Questions regarding this WWI Colt 45

[Collector5516]

Hi! I am new to this forum and am looking for some information. I generally don't collect firearms but recently purchased this WWI Colt from the son of a WW2 veteran. The serial number is WWI but it seems it was reissued by the government during the Second World War. I have not fired it but the gentleman I purchased it from says it fires without any problems.

I am wondering what the approximate value is. I've had difficulty in finding that out as part of the pistol is WW1 and other pieces are WW2 (but I believe this was all done by the US government for reissue during WW2). Any help would be appreciated. THANKS!


http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg184/IronHorse2130/Colt1.jpg

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg184/IronHorse2130/Colt2.jpg

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg184/IronHorse2130/Colt3.jpg

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg184/IronHorse2130/Colt4.jpg

[rondawg]

Beautiful pistol, and great photos! I'm no expert, one will be along shortly I'm sure, but it looks like an arsenal rebuild to me too. Is that an "AA" on the left side of the frame? I believe that means it was rebuilt at the Atlanta Arsenal. Pretty common for early & late parts to be mixed together, so I hear. Not as valuable as a complete original perhaps, but they have a value all their own. Yours looks pretty sweet to me!

[AirCommando]

Welcome to the forum! That's a very nice Augusta Arsenal rebuild! The frame is early Colt, from 1914. Are the grips mismatched? Looks like the left one is plastic and the right one is wood.

The experts should be along shortly. I'm not an expert, but I'll stick my neck out and say I think the value is around $1000-$1500.

[1saxman]

Nice rebuild. Never saw one with mismatched grips, but perhaps the RH grip cracked and was replaced with the walnut one during it's civilian life. You're fortunate to have one that's marked, because that certifies that the pistol was put into that configuration by the government, so your value goes up compared to another just like it without the rebuild mark.

[Collector5516]

Thanks for the info so far. 1saxman - you said that the arsenal mark helps the value. What do you think the value is on this pistol?

[rondawg]

Augusta Arsenal, not Atlanta. Duh. Can't believe I missed the one wood/one plastic grips too. Told ya I'm no expert. Talk to Scott Gahimer or bgiven here.

[bgiven]

Clean looking 'AA'. RH grip has since been replaced as most arsenal rebuilds left with WWII era grips. Its a $1000.- to $1200.- example in my part of the world.... maybe a tad more if someone really wanted it badly.

[Scott Gahimer]

Why would we suspect the RH grip has since been replaced? Maybe neither has since been replaced. There was no requirement for grips to match. They just had to be serviceable.

It looks fine to me. You didn't say whether or not you got a "story" to go with your pistol. It's hard to say when the pistol might have been rebuilt without a good thorough examination. Just because the seller's father is/was a WWII veteran, that no sign the pistol was issued to him or anyone else during WWII.

Good pistols are a lot harder to get than good stories, so I'd leave the pistol just like it is. Too much real history is lost when the parts swappers start making the pistols "correct" after they get hold of them. Welcome to the forum and thanks for sharing photos of your new pistol.

[Collector5516]

I want to thank everyone for the help. The gentleman who I bought it from is currently a police officer. I was helping him clean out his attic and found his uncle's photo album from the war. I was fortunate to purchase this along with the 45. He also has a luger that the uncle brought back but does not wish to sell at this time. I plan on leaving the gun just as is since that is how the GI carried it (I believe).

[ltcboy]

I thought that the "AA" meant Alcoholics Anonymous and that they rebuilt & refurbished 1911's to keep sober.

Mike