Author Topic: Early Tip Curtis rifle. Help with value. Pictures have been posted.  (Read 19709 times)

white smoke

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I have a Tip Curtis Bedford style rifle and would like some help to set a value for insurance or selling. It is signed and numbered 13. Quite a beautiful piece. I don't have a photo storage system but would be glad to email pictures. I am a  Long time black powder shooter (40 + years). Thanks in advance for any input. Phil
« Last Edit: November 03, 2014, 09:07:21 PM by white smoke »

Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: Early Tip Curtis rifle. Help with value
« Reply #1 on: November 02, 2014, 08:43:40 PM »
I'd call tip and ask him.
NEW WEBSITE! www.mikebrooksflintlocks.com
Say, any of you boys smithies? Or, if not smithies per se, were you otherwise trained in the metallurgic arts before straitened circumstances forced you into a life of aimless wanderin'?

white smoke

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Re: Early Tip Curtis rifle. Help with value
« Reply #2 on: November 03, 2014, 03:08:37 AM »
Can someone help an old man here. How do I "allow" attachments? I'd love to post some pictures of this rifle from my files.Thanks

Offline D. Buck Stopshere

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Re: Early Tip Curtis rifle. Help with value
« Reply #3 on: November 03, 2014, 03:25:31 AM »
Scroll down in "General Discussions" to "Tutorials.

Click on "Tutorials"

Scroll down to "Miscellaneous Tutorials"

Click on "Miscellaneous Tutorials, and click on "Placing Photos in Your Post>

You'll need the use of a host photo storage site like Photobucket or Shutterfly. You cannot post photos from your own computer.

In other words:

 AmericanLongRifles Forums
    General discussion
      Tutorials
         Miscellaneous Tutorials
           Placing Photos in your posts
I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous.

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Offline JTR

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Re: Early Tip Curtis rifle. Help with value
« Reply #4 on: November 03, 2014, 03:37:53 AM »
Or email the pictures to me and I'll post them for you.

jtrrobbins@msn.com

John

Pictures received! I'll post them here in the morning. Nice rifle! ;-)

John
« Last Edit: November 03, 2014, 05:47:20 AM by JTR »
John Robbins

Offline JTR

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Re: Early Tip Curtis rifle. Help with value Pictures Posted!
« Reply #5 on: November 03, 2014, 08:40:32 PM »
Here are the pictures!
Nice Rifle!



 

« Last Edit: November 03, 2014, 08:41:45 PM by JTR »
John Robbins

white smoke

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Re: Early Tip Curtis rifle. Help with value
« Reply #6 on: November 03, 2014, 08:52:39 PM »
John, thank you very much for posting them. Phil

Offline iloco

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Re: Early Tip Curtis rifle. Help with value
« Reply #7 on: November 03, 2014, 08:59:57 PM »
What caliber is the rifle.  LOP.  A little information would be very helpful.
 It is a nice looking rifle..
iloco

white smoke

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Re: Early Tip Curtis rifle. Help with value
« Reply #8 on: November 03, 2014, 09:02:50 PM »
Caliber is 45, LOP is 14 1/4, barrel is 34", (Tip does not recall who made the barrel).  Lock is a Dean Mitton.

Offline Mick C

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Re: Early Tip Curtis rifle. Help with value. Pictures have been posted.
« Reply #9 on: November 19, 2014, 03:20:24 AM »
That is indeed a beautiful rifle.  IMHO it would be worth in the range of, if not north of 3K.  I would insure it for at least that much....MickC
My profile picture is my beloved K9 best friend and soulmate, Buster Brown, who passed away in 2018.  I miss you buddy!

Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: Early Tip Curtis rifle. Help with value. Pictures have been posted.
« Reply #10 on: November 19, 2014, 04:20:25 PM »
Hard sell with a 34" barrel, otherwise a very nice gun.
NEW WEBSITE! www.mikebrooksflintlocks.com
Say, any of you boys smithies? Or, if not smithies per se, were you otherwise trained in the metallurgic arts before straitened circumstances forced you into a life of aimless wanderin'?

Offline EC121

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Re: Early Tip Curtis rifle. Help with value. Pictures have been posted.
« Reply #11 on: November 20, 2014, 03:24:28 PM »
It is a nicely built rifle, but a Bedford style rifle with a straight sided 34" barrel and 14.25 LOP probably isn't at the top of most people's "want" list.  $3K might be more than a bit optimistic.  But there is always that one buyer who is looking for that certain rifle.
Brice Stultz

white smoke

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Re: Early Tip Curtis rifle. Help with value. Pictures have been posted.
« Reply #12 on: November 21, 2014, 04:54:50 AM »
Thanks to all for your feedback, much appreciated. I thought it was so handsome I couldn't pass it up for the price being asked.

kaintuck

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Re: Early Tip Curtis rifle. Help with value. Pictures have been posted.
« Reply #13 on: November 27, 2014, 03:21:37 PM »
Nice rifle, between 2-3500, depends on buyer, and seller, as said longer barrel would of put it 3K fer sure!
And there's the one feller here.....14-1/2" LOP WILL SEND HIM INTO MELTDOWN :D
ALL of his riffles are 14" LOP exactly........ahahahahahaaaa.......
Meeting Tip was a fun trip, and each time also......he has had so much sadness in his life, he says just what he's thinking.......so if you ask HIM about price, you'll get it straight.......but be prepared, as he don't mince words...... ::)

Marc n tomtom

white smoke

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Re: Early Tip Curtis rifle. Help with value. Pictures have been posted.
« Reply #14 on: November 27, 2014, 05:08:24 PM »
Marc, thank you so much. Tip doesn't do hi-tech like email, computers etc. I may call him. A friend of a friend asked him on my behalf about the barrel and he didn't recall who made it. I bought it for a grand. Couldn't pass it up for that. It's a piece of art in my opinion, and I will probably just hang it on the wall. Hope you have a pleasant Thanksgiving.

