Colt pre 70 date/value?

[McQ]

Hello, first time poster. I just aquired a used Colt and was hoping someone could help with a year of manufacture and approximate value. Slide markings are: "Government Model", "Colt", "Automatic Caliber .45", Pony logo on one side of the slide. Other side is marked "Colt's PT.F.A. MFG. Co. Hartford,
Conn. U.S.A. Serial number is 273xxx.

[wichaka]

Approx. 1955

The value would depend on the overall condition of the gun........mechanical and finish. Post some pics, let's have a look.

[McQ]

These are the best I could do. It functions perfectly, but as you can see has
some finish wear. Thanks for your quick reply!

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y99/mcclaflin/colt3.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y99/mcclaflin/colt4.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y99/mcclaflin/colt2.jpg

[McQ]

Can anyone help me with an approximate value of this pistol? By the way,
please excuse the laser sight, it came with the gun, but it's removed now.

[Skyviking]

Judging by the exterior finish wear, I'd say $350- $450, tops.

This is an excellent candidate for a rescue job by top-notch 1911 pistolsmith or a Colt Custom Shop refurb (Novaks or Heinies, S&A high-ride grip safety, a Wilson extended thumb safety, carry-bevel job/dehorning, 3.5 - 4.5 lb. trigger job, and a refinish.)

[McQ]

I only gave $300 for the pistol so I guess I'm ahead of the game. You're right, it would make a good platform for some customization.

[wichaka]

You did very well for 300..........

[McQ]

wichaka...do you agree with the value of $350 - $450? Would refinishing detract from or add to the guns value?

[paul45]

Oh yeah...you done real good...now Im envious!

[larry starling]

I would have to agree,you got a heck of a deal.The same gun in the local ripoff stores in charlotte would be in the 799-999 price range!you done real well. :p

[McQ]

Thanks for the responses guys. So, do you think refinishing would ruin
the "collector" value of the gun?

[wichaka]

Without having it in front of me, its hard to tell the overall condition. But from the pics you posted, it appears that there are some rough spots on it, and the finish is fair at best in many places.

If I were to have it refinished to keep it looking factory, I'd send it back to Colt.

Anytime a 1911 is refinished, it always pulls some of the value out of it. As the finish on those older guns is what sets them apart.

The best finishes on Colts are the pre-war models when they still kiln fired them. After the war they went to a hot tank blue, which is what yours would fall under.

So its a toss up. The value is there because of its age, but the condition is not the best so its not a wall hanger or anything that collectors would be after.

Hope this helps..........

[Skyviking]

The "collector value" is almost non-existant in the condition it's in now. If it's restoration you want, send to Colt's Custom Shop for a refinish by Doug Turnbull.

I would send it to a top-flight 1911 specialist and have him give it a good 4-lb. trigger using a Wilson Bullet-proof hammer, Videcki solid trigger, an Ed Brown memory groove grip safety and extended thumb safety, Novak or Heinie dovetailed sights, recrown the barrel and install a match bushing, bevel the mag well, give the pistol a mild dehorning, and a complete refinish. Oh, and some new grips, PLEASE.

[dsk]

I don't believe Doug Turnbull is associated with Colt's Custom Shop. The place that does the Carbonia Blue finish for the WW1 replica is Ron's Gun Shop (www.ronsgunshop.com) in Pennsylvania.

These early post-war Colts were fabulous, and quite possibly the best guns Colt ever turned out. They were recent enough to take advantage of modern heat treating and metallurgy, yet at that time the older experienced Colt workers had not yet left the company so the QC was still exemplary. You could use this gun as a base for a custom project, but if it were mine I'd leave it alone as an example of just how well even a "mil-spec" .45 can be put together.

And yes, $300 was a bargain. A new Springfield GI model is $400, and only half the gun this one is.

[Skyviking]

Sorry. I left out the "or". Indeed, Doug and Colt's are no longer working together.

Ron's is obviously doing such fine work that, while his reputation has extended (at least) to Pennsylvania, the shop itself has not yet had to expand beyond the borders of Oshkosh (Wisconsin). :)

[asa]

I'd just get rid of those gawd-awful fingergroove grips, get some originals, and leave it be. $300 for a early postwar shooter? What more could a person want? -Asa