Valuation of M1911 Serial#512004

[Sandy Blaser]

I have a Model 1911, Government Model, Serial#512,004(Mfg 1913). The pistol is in almost mint condition, with original parts, grips...I would appreciate a valuation guide, and will probably be listing it on the site for sale with a photo....Thanks, for the help....Sandy Blaser

[stans]

Almost mint? So there is some minor finish wear on the sharp edges of the metal, say 95% of the finish remains.

Military (marked MODEL OF 1911 U.S. ARMY on the right side of the slide) $1325

Commercial model $1200.

This is according to the Blue Book of Gun Values, prices vary greatly depending upon your geographic location and scarcity of a particular firearm in your area. Regardless, it's worth a fair amount of green! Please post some pics so we can get a better idea of its condition.

[Scott Gahimer]

I have a Model 1911, Government Model, Serial#512,004(Mfg 1913). The pistol is in almost mint condition, with original parts, grips...I would appreciate a valuation guide, and will probably be listing it on the site for sale with a photo....Thanks, for the help....Sandy Blaser
Sandy: That is a 1918 serial number and would be a black army rough finish if original. Most black army finished pistols show signs of flaking and blue wear.
If you can furnish some good photos and some additional info to questions after seeing the photos, I think we can help you value the pistol.
If the pistol is truly original and in the condition you state, it may be worth twice what the Blue Book states. However, if it is not original, it may not be worth half the Blue Book price. So we first need to determine what you actually have before trying to value it.

[Sandy Blaser]

I stand corrected on the serial#...I was looking at another website and misread the serial# for the year. Evidently 51,200 would have dated pistol at 1913. Finish is "lightly-brushed" metal, I will get some pictures up on Monday, so everyone can take a look. I am not an expert, by any means on this type......Sandy

[Scott Gahimer]

Sandy: Do you have any color photos you can post? That would help with an opinion on the originality of finish. Thanks.
Scott

[Sandy Blaser]

Hi Scott: Here are a few in color...hope this helps......http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v421/1993cobramustang/1911rightsidehwhole.jpgcolor......Sahttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v421/1993cobramustang/1911colorshotrightside.jpg[/IM[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v421/1993cobramustang/1911colorshotleftside.jpgG]ndy

[Sandy Blaser]

[Ihttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v421/1993cobramustang/1911colorshotrightside.jpg[/IMhttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v421/1993cobramustang/1911rightsidehwhole.jpgG]MG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v421/1993cobramustang/1911colorshotleftside.jpg

[Sandy Blaser]

[Ihttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v421/1993cobramustang/1911colorshotrightside.jpgMG]

[stans]

:eek: Just by the pictures, I would say it is all correct, at least what I can see on the outside, it has around 95% of its finish. It is the military issue 1911. You have a real keeper there! No, wait a minute. It's a total piece of junk, pure forgery through and through. I'll give you $50 for it! :D

[Sandy Blaser]

Thanks, but I will let you "hold it" for 50.00, if you drive over to California....
Sandy....I would like to know what valuation I should place on the pistol, for the purpose of sale, and if you know of any appraisers in the So. Calif. area....Thanks, Sandy

[stans]

I will let you "hold it" for 50.00

Gee, thanks. :rolleyes:

An appraiser really should look at this one and make sure all the internal parts are correct. If they are, I think you have a $1200 to maybe $1500 pistol on your hands. Its real hard to judge just from a few pictures, so it may be even nicer than what I am seeing.

[Scott Gahimer]

Thanks for the color photos. From the photos, I'd say a closer inspection is warranted.
A couple more requests... Can you take some good hi-res photos without flash? You may want to consider taking them outside in daylight on a bright overcast day, or somewhere in very limited shade to avoid glare from the sun. If you can take a good macro shot of the Eagle's head/S final inspection area without flash, that would help.
Also...take a good bight flashlight and shine it all over the finish as you inspect the gun. You can do this inside anytime. Look very closely and tell us how much browning (rust or patina, as some call it) there is in the finish. If there is any, it will show up as brown spots under the direct bright light of a flashlight.
You need to inspect the outside and inside of the pistol for browning. Look in all the protected areas too (nooks and corners, magazine well, etc.). Tell us what you see, as that will help determine the value of the pistol.
Thanks for taking the extra time to do this,
As far as someone to look at the pistol firsthand... I can only recommend one guy in So. CA. Ben Reyes is a knowledgeable collector there. I think he is still a member of this forum. I'd suggest sending him a Private Message through the forum as a way to contact him. I've not seen him post here, but I believe he monitors this forum and his e-mail. Ben could look at the gun firsthand and tell you immediately what you have, and the value. You can send the Private Message by finding him in the Member's List at the top of the forum, clicking on his name and then clicking on the Private message tab.
I can't say whether he'll do a firsthand inspection for you or not, but only that he is qualified.

[Sandy Blaser]

Thanks, Guys for all the help...I will try to have it appraised locally... Sandy

[tkelly5]

Very nice gun.. Mine SN is 478xxx (1918) heavily used... dont know the story but it definately has seen action all over.