Please advise with as much information as possible regarding an UNFIRED, 100%, BLUED 1943 COLT .45 M-1911 100% original WWII government issue pistol. I can find nothing on this and want to know rarity, value, and historical information. Any and all help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Pictures would help, but Colt changed from the blued to the phosphate finished 1911A1's during July of 1941 in the serial number range between 734,000 and 735,000. The oven blueing used by Colt was simply too labor intensive for the rush of production required by WWII.

Correction, it is 1941 serial numbered.

In that case, the serial number would help. You can X out the last two digits of the serial number if you had rather not post the entire serial number.

My notes read: 730,9XX

Colt 1911A1 serial number 7309XX was shipped May 29, 1941 to Springfield Armory. Something less than 35,000 1911A1 Colts were finished in the brushed blue finish, making the blued 1911A1 one of the more scarce variations. No.7309XX would bear the initials of Col. Robert Sears, an RS in a box, and is the most common inspection/acceptance mark of the blued 1911A1's with approximately 12,000 bearing his initials. The slide was originally serial numbered to the frame with the slide serial numbers being found behind the firing pin stop plate. If the pistol is in original 100% condition, and I don't know how you would determine that it had never been fired, it would probably easily bring $3500 to $4000 at auction.
The Colt brushed blue finish used on the 1911A1 can be exactly duplicated by todays restorers. Remember that the pistol is approaching 65 years of age and unless it was stored in a vacuum since it's date of manufacture it will show some oxidation under the finish. If the pistol doesn't show some areas of oxidation either in bright sunlight or under intense artificial light, be extremely wary. There are a lot of refinished blued 1911A1 Colts out there.

Thank you so much for the exceedinlgy detailed and intelligent reply. This is one of two pistols from an old retired military man. Until two months ago, both were still in cosmoline (since issued in WWII) the other a 1942 is still in the cosmoline and is parkerized. THey are 100% original and both NEVER fired. I expect I will auction them in Manions and if you want a head's up I will do so. Each is a one-of-a-kind find and although these are not my field I know that they will have pride of place in any collection in which they end up.

I am very grateful to you and this forum for such an extensive and courteous reply.

I wouldn't expect anything less from my members.

I am sure this piece of gold will find a good home.

Rgds

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John Caradimas SV1CEC
The M1911 Pistols Organization
http://www.m1911.org