Help! Buy or not???

[bbman3]

Looked at a Colt 1911 #2829xx today and the pistol has what looks to me to be original parkerized finish but not sure if original.It has plastic grips that have been replaced i assume? The bore looks great and nice smooth action and trigger pull. Comes with one magazine and about 90% parkerized finish remains ,gray in color.Standard fixed sights.Looks stock, not messed with. I am a $500 or $600 man as i know little about 1911 military pistols but i offered him $800 and he said he would get back with me as he wants$1000. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, BB

[bgiven]

282,9XX is a WWI era 1918 mf'd M1911 that would have been blued originally. Hard to tell if its a USGI Arsenal Rebuild with out seeing some pics.

If it is a USGI rebuild, you should be OK at $800.- if you like it that way. If it's not military, just a Bubba Inc. special.....$450.- shooter.

Pictures would help us all.

[Scott Gahimer]

With a 90% parkerized refinish, $800 would be plenty to pay IMO. But your 90% may be better than what I have in mind.

[pa_guns]

Hi

A *lot* depends on exactly what you are looking at.

A mix master WWII pistol is a $500 - $600 item around here in fair condition. If your serial number and description are correct, you may have an assortment of parts on the pistol.

A proper WWI pistol, that simply has been arsenal refinished would be worth more. A quick thing to check is the MSH. For WWI it should be flat. In order to be worth over $800 it would have to be in *amazing* condition and have all the original parts.

Pictures would help a lot ....

Bob

[bbman3]

Thanks for all your help. I just do not know enough about them to make a good decision! If i am going to buy them i need to get educated! BB

[pa_guns]

Hi

I've been buying 1911's for over 30 years. I still am not as "educated" about this stuff as many here are. By far your best course of action is to get some pictures and post them. People here can tell a *lot* from pictures.

Bob

[azreloader]

I just got one similar to this, but it's a Remington UMC. It was given the Arsenal Rebuild at the Augusta Armory sometime in the early 50's and has not had much use since then, judging by how little wear there is to the refinished parkerizing.

It seems that Arsenal Rebuilds is a good way to break into collecting some guns with history without breaking the bank. Mines been around long enough to have seen action in at least 4 major conflicts beginning with WW1.

Is there a way to trace origins/duty assignments of these early pistols.

AZ

[pa_guns]

Is there a way to trace origins/duty assignments of these early pistols.

AZ

Hi

Often you can trace them from the factory to the original depot. Past that it's a toss up.

If they went to a Navy ship, they may have stayed with it for quite a while. In most cases the trail goes cold at the depot.

Bob