Offline EC121

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Re: Early Tip Curtis rifle. Help with value. Pictures have been posted.
« Reply #15 on: November 27, 2014, 07:27:41 PM »
At $1K that is a great purchase.  Parts cost is around $600-800.  That rifle for $400 labor is a deal.  The barrel maker doesn't really matter.  They all shoot better than we can hold them.   
Brice Stultz

kaintuck

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Re: Early Tip Curtis rifle. Help with value. Pictures have been posted.
« Reply #16 on: January 15, 2015, 04:51:35 PM »
Marc, thank you so much. Tip doesn't do hi-tech like email, computers etc. I may call him. A friend of a friend asked him on my behalf about the barrel and he didn't recall who made it. I bought it for a grand. Couldn't pass it up for that. It's a piece of art in my opinion, and I will probably just hang it on the wall. Hope you have a pleasant Thanksgiving.


That was a steal......you could double that at anytime on gunbroker.......but it's a great piece, hang it up on the wall, handle it often on those cold rainey days.......wax her down, and place back on the wal....

Enjoy
Marc n tomtom

Offline Hillbilly Delux

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Re: Early Tip Curtis rifle. Help with value. Pictures have been posted.
« Reply #17 on: November 11, 2015, 06:58:58 AM »
I handled Tips very own #45 yesterday and asked about what he thought it would be worth he said "maybe 3" and followed up with, "...they'll double in price when I die". Tip is very modest when it comes to his skills, however I believe he is extremely gifted.  I have spent many an hour conversing with he, furthermore nearly every new gun in his sell shop is 1200+. White Smoke you did well.
« Last Edit: November 11, 2015, 06:59:56 AM by Hillbilly Delux »

Offline oldtravler61

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Re: Early Tip Curtis rifle. Help with value. Pictures have been posted.
« Reply #18 on: November 12, 2015, 12:23:03 AM »
Tip is just a great guy. First time I met him. Was at Kalamazoo History show. He sold me a rifle an when he found out it was for my son. He more than gave me a fair price. World could use a few more like Tip imho.

Offline Molly

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Re: Early Tip Curtis rifle. Help with value. Pictures have been posted.
« Reply #19 on: November 13, 2015, 03:28:26 AM »
Don't know Mr. Curtis but a friend has a rifle purchased from him.  I thought he claimed that Mr. Curtis builds from "kits" and then offers the completed rifle for sale.  This one looks like a custom job.

But whatever,....my friend has a great looking and great shooting rifle made by Mr. Curtis.

Offline sqrldog

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Re: Early Tip Curtis rifle. Help with value. Pictures have been posted.
« Reply #20 on: November 13, 2015, 05:21:31 AM »
In the eighties and early nineties Tip Curtis would take an order and build a custom firearm and occasionally build a spec rifle. As a matter of information the late Frank Bartlett and Tip Curtis are cousins.  Tim

Offline Hillbilly Delux

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Re: Early Tip Curtis rifle. Help with value. Pictures have been posted.
« Reply #21 on: November 13, 2015, 07:21:55 AM »
Don't know Mr. Curtis but a friend has a rifle purchased from him.  I thought he claimed that Mr. Curtis builds from "kits" and then offers the completed rifle for sale.  This one looks like a custom job.

But whatever,....my friend has a great looking and great shooting rifle made by Mr. Curtis.

Tip builds the kit, and if you are able to convince him to further the custom...you have done well.

Offline Molly

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Re: Early Tip Curtis rifle. Help with value. Pictures have been posted.
« Reply #22 on: November 13, 2015, 03:28:42 PM »
The specific rifle I have seen is very well done.  Not a lot of carving but the fit of everything is about as good as it gets.  Finish on the wood and metal are excellent and it shoots well.  What more could one want!

Offline Eric Krewson

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Re: Early Tip Curtis rifle. Help with value. Pictures have been posted.
« Reply #23 on: November 13, 2015, 04:47:46 PM »
I got the grand tour of Tip's business a few years ago. He has an elaborate building section with a lot of specialized machines for precise stock shaping and inletting, many of which he designed himself.

He told me he could go from a blank to a gun in the white in three days with his equipment.

kaintuck

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Re: Early Tip Curtis rifle. Help with value. Pictures have been posted.
« Reply #24 on: November 15, 2015, 06:29:41 PM »
Tip always has a goodly supply of everything......even time to chew the fat, well, until grass mowing season!
He has a beautiful little farm, just heaven,.....y'all need to visit him!

Marc n tomtom