M1911 used in WWII

[55spartan]

Hey guys I am looking at a 1911 with a SA barrel and 1911a1 grips for under a grand. It was a 1918 mfg. colt and I guess used then in WWII. Everything else is original. Finish at about 40 percent. Any ideas if this is a buy or not?

[bgiven]

Sounds like it might be an arsenal rebuild. Is the finish blued or parkerized ????? Pictures would certainly help.

[55spartan]

parked and not arsenal rebuild. owner thinks barrel was changed in the field.

[Johnny Peppers]

parked and not arsenal rebuild. owner thinks barrel was changed in the field.

The original finish would have been blued. If now Parkerized and not an arsenal rebuild, that only leaves Bubba as the one that refinished the pistol. $1000 for a 40% refinish is no bargain.
No one can tell when a barrel was changed, but makes a good story.

[bgiven]

"Buy the gun.... not the story"....

Sounds like a refinished $ 450.- mixmaster.

[55spartan]

I was wrong eariler, it has orig. bluing but thin. Rest of gun is all orig. except for the barrel (SA), grips, and magazine.

Link to pics.
http://s621.photobucket.com/albums/tt293/cplnorton2/1918%20Colt/

[Hawkmoon]

It isn't original and there's no way of knowing who made the changes or why.

IMHO, it is worth what you want to pay for it. If it were me, I'd probably be willing to pay up to $500 for it.

[bgiven]

Rest of gun is all orig. except for the barrel (SA), grips, and magazine.

It appears that the slide stop is not original either.

[Hawkmoon]

It appears that the slide stop is not original either.
I thought it looked original, at least for type. What makes you think it is not the original? (I need to learn this stuff, obviously.)

[bgiven]

Checkering on the thumb piece goes all the way to the top, where as Colt's checkering stopped short of the top. The slide stop appears to be a Springfield.

[55spartan]

Is this what your talking about bgiven as a true 1911 Colt slide stop? By the way thanks for letting this guppy swim with sharks on this forum.
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg269/55spartan/pix3264295437.jpg

[bgiven]

Yup... that last little ridge that is not checkered in the picture, will be checkered all the way up on a Springfield. Additionally, there is a good chance that the Springfield will be 's' stamped on the back like most were.

[55spartan]

OK thanks bgiven for your help. I am just trying to get into an original USGI 1911 or 1911A1 for between $1500 and $2000. Any idea what you might look for in that range for a quality buy? Thank you for any help on this. I am going to be 54 years old and about time I treat myself to a gun like this.

[bgiven]

For that kind of range, you can certainly get a much better quality example, than this one being considered.

[bgiven]

Here is an early brushed blue 1918 M1911 that I added to my collection not long ago, for just a little more than your range. They are out there, you just have to be ready, educated, and funded .... because they don't last. If they do last.... that's not the one you want.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i284/bobgiven/FAC/Fac21.jpg

[55spartan]

That is a beautiful gun man really, I am very jealous. I am totally off of the one I was looking at, his bottom price was $800 and from what I understand that is still too much. That is my problem is that I am not educated enough in these guns yet. I was trying to latch onto one for my birthday present to myself but need to be a little more patient. If you don't mind, I might pick your brain in the future on guns I come across. Thanks again.