Early Model 1911

[Strike 6]

I posted on another site and was told this is the place to come for advice and info regarding 1911s. My father left me his Colt 1911.

The serial number is 168XXX. From my understanding, it was manufactured in 1917. It is marked UNITED STATES PROPERTY and MODEL OF 1911 US NAVY.

I know he purchased it from the National Guard Unit he was with in the late 70's or early 80's. In fact he purchased two 1911s.

I was thinking about making it a shooter, but wanted to get some guidance on its value before I made a big mistake. Can someone help with value?

[Joni Lynn]

Welcome to the forum.
If it is in any decent kind of condition I'd recommend against shooting it.
I think the Navy models are more scarce than others.
The heat treat on older guns wasn't done like it is today and general consensus is that they are best admired and not fired.
Do you have pics of this 1911?

[Strike 6]

No pictures. I can take some tomorrow and post them.

[Joni Lynn]

That would be great.
There's some members here that may show up which are very knowledgeable on these older 1911's.

[Hawkmoon]

Pictures -- including detail photos of all markings, external and internal -- are essential to determining value.

That aside, I suggest you read the following thread. Regardless of what the monetary value is (or is not), it is probably ill-advised to consider a WW1 M1911 as a shooter.

http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?t=60680

[Johnny Peppers]

Your Colt 1911 dates to July of 1917, and the slide is from an earlier pistol. The Model of 1911 U.S. NAVY marking was dropped early in 1915.

[Strike 6]

Thanks for the info everyone. I will take pictures of the weapon. What specifically should I take pictures of on the inside?

[Strike 6]

By the way, it seems strange to have a slide that seems to be off a different pistol as mentioned in the post above? I guess a unit armorer would use what he had to keep stuff running.

This weapon was purchased directly from B Co 1/ 108 Armor. So if it has a lower frame from one pistol and a slide from an earlier weapon and this work was completed by the Army, does this hurt the value?

Also, is it strange for a weapon manufactured in 1915 & 1917 to still be in active service in the early 80's? That's almost 70 years of government service.

[Johnny Peppers]

So far we don't know if the pistol still has blue finish, which it would have had originally, or if it is a rebuild with a phosphate finish. When pistols went in for rebuild there was no attempt to keep the parts together. As the parts were refinished, they were used as needed. It is very common to see 1911's that pre-date WWI with WWII parts on them. Parts were parts to the military.

What type of sales form was used to transfer the pistols?

[Strike 6]

I have no idea. I was just a kid when Dad brought them home. He said that he didn't want to have to draw them from the arms room during drill. He said they had been DXed out of the system.

From my time in the Army, DXed would mean it was deadlined. No good. I don't know why this was DXed, but it shoots fine.

[Strike 6]

Pictures of the weapon.
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn109/Strike6A/P1030879.jpg
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn109/Strike6A/P1030876.jpg
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn109/Strike6A/P1030877.jpg
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn109/Strike6A/P1030878.jpg
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn109/Strike6A/P1030880.jpg
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn109/Strike6A/P1030881.jpg
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn109/Strike6A/P1030883.jpg
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn109/Strike6A/P1030884.jpg
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn109/Strike6A/P1030885.jpg

[Johnny Peppers]

The pistol has been heavily sandblasted and finished in phosphate. The slide looks to have been through several sandblastings due to the rounded edges. The color of the finish appears to match, so the last time they were refinished the parts appear to have been refinished together. The grips appear to have been painted black.