Author Topic: I have an El Dorado 44 mag revolver, what's it worth? (Read 3580 times)

shotgunner · « **on:** June 04, 2007, 07:25:50 AM »

Years ago I bought a stainless steel 44 mag revolver made by a small company names El Dorado. It is well made, I heard that they were bought out and called Seville for a while. Mine has a 7 1/2 barrel, rosewood grips and is in near new condition. Any idea what it is worth? I know that very few were made. Anyone else have one? Shotgunner

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #1 on:** June 04, 2007, 08:21:33 AM »

very dangerous weak gun box it up imediately and send it to me to depose of it. Id proably even pay the shipping it cost you!!!

Seriously there a real good gun John Linebaugh started his conversion bussiness converting sevilles to 5 shot 45. they are every bit as strong as a super black hawk and most of the ones ive handled showed better fit and finish then a ruger. Not much collectors value though. Id guess somewhere in the 300 dollar range for a good shooter maybe a little more if its mint. Like any gun from that era you never know to you put it for sale. You may finds someone that really wants one exactly like yours and is willing to pay for it.

shotgunner · « **Reply #2 on:** June 05, 2007, 04:41:16 AM »

Thanks for the reply. I knew one of the guys who worked on these originally and I thought I had heard about the conversions. I would agree about the quality of workmanship. I knew a fellow who had one with q 10 inch barrel once. Do you think there are any parts available? Shotgunner

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #3 on:** June 05, 2007, 06:05:47 AM »

I guess a guy could check with John to see if he had anything left. I know that was the main reason he switched to doing rugers was lack of part availability. Nice thing is though theres not a part on that gun that couldnt be made by a competant gunsmith.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #4 on:** June 07, 2007, 12:15:03 AM »

If you ever think about parting with it give me a jingle. I think it would make for a neat retro 5 shot 45 if John built it. My best friend has a blued one John did in tight 6 shot 45 that is serial no. 4 or the 4th gun john ever built. Its a real tack driver and a real neat gun. Something you might want to consider if you ever wanted a custom sixgun. it would make for a real unique piece!

Seville · « **Reply #5 on:** September 27, 2007, 11:52:28 AM »

Mr Smale,

I tend to differ on the price

If you ckeck www.singleactions.com there is a great article on United Sporting Arms. Lee Martin also has started a forum there and you can also get info there.

Oh by the way my dad, Sig Himmelmann, designed the Abilene, Seville and El Dorado lines.

Thanks,

John Himmelmann

shotgunner · « **Reply #6 on:** September 28, 2007, 08:44:54 AM »

John

I new a couple of guys on LI in NY that were involved in these guns. One has a stainless 44 with a 10 or 12" barrel. Was your dad from that area? What do you think they are worth? I bought the one I have used, from a guy who was divorsed and selling out. It really is a fine gun and shoots. I collect S&Ws but like single actions also. I will check the site you provided. Thank you for the help, Shotgunner

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #7 on:** September 28, 2007, 10:30:29 AM »

just quoteing the prices ive seen the last couple go for at gunshows around here. Theres a big differnce in what a collector thinks his guns are worth and what the real street value of them is. JUst like i get a kick out of people who think there old model rugers are collectors pieces. They can still be bought around here for less then the price of a new one. Picked up a flat top last year that was in excellent shape for 300 bucks. Dealer said it sat there for almost a year with that price on it. FOr the most part there aint to many people collecting abelines and not to many people are going to pay overinflated prices for them. There basicaly worth what a used ruger is worth. To me i consider them on par in quality to an old model ruger. No better no worse. Thats still a step above what comes out of the ruger factory of late.

Quote from: Seville on September 27, 2007, 11:52:28 AM

Mr Smale,

I tend to differ on the price
If you ckeck www.singleactions.com there is a great article on United Sporting Arms. Lee Martin also has started a forum there and you can also get info there.

Oh by the way my dad, Sig Himmelmann, designed the Abilene, Seville and El Dorado lines.

Thanks,

John Himmelmann

Seville · « **Reply #8 on:** September 28, 2007, 12:02:07 PM »

I lived in Smithtown with my parents during the time dad made Ablinene's and El Dorado/Seville line. As Mr Smale says collector guns are really worth whatever the person buying will pay. I recently purchased a Tombstone Commemorative new in the original cardboard box and wood presentation case for $1200. It had only been fired at the factory. The s/n is TC-132. There were only between 60-70 made. I beleive I got a deal. Dad lives here in Tucson and will be 79 in December. Who do you know I probably know them as I worked there starting from about 13 years old.

