PLEASE NOTE: John Kopec Authentications is now closed. Our phone number is now for John Kopec Publications, and for questions regarding the purchase of his books.

*John never officially endorsed any other Colt authenticators.

John wrote approximately over 2600 letters of authentication since the late 1970's. His first letter was on serial number 14343 and dated 12-9-1971. Lately he also authenticated for Rock Island Auctions Bedford, Texas. John also was a contributing author for the Texas Gun Collector, as well as a contributing author for the "Rampant Colt" (Colt Collector's Magazine).

Later in his career John developed his own style of classifying the condition of the guns he authenticated. His letters would receive one of the following classifications.

GOLD SEAL LETTERS: (Started 2010) This classification is awarded to a revolver which he found to be authentic in every respect, regardless of the percent of original finish remaining, may be awarded our "Gold-Seal" letter. This revolver is one which the writer feels would qualify being in his own personal collection: one for which "no excuses" would ever be required. Few surviving examples would qualify for this distinction. All Gold Seal Letters were printed on parchment paper.

SILVER SEAL LETTERS: This classification was awarded to a few revolvers that were just not in the condition that would have warranted a "Gold Seal" letter, but in reality, were nice, honest examples worthy of any collection. These extra-nice condition revolvers were awarded his "Silver Seal" letter of authentication.

BRONZE SEAL LETTERS: Later John initiated his "Bronze-Seal" Letter of Authentication. An authentication letter was assigned a "Bronze Seal providing the following criteria was satisfied; the revolver remained basically original but may have had a few replaced components i.e. hammer, ejector head, grips, screws etc. or had sustained polishing, re-nickel plating, re-bluing, or other modifications of the distant past.

His "SEAL" letters were awarded solely at his discretion. Authentic, historically-associated revolvers may have been awarded his "Gold Seal" letter. John was known for saying, "solid history will always trump condition".

Revolvers showing "Restoration" i.e. new barrels, cylinders, restamped serial numbers, counterfeit barrel addresses or fake inspector's cartouches and/or the increasingly common "Artillery re-conversions" were assigned his standard blind-embossed seal letter.

John was known for telling enthuses not to be discouraged in their search, that there are some great Cavalry and Artillery revolvers surfacing out of estates and families on a regular basis, and that maybe they would find the next one!

COLT ARCHIVES HISTORICAL LETTERS: The Colt Archives Department cannot supply letters on Cavalry revolvers below serial #30,600. They may however have information about an Artillery revolver with a frame serial number below this number. John highly recommended that you obtain a Colt Archives historical letter on your Cavalry or Artillery revolver, by calling Beverly Haynes at Colt Archives at (860) 554-8088.