Should I buy 1911 reissue or original?

[AirCommando]

Newbie here-
I have been lurking here for a couple months reading up on 1911's since I purchased my first one. Caught the disease and now I want another, a Colt WW1 1911. I figure I'll shoot my Springfield Champion, and get a Colt as a collector. I can't decide if I should keep waiting until the dealers in town find me a WW1 reissue, or go ahead and buy an original for a little more money. There are a couple on internet auctions and collector sites that are available now to bid on.
I think I would rather have a reissue new, but I want one soon, and a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Should I buy now or wait? :confused:

AC

[Sgt. Quincannon]

Buy an antique one now, if you can find a good one. It will appreciate in value more than the reissue, and if you're looking for a collectable... of course, I'd try to get BOTH, and shoot 'em too !!!

[AirCommando]

That's the reply I expected, Sgt! I can only afford one. If I get an original, it will have to be around $1,200-$1,500, not a pristine one. I will probably shoot it a little. If I get a reissue, I won't shoot it, so it will probably appreciate a little.

[bullet8542]

Collecting Colt's is a tricky prospect, There are a lot of "Pristine" Colt's that are refinished and not worth the price they are going for. Most of the ones I have seen on the internet sites are most likely refinished-They look like that to me.

If you really want the WW1 re-issue get it you will not regret it. I am not sure how much in value it will go up but hey in five or ten years if you try to sell it and she has not appreciated you can at least go out and shoot the snot out of her.
Most of the folks who are "real" collector's tend to feel they will not appreciate very much in value.
My buddy bought his with the same intent.......However his intent was squashed with the simple fact it is a shooter so 900+ rounds later he has not regretted his choice.

Sorry I cannot give you a Buy it don't buy it answer, that depends on how much you really want and original or the re-issue.

[AirCommando]

Just came back here after looking at some more originals online in my price range. Of course I can't tell if they are really what they are billed at. 50% blue, etc, don't know if the internals are correct, too many variables. Could be overpriced for what they are. I'm going to a gun show here in town this weekend, maybe there will be some there to look at. Wish I weren't so impulsive and impatient!

ETA: New reissue will be here today at my dealer!

[dakota1911]

between online and gun shows I am seeing pre-WWI 1911's go from $780 to $15,000. I bought my last one at $2.5K, a 1913, and thought I got a good deal. For what it is worth.

[Ed in Maine]

I was in the same position as you, I wanted a gov't issue 1911 bad but didn't want to go over $1k. So I got a fair deal on a mongral, the frame is a 1911 made in 1919 (the last of the originals) (SN 619xxx). Unfortuantely, the slide and slide stop is newer (a Gov't Model from the late 40's early 50's I think). I am going to get a somewhat correct barrel on ebay and sell my gov't model, hope to break even and end up with a nice looking gun that is a shooter! but will hopefully hold its value. Cost me $500, so it was in my price range. I know, the pach's are ugly, will pick up some used looking dimonds at the show next week. Any feedback is appreciated,
Ed

http://users.adelphia.net/~suckowe/1911a.JPG
http://users.adelphia.net/~suckowe/1911b.JPG
http://users.adelphia.net/~suckowe/1911c.JPG
http://users.adelphia.net/~suckowe/1911d.JPG
http://users.adelphia.net/~suckowe/1911e.JPG

[AirCommando]

Your 1911 is nice, Ed. I was able to get a repro last week, but still want an original.
So you are going to sell the Govt. model slide and get a military one? What about the A1 MSH? I watched a 1918 1911 with an A1 MSH go for $1248 on Auction Arms, not as nice a frame as yours. It is interesting that US property is stamped above the serial no. on 1919 1911's like on 1911A1's.

[Ed in Maine]

Yes, that is my plan. I just got an email and I think the barrel that's on it is a late 50's/early 60's, latest it can be is 1968. I hope to get $150 or so for it on ebay, then find a WWI slide (patented on 1911 with horse in middle on left side, and Model 1911 US Army on other side) on ebay for $200 or so, which won't buy me a slide in as good condition as my frame but it's a start. I am not going to get an authentic barrel since this will be a shooter for me (not often, but it will get shot every few months or so). Help me out on MSH, what does that stand for? Sorry, but I am completely new to the 1911. Have wanted a 1911 for about a year and never really did any research, just lucked out that I found at least a good frame to start a project. Someone just told me that my SN may make it part of a shipment to the USMC, pretty cool, the history gets more and more interesting as I get into it!
Ed

[AirCommando]

MSH means mainspring housing, the rear of the grip, below the grip safety. On the 1911A1 they are curved, on the 1911, they are straight. I too am learning a lot from 1911.org! +1 on the history!

AC

[Ed in Maine]

Ah, yes, I understand now. I did notice that mine was curved and checkered, like an 1911A1, and it is supposed to be flat. That is going to be a tough decision, I like the curve feel. I will probably keep my eyes open for a flat MSH to have for it, but leave the curved on it for when I shoot. Would be nice to have a good pic of it with a flat one on it just for show! Thanks for the help,
Ed

[Hawkmoon]

Yes, that is my plan. I just got an email and I think the barrel that's on it is a late 50's/early 60's, latest it can be is 1968. I hope to get $150 or so for it on ebay, then find a WWI slide (patented on 1911 with horse in middle on left side, and Model 1911 US Army on other side) on ebay for $200 or so, which won't buy me a slide in as good condition as my frame but it's a start. I am not going to get an authentic barrel since this will be a shooter for me (not often, but it will get shot every few months or so). Help me out on MSH, what does that stand for? Sorry, but I am completely new to the 1911. Have wanted a 1911 for about a year and never really did any research, just lucked out that I found at least a good frame to start a project. Someone just told me that my SN may make it part of a shipment to the USMC, pretty cool, the history gets more and more interesting as I get into it!
Ed
Ed, Caspian Arms in Vermont makes slides that are about as close as you can come to duplicating original GI, right down to the roll marks. The web site is www.caspianarms.com . Rather than pay $200 for an old slide in unknown condition, if what you want is an authentic appearing shooter that's in sound, safe condition you might be better off buying a brand new, forged slide from Caspian. It'll look better than your frame and you'll know it's safe to use for as many rounds as you want to put through it. Give 'em a call, talk to Gary Smith and tell him you're a member of this forum and what it is you wish to accomplisg regarding markings, etc, and ask him how close he can come to making a clone.

[Ed in Maine]

Hawk, good point and worth a price check. Never really considered that. I didn't mention that I got a colt 22 conversion kit from the same guy I got the gun from (cost me an extra $200, but they go for another $100-$150 more than that from what I have seen). The difficult thing in somewhat matching the frame is that my 1911 is actually Black, not parkerized or blue, so anyting used or new is going to stick out unless I find something from 1918 or 1919 :confused: . I would like to have something to hand down to the kids too, and I don't think I'll be able to pick up an authentic slide for $200 in 20yrs. It's not like it will be worth $2k with the correct slide, but I would suspect it would be worth $900 or so with the right slide, checkered slide stop, and flat MSH.

Nice to know of a manufacturer right down the road from me, and at $210 for a new slide, it is worth considering. Thanks for the reply,
Ed