USCG Pistol Team Colt

[EvenStephen]

I met an 85 year old gentleman today who hired me to do some work for him. He's a retired USCG Captain, having left active duty around 1955, though he remained in the Coast Guard in some other capacity for another 20 years. He had lots of interesting stories but just before I had to leave, he mentioned having been on a Coast Guard pistol team. Well, that certainly got my attention. I asked what guns he competed with and he said 45's, 38's and 22's. To my incredibly pleasant surprise, he said he still had them up in the attic! I told him how much I loved 1911's and he said he'd bring them down next time I was there, which can't be soon enough for me. I got the feeling that he'd be willing to part with it when he saw how excited I was. He hasn't even looked at it for years and certainly has no intention of shooting it ever again. I can't describe it's condition, having not seen it yet, but can someone give me a price range for a gun like that?

[lentislee]

I have seen 1911's and A1's priced from $500 to $7500 depending on condition and the rarity. You really need to give more details or send digital photos to narrow this range.

It still continues to amaze me how these weapons still "come out of the woodwork".

Good Luck in your potential acquisition.

Lentis Lee

[exitwounds]

Most USCG marked variations will bring premium prices. Other factors such as the type, model, and manufacturer will effect the price as well as condition. Some examples of USCG pistols that command premiums are the Colt Woodsman .22 Match Target pistols, .22 ACE models,High Standard USA H-D .22,and the .38 AMU.

[pa_guns]

Hi

If he shows up with a *set* of pistols then the sky's the limit. That's very much true if you can trace the pistols to him and the competitions they were used in.

It's often said that you buy the pistol and not the story. This is one case where a authentic story with documentation probably would be worth real money.

For everybody's sake it's much better to get all the details while you can.

Bob

[EvenStephen]

Thanks. I know I didn't give you much to work with. I'll know more next week and I'll try taking some pictures.

[pa_guns]

Thanks. I know I didn't give you much to work with. I'll know more next week and I'll try taking some pictures.

Hi

Even with pictures this is likely to be a "one of a kind" sort of thing. If it's a set with good documentation it will be hard to even *guess* it's actual value.

It'll still be fun to try though !!!

Bob

[hern]

it is not about the value as much as it about the gun. Its history ect...

[EvenStephen]

I'm going back on Wednesday and hope to see it then. If I'm able to acquire it, I'd have no interest in selling it. I only ask about its value out of curiosity.

[pa_guns]

Hi

If you decide to make a purchase, be sure to at least get copies of any documents that relate to the pistols. I'm not as concerned with the value, as with keeping as much of the story together with the guns as possible.

Bob

[lifesaver]

I'm interested too. Old coastie myself. All the weapons I've seen weren't marked USCG other than US GOV or the like. Even when we were shooitng the 45. However, post pics. And yes get the story with them. Coast Guard has a historian at their HQ in DC. Could send the info to them for their archives. They're always looking for "human interest" stories to publish. This would be a good one. If he retired as a Captain(=Colonel in the Army), he's been around for a while probably to pre WWII. So I'm sure he's got some "seas stories" to tell. Get as many as you can.