Value of this 1911

[cswilliams]

I recently "inherited" this gun to my folks getting divorced....long story short...Mother didnt want a gun in the house, Im the only family member with a carry permit, so it is now in my possession. I would like to get a rough estimate of the value for insurance purposes.

This gun was carried by my grandfather during WW2. The paperwork in the photo is what I have. If anyone could point help me find out more about my grandfathers service in the army, or some more specifics on the gun it would be GREATLY appreciated. Pics didnt turn out quite as nice as I hoped...still using an older 2.1 megapixel camera.


Link to a big picture with all the documentation (http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e321/cswilliams21/RandomMay07001.jpg)

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e321/cswilliams21/RandomMay07002.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e321/cswilliams21/RandomMay07003.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e321/cswilliams21/RandomMay07004.jpg

[Hunter]

Wow that is a real nice Colt you have.It looks like a 1919 issue in great shape. I would guess in the $1900-2200 range with the original accessories and paper work possibly more. There are folks here who know more about the older military Colts than I do and can give you a better figure. I do not think I would let this one go far if I were you. Welcome to the forum.

[cswilliams]

I dont plan on ever letting this one go...unless I someday have a son that appreciates it :)

Thanks for the welcome. Having this gun and not being able to shoot it is going to force me to find a nice 1911 shooter....one more gun to the growing list of "toys" I want. So far no other 45's in the collection so I guess Im due, first gun was 92FS, next was a glock 27, so the next logical step is a 45.

Forgot to ask earlier, if anyone has suggestions on storage for this gun, they would be greatly appreciated. Right now it resides in an oiled sock stored in a fireproof gun safe.

[Hunter]

Why is it that you do not plan to shoot the old Colt? I would not shoot it regular but I do not think it would hurt to test her out once you are sure she is still safe. Still if you want to get a 1911 to shoot regular the Colt WW1 reissue is close to what you have now and is an excellent 1911. It sounds like you are good to go on storage. I keep a light coat of CLP from a silicone rag on my firearms in my safe with the silica gel to help absorb moisture

[Mick_In_Texas]

cs, you've got a 1911: that ain't a WWII gun, but, a WWI gun! It was manufactered later than my own Colt 1911 USGI, and it looks like it is in GREAT SHAPE! It is a beauty... If you want to learn the history of it, go to: http://www.coolgunsite.com/ ... John has some links to function checking our JMBs, go to his main page to find the link. Have a gunsmith go over it. Mine is mid to late 1918 manufacture, black Army finish, and it's solid and functional, fireable! I ain't gonna fire it a lot, but, it will get fired. Like my Bro Hunter said, that is what it was made for. If it's solid, then, fire it. And give it a lot of TLC, as this one is a BEAUTY, and it is ORIGINAL. Good God, it's in good shape, cs... way better than my own, and while I hate it that your folks got divorced, Bro, YOU lucked out if you love the 1911!!! My God, you LUCKED OUT on this original beauty... ENJOY IT, keep it, and then pass it on: they're getting rare.

You two take care and be safe.
Mick

[ACMERAVEN]

Keep it in the oiled sock in the safe. would estimate value of what you have from a low of 2k up to 7.5k. don't shoot it and don't let anybody touch it. get a current manufacture 45 for a shooter. i have your same problem. i have a mint US&S that i acquired from the person it was issued to on the light cruiser USS HELENA in PTO. I keep it in an oiled sock in a safe and shoot a current manufacture shooter. you have a real beauty there and you have a known history attached to it. cherish it. paul

[DienBienPhu]

I agree, DO NOT SHOOT IT

I made the mistake of shooting an old collector's piece and the slide cracked and the original magazine also cracked near the feed lips
dont take any risks of damaging it.

it's a rare collector's piece / family heirloom

[Sgt. Quincannon]

OUCH!!! DBP, let me express my sympathy on your loss. In spite of my almost irresistable urge to shoot every gun I see, perhaps it is better to not shoot the rare collectables. I am very slightly aquainted with the owner of an original Colt's Walker cap & ball revolver- he's had it since the 1950's and, yep, you guessed it, he used to SHOOT it now and then, in spite of the fact that it cost almost as much as his house. He has grown wiser with age, and I believe the last time he fired it was in the early '60's. By the way, it functioned fine and was pretty accurate, to hear him tell it.

[exitwounds]

Nice pistol. It appears that at some point the hammer and the slide stop were replaced.

[Mick_In_Texas]

cs, all y'all...

Wow. I symphatize and am sad over the damage firing one of the originals did to Dien's ol' beauty. Mine, however... have already had one gunsmith handle and check it, and he told me to "clean it, lube it, and fire it". I plan to fire it soon. NOT a lot, and it definitely will not be one of my carry guns... I so respect its history and its age. But, mine--by the grace of God or luck or both--appears to be firable, and a working pistol. As exit said, mine is an Augusta Armory rework, but, it's NOT refinished: has the ol' black Army original on it. Hammer's a Model 2, not the original Model 1 it left the Colt factory with.

For carry and practice and fun shooting, it's my Ol' Reliable ss Springer Mil-Spec or my Rock Island Parked 1911A1. cs, you have a BEAUTIFUL one, as near perfect as you can get, almost 90 years later. So, you need to make the choice whether to ever actually fire it or not, but, heck yeah, KEEP THAT ONE, as you said. The originals are getting harder and harder to come by.

cs, mine's almost IDENTICAL to your fine piece:
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d54/Mick_In_Texas/Colt1911L.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d54/Mick_In_Texas/497861_RInside.jpg
First one looks grey, that was the auction photo. It's actually black like yours. I just drool over your photos... yours being so close to mine. Mine is mid- to late-1918. Have you taken the grips off, to see what the magwell cutouts look like? Yours may have the upside-down heart-shaped ones... mine is halfway between those, and full cutouts.

Yours, you know the history, cs... mine, I don't know the history, other than I know it has one. I am so thankful for my own. Some of my dreams are dying; but, this is one dream--loving the 1911 platform pistol, and having an original 1911 of my own that is functional--that came true, although it cost me. YOU enjoy and cherish that thing, and may your son also do the same. The oiled sock is GOOD. Learned something there!

Y'all all take care and be safe, and have a good weekend.
Mick

[jok]

CS/Mick, You guys have a very nice collectors pistols. Wishing that one day I would be able to own one.
Thanks

[Mick_In_Texas]

jok...

Hang in there. Check GunBroker.Com (but caveat emptore there, there's some good sellers, there's some bad ones), GunsAmerica.Com, and dealers/shops, and estate sales in your area. These beauties are still available. Real ones, are not cheap. But, mine was a bargain, considering.

Not all of us can inherit one. Bro, I wish you the ultimate luck in finding YOUR own! I so wish EVERY law-abiding fan of JMB's 1906 design, could have an original... they are beautiful pieces of machinery and engineering. cs really got lucky! But, you can too, if you work it, bro. I did as well. Let me know if I can help you any.

You take care and be safe and have a great weekend.
Mick

[zhick]

Grandpa got it for $38.00 bucks.WOW! I know it is priceless to you as an heirloom. NICE!

Semper FI
zhick