century.

Colt adapted to modern conflicts. From the 1960s onwards, Colt won the contract to manufacture the AR-15/M16, an emblematic weapon of the Viet Nam War, and then the M4 Carbine in the 1990s/

Despite periods of economic crisis, partial bankruptcies and fairly increased competition (Winchester, Smith & Wesson ...) Colt remains a global icon in the field of firearms, a blend of historical heritage and technical innovation.

Know the value of a Colt rifle

If you happen to own a Colt rifle, from any period, and would like to know its value, don't hesitate to request a free appraisal using our form on our website.

A member of our team of experts and licensed auctioneers will contact you promptly to provide you with an estimate of the market value of your piece, not forgetting to send you ad hoc information about it.

If you wish to sell your property, you will also be accompanied by our specialists in order to benefit from alternatives for selling it at the best possible price, taking into account market inclinations.