John

Catfish · « **Reply #9 on:** September 28, 2007, 12:55:35 PM »

I didn`t know that El Dorado arm was bought out. I know that they started in N.J. and moved to N.C. When I bought mine they were $600 and made by 2 guys and 1 guys nephue help put grips on some of them. I have a 10 1/2 in. barrel with partidge sights in .44 mag. New it leaded less than my old Super Black Hawk which had several 1,000 rounds through it. I ordered it with a 2 oz. trigger but it came with a trigger under 1/2 oz. Everyone I ever let shoot it would put a round in the ground, after being warned not to put their fingure on the trigger. I loved the trigger for target shooting but could not hunt with it, so I put the litest trigger spring from a Ruger in it that I could find. The trigger is abt. 1 lb., alittle less, and it`s a great hunting gun.
If yours was made in Chimney Rock N.C. the serial number would start with a F and the number would be the number of .44 mags. made since they opened up there. Deleted by Graybeard. THIS IS NOT THE CLASSIFIEDS. WHAT PART OF NO DISCUSSION OF BUYING AND SELLING ON DISCUSSION FORUMS DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND? Everyone that is really into revolvers that has shot mine has tried to buy it. Where was your`s made?

I`ve only seen 3 of them in my life, and I do alot of gun shows.

DO NOT LET ME CATCH YOU TRYING TO BUY OR SELL A FIREARM ON ONE OF MY DISCUSSION FORUMS AGAIN. IF I DO YOU WILL BE BANNED FROM THIS SITE. Graybeard

shotgunner · « **Reply #10 on:** October 04, 2007, 08:53:31 AM »

I lived in Smithtown with my parents during the time dad made Ablinene's and El Dorado/Seville line. As Mr Smale says collector guns are really worth whatever the person buying will pay. I recently purchased a Tombstone Commemorative new in the original cardboard box and wood presentation case for $1200. It had only been fired at the factory. The s/n is TC-132. There were only between 60-70 made. I beleive I got a deal. Dad lives here in Tucson and will be 79 in December. Who do you know I probably know them as I worked there starting from about 13 years old.

John

John
I lived in Brookhaven as a kid. I shot at the TeeDee indoor range. There was a gunsmith there, I am forgetting him name. Another guy worked at the range names Mike Kazamizak, or something like that. The gunsmith said he worked on the El Dorados and Mike had an early 10" gun. I will reply when I can figure out what the gunsmith's name was. I bought my first S&W mod. 66 from him, back when satinless steel was hard to get. Small world, Shotgunner.

shotgunner · « **Reply #11 on:** October 04, 2007, 08:59:03 AM »

Greybeard

Your not talking to me are you? I don't know what you deleted but I have not been trying to buy or sell this 44. I have a lot of handguns, way too many I suppose, but have told my kids to split them up when my time comes. This one is not very common and I was interested in what it might bring. If I am going to leave it to my son, and his brother gets some of the 5 screw N frames, I want to be fair about it. I am not here to break the rules. Shotgunner

Graybeard · « **Reply #12 on:** October 04, 2007, 09:55:11 AM »

It wasn't your post edited was it? I was talking to the person who's post was edited and the comments made there. Who the other side of the offer was I don't recall but the poster with all the red text by me is the one to whom I was directly speaking.

Seville · « **Reply #13 on:** October 04, 2007, 03:01:07 PM »

When we made Seville's and El Dorado's in Hauppauge we were at that range test firing all the time. I also am at a lost for the name of the guy. That is where we met Russel Wood. He worked out of his house building big speakers for rock bands. I actually went to his house at age 13 or so and helped make the speakers when he needed help getting a big order out.

shotgunner · « **Reply #14 on:** October 05, 2007, 07:33:45 AM »

The name I keep coming up with is either Gene or Eugene, but I am not sure it is correct. Did you shoot that the range in Calverton also?

Seville · « **Reply #15 on:** October 05, 2007, 08:00:45 AM »

I do not remember that range. I think the owners name of TeeDee's was Dave.

shotgunner · « **Reply #16 on:** October 12, 2007, 06:47:45 AM »

Dave did own TeeDee. He was not much of a shooter as I remember. A guy names Mike Kaz worked there, I taught his son how to trap. Mike had the long barreled El Dorado, along with a lot of other interesting guns. I once went to TeeDee to test a Webley in 38 S&W. I fired 6 shots as fast as I could at a silhouette at 7 yards. Turns out the ammo was black powder, it came with the gun, you could not see to shoot for a half hour. Dave was a little less then happy with me. Shotgunner

TRWalker · « **Reply #17 on:** October 24, 2007, 09:52:58 AM »

I consider any excellent condition El Dorado to be worth at least $500, probably a good bit more.

Seville · « **Reply #18 on:** November 07, 2007, 11:44:23 AM »

Original boxes add alot to the collector. i have quite a few in their original boxes.

shotgunner · « **Reply #19 on:** November 07, 2007, 11:52:20 PM »

Do you know how many were made? Mine is serial number 44-1xx, does that mean it was close to the first 100 made? Shotgunner

Seville · « **Reply #20 on:** November 08, 2007, 08:21:56 AM »

If it is indeed only a 3 number serial number it was probably made by El Dorado Arms. It is my understanding they started at 001.

John Himmelmann
www.singleactions.com