New guns,new guner

[gain]

Hi,everybody.I am relativly new to muzzleloading.Last year my best friend and hunting partner got a austin halleck mountain 50 cal rifle and after shooting it a few times I decided I wanted to also hunt with blackpowder.We live in anaconda montana and hunt mule deer,elk,whitetail,moose,antelope,bear and bighorns.He took a mule deer with it last year and let me use to take one also.I have been looking for a good rifle and pistol for a year now but here in montana there are no special seasons for muzzleloaders and not many people use them so finding them has not been easy.Recently a friends relative passed away and I was told there were three blackpowder guns that I could buy from his estate.They look like nice pieces but I dont know anyone who can tell me for sure.There is a pistol which is a ruger.It is stainless steel and says old army,it is a 45 cal and is marked made in the 200th year of american liberty.It has an extra cylinder and appears unfired and is still in the box wrapped in plastic.There are two rifles.One is a 54 cal and has two barrels.By pushing a lever in front of the trigger the barrels turn.The only markings on the gun is L.Day on the lock.It also appears to be unfired and is very pretty.The other rifle says C.V.A. made in U.S.A.is a 45 cal and has silver attachments.It also appears to be unfired.The asking price for the three guns is 1500.00.Can anyone tell me anything about these guns.Are they worth the asking price.Can they shoot maxis or are they ball shooters,thanks.

 

[rabjr]

Don't know about the rifles but ya might want to get that pistol and put it away in a safe for awhile.

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

The Leonard Day rifle is hand made. It is called a swivel breech in reference to its rotating barrels. The Ruger is also worth having. The CVA is a mass produced, lower quality item and I think I would pass on it unless the price was minimal.

 

[gain]

Hi,what is special about the pistol.Just tryin to get as much info as possible.Rifle season starts in a week for elk and deer here and need to make a decision.

 

[gain]

Hi,any idea what the value of the L.Day rifle is or the ruger pistol.They are wanting me to buy them all for 1500.00.I noticed the cva rifle simular to this one they are selling in a store in butte says made in spain and has brass attachments and this one is made in usa and has silver.

 

[rabjr]

A new in the box 30 year old commerative is only going to go up in value. If it is indeed unfired it should remain so and squirreled away.

 

[Robert58]

The Ruber Old Army was made in 1976. It is a commemorative of sorts marking the 200th year of America. I would value it at around $450.00.

The CVA Rifle if it is a 1970's Mountain Rifle may be worth around $300.00 to $350.00.

Don't know about the L. Dailey. I don't have a clue.

Robert

 

[gain]

Hi,thanks for that info.I guess if the L.Day is worth at least 700.00 I wont be getin hurt to bad.I am half tempted to go ahead with it.

 

[Zonie]

The Ruger pistol is called the "Ruger Collectors Association Second Series 1976"
A total of 201 were made, serial number 145-01401 thru 145-01600.
It should have an engraved RCA logo with intertwined RCA monogram on the topstrap, eagle mark before the serial number.
The inscription should be "MADE IN THE 200th YEAR OF AMERICAN LIBERTY"

The Blue Book of Modern Black Powder Values (2003) says the values are: $820 for new in box, $600 for 98% and $465 for a gun in 95% condition.
This is a "collectors" gun and really shouldn't be used. In my opinion, black powder rifles and pistols don't gain much in value but I believe this may be the exception to that. There are a lot of Ruger collectors who would really like to get one of these pistols.

The CVA rifle is one of the early rifles made by CVA and it was indeed made in the USA.
It is considered by many to be the finest CVA rifle made and I would agree with the price estimate in the post up above if it is in very good, unrusted and lightly used condition.

This CVA rifle is made for shooting round balls and historically does a very good job of it.
In .45 caliber it is more than enough for deer when loaded with a patched roundball out to 75 yards.
This rifle is not a collectable so IMO using it for hunting will not hurt it's value as long as it is kept clean.

I cannot find any information about the value of the L Day rifle.

zonie

 

[Le Grand]

That L. Day will bring more than $700. You should go for it and I'd bet that the L. Day will become one of your very favorites. Le Grand

 

[renovato]

Hi,thanks for that info.I guess if the L.Day is worth at least 700.00 I wont be getin hurt to bad.I am half tempted to go ahead with it.

You're unlikely to find any good handmade rifle for anywhere near $700 so yeah, it would more than make up the difference in price. That's a fair price for all three.

 

[gain]

Hi and thanks zonie.I made the called and sealed the deal.I now own these guns.The L.Day rifle will just have to be worth what I paid.I havent ever seen another like it.

 

[gain]

Hi,yes I went ahead with the purchase.Gonna pick them up in an hour.Thanks for the help.I looked in my dads blue book of gun values and couldnt find anything on[url] muzzleloaders.Bein[/url] new to them I wanted to check myself out before I made a mistake.

 

[rabjr]

Please don't cock the hammer on that ruger if it shows no signs of ever being cocked.

Congrats on your new guns. :hatsoff:

 

[Robert58]

Go to[url] http://www.rugerforum.com/[/url] and ask them about the Old Army. And do as swamprat says, DO NOT cock the hammer. If you cock the hammer the paw that locks the cylinder will put a scratch on it and lower the value of the pistol.

Robert

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

Leonard's guns routinely sell for well over $1000.00 in good used condition. And they don't stay on the market for very long. If you can get this gun for less than that I'd grab it. Then the Ruger.

 

[Pittsburghunter]

Good buy!! That switch barrel may be worth more than what you paid for all three.

PICS!! PLEASE!!

 

[more powder]

Elker I live in Deer Lodge send me a e mail or call --- 3818

 

[rabjr]

Just to show you, heres a new in the box Ruger Bearcat I have tucked away in my safe. Have a plastic tie on it to prevent it from being cocked.

 

[gain]

Hey ya,good idea.After gettin these guns home and lookin at the serial# on the ruger.It doesnt fall into the range that zonie gave so I guess I have a shooter which is alright to.The serial# on mine is 145-05XX.It is unfired though.Has the made in 200th year of american liberty on the barrel and the extra cylinder is a plus.