WWII Colt 1911
 

My best friend's daughter in law has a Colt parkerized 1911. It appears to be from WWII. It is marked US government property and it is marked Model 1911 A1 US Army. It has a SN# 7 digit marked 14348XX. It has the original web belt, original leather holster and a 2 section magazine pouch. The accessories are in excellent shape and from the pics she sent me the gun appears to be in the 95%+ shape with only some wear on the grip safety. The grips are checkered brown plastic. I have no idea what it is worth but I am thinking of offering her what its worth so I can add it to my collection. Any suggestions of value would be appreciated.

Last year at a gun show, I watched a walk-in negotiate with a dealer over a 1911 and holster rig very much like yours, except I think it was an Ithaca (or maybe a Rem-Rand), and it wasn't in as nice condition as yours sounds like. I'd rate that one at maybe 80 percent original finish or a little better, and I think it even had traces of surface rust. The dealer offered $800 right out of the box, which meant to me he thought the rig was worth a grand or more. I didn't hang around past that so I don't know what final deal if any went down.

Why are "common" USGI WWII 1911s bringing so much these days? Same reason that clean, unmolested '55-'57 Chevies do: There were so many of them so cheap for so long that we all bought them and banged on them and modified them and used the hell out of them and did whatever we wanted to them, and there just aren't that many all-originals left anymore.

Price would be in the $1000 range assuming it is not a rebuild. $200 less if it is. I recently bought 2 Rem Rands and paid $1400 and $900 for non-rebuilds. WW1 and WW2 dated holsters in good shape pull $80. Double pouch maybe $15.

As with all these old guns, they are worth what you want to pay...I have a rebuild ww1 serial number. The rebuild during ww2 replaced many parts, including a colt slide. It has so much character, it was worth 1000 to me.

many of these pieces have so much history it is very hard to put a price on them. :wink:

$900 and up is the going rate for anything decent today. I see them all the time at shows and $900 seems to be a bargain price.

An uncle sold a WWII (can't remember maker) 1911 with belt, holster, magazine. m3 knife and sheath for 750 a year ago. The gun and gear was a WWII vet bring back. I almost cried because he was supposed to let me know when he decided to sell. A local gun dealer let me touch an all original Colt 1911 from 1916. Another vet bring back in 85% condition. Price tag said 3,500. I will probably never be able to pay that much for a gun.

I could pay that much for a gun...just not while my wife and I are getting along.

Jon

mile
 

I just saw and disasembled a 1911 nickle ser # 182XXX that was in shootable condition. it had dark grey/mother of pearl style grips. the spring and internal guide as well as the barrell (nickle plated i think, and it is colt / a diffrent ser no) may have been changed/replaced. All the proofmarks were visible.
Any ideas on the possible value. also, should it be shot?
any help wouold be apprecieated.

thanks

It just amazes me what the price on these weapons has done over the past several years. I remember 25 or 30 years ago finding 1911's at gun shows in drums for 20-50 each depending on condition. Wish I'd have bought several drums and set them a side! I have a Remington Rand which I think is worth 1200 to 1500 dollars which I purchased 35 years ago for a much lesser price. Regardless of the price I'm just glad to see these little pieces of history being preserved, collected and taken care of.
Bill

Re: WWII Colt 1911
 

I paid $395 for a Rem-Rand about 15 years ago. I had no idea that it would appreciate like it has. I just bought it 'cause I wanted one. I don't buy ANY firearms for speculative purposes. I buy 'em 'cause I like 'em.

Re: WWII Colt 1911
 

There were 5 manufacturers of 1911A1 pistols. Colt, Remington-Rand, Ithaca, and Union Switch and Signal. Singer sewing machine made 500 for an educational contract only. The early Colts thru 1941 were blue, than parked/Du-lite and , there were 3 different types of Remington Rands, 2 of Ithaca, early ones used 1911 Colt frames with heart shaped cutouts in the frame, later production the frame and slide had matching ordanance flaming bombs stamp., US&S was 1943 production only, Du-lite finish, only 55000 produced, Collectors look for the best possible condition and original finish. Unfortunately, alot of parts swapping and outright faking is occurring due to the fact that pristine, original examples bring high dollar. A Singer can bring $60-70,000 dollars while a re-finished 'shooter' grade or 'parts gun' is only worth $3-500 dollars. You have to know what you're looking at and always, "buy the gun, not the story".

Re: WWII Colt 1911
 

FWIW: Harrington & Richardson was awarded an educational contract for M1911A1 around the same time as Singer. After H&R wasted a few years without managing to produce a single pistol, Ordnance cancelled their contract.

Re: WWII Colt 1911
 

I would not be surprised to see a 'rare' HRA stamped 1911A1 show up for sale, not as common as the 'special nickel plated' or black op produced two-tones or stainless models that are already floating around. In the past few months, I was advised someone had an original Colt 1911A1 still in the cardboard box. ($2.00 fake). After looking at it for a few seconds, I handed it back and with a surprised 'deer in the headlites" look asked what was wrong. I said "it's a re-finish". "Oh, No" he exclaimed. He had a letter from an out of state "dealer that stated it was original as well as his local gunshop's verbal opinion. I pointed out that the serial and the Colt verified proof was stamped after the pistol had the finish applied and should be burnished, it was filled with parkerizing. he still didn't accept that until I showed him Clawson's book. Point being, if someone wants to get into collecting these, they need to educate themselves BEFORE spending big bucks. Ther's alot of good resources on the internet www.coolgunsite.com being a good one for looking at pictures , and seeing what actual examples look like.

Re: WWII Colt 1911
 

If I recall correctly there is another maker of the 1911a1. Some Canadian company also produced a number. They are pretty rare though. I can't remember the name of the company.

Re: WWII Colt 1911
 

Jimb, North American Arms Company out of Quebec,built less than a hundred during 1918, but that would be a 1911, not the later 1911A1.

Re: WWII Colt 1911
 

I wonder if any were converted?????

Re: WWII Colt 1911
 

I don't know if any have been converted to 1911A1 configuration, but you can bet your carbine collection that many, if not most examples out there are counterfeit. The North American is the most rare, followed by Singer Sewing machine, which produced 500 1911A1's for an educational contract.

Re: WWII Colt 1911
 

That is a bet I wouldn't take. I've seen several fake Singers. I know Singer made a small lot of replacement slides. These are the most common part used to produce the fakes.