I saw you website while searching last night for more info about my newly acquired 1911. I acquired a Government Model 1911 with serial #16,598. It shoots very well and out shot my Glock during my qualification. I am now officially using this weapon for duty as my department let us use what we basically want with exceptions. The gun has been changed a little bit to keep up with technology. New sights, trigger, hammer, slide release , and Les Baer grips. Looks good and I shot a 99% with this compared to 94% with my Glock. My question is. What can you guys tell me about my 1911. I know that it is the the first 20,000 made. But how much can this be worth and where did it go for service. Did it actually go to the Philippines to fight moros as it was intended to! Thanks !

Does the serial # have a C in front of it?

If your 1911 does not have a C in front of the serial number is appears that it was made in 1912. I don't know about the Moros I think they 1911 came about after the Moros but it could have been used against Pancho Villa. Its been around that long and 1911's along with others were used by US troops in Mexico when they chased Villa.

With the new sights trigger hammer grips etc it isn't worth as much as it would be untouched but I'd still venture to guess that it would be somewhere in the $400.00 to $600.00 range. What really kills the value on these old guns is when the grip tangs are cut in order to install a high rise grip safety.

The thing about your 1911 is that it really hasn't changed much. You can probably tell that by the upgraded parts you have installed on it. It is pretty amazing how accurate some of those old 1911's can really be, but you probably noticed that from your score.

Needless to say, it's a good gun, and you don't even have to worry about break in.

It does not have a C in front of it and the lettering on this is different than others I see. But it has a stamp E.E.C. on the left side and a Colt symbol by the safety. And on the right side trigger guard, it has the #12 upside down. The previoue owner who is my wife's cousin kept all the parts that were replaced, including trigger, hammer, bobtail, old sights, slide release. If brought back to original, can this still be worth something. I am not looking to sell it, but want to know just in case I want to insure it. The only thing it does not have anymore are the grips. It is good to know that a 92 year old gun can still be this reliable and can be used for law enforcement duty. It has never jam once, and since I bought it, must have put 1000 rounds already. I am also using Chip Mcormicks 10 rounders and plan to install mag wells. Any added info would be appreaciated.

Jorge

Having the origional parts certainly boosts the value, The weak spot you have now is the sight replacement, the origionals can be reinstalled but the sights are going to detract from the value. Also (if)the grip tangs are cut for a beaver tail that will make the value drop even further. The origional finish has a lot to do with the value of the gun too. An origional 1911 in very good condition can push upwards of $2000.00, one in fair condition can still bring around $700.00 I know that's a lot of difference in value but it's really hard to say where yours is without seeing it. Even if I saw it I'm not as good as others on this site at all the finer details. One amazing thing I've found about the origional grips for a pistol of your type, They are running around $100.00 or more in very good condition.

I really wish I could give you a solid value but it's hard to say. But if you are using it on patrol and it hits where you point it and shoots every time you want it to, it's probably worth a million to you.

Hopefully somebody else will chime in here and offer a little better info than I am or am not able to provide.

E.E.C. means your frame was made by Remington-UMC in the WWI era, yours appears to be 1919. The "Colt symbol by the safety" probably means you have a Colt slide.

If you had all the original parts and could put a UMC back together it would be worth more than most other WWI era pistols in the same condition.

Doran, did those serial numbers overlap between Colt and Remington UMC or did I misread the list?

Remington-UMC was allowed to start serializing at number one.

Doran,
I went back and found the error I made.
Jorge,
sorry about the date info I gave you Doran is correct, some of these guys know everything about these old guns and more. At one time I had a Remington UMC 1911 that had a Colt Slide, I sold it and a couple of months later I got a Colt 1911 with a UMC slide, Damn if I had of waited I would have had a pretty nice example of a UMC, The Remington UMC is not as commonly seen as the Colt. Swapped slides is not uncommon with military 1911,s there's really nothing wrong with the one you have, During WW II there were several manufacturers of the 1911 and while they all left the factory as one gun the parts often got swapped around later. Remington Rand (the typewriter company) made 1911's during WW II but that is not the same company as Remington UMC. Am I confusing you yet? If not please help me by explaining what I just said.

Daran thanks for the adjust.

Remington-UMC began production in late 1918 and started at #1, and continued past 20,000. What that means is there are over 20,000 M1911's with the same serial number (Colt and Rem-UMC). Fortunately Rem-UMC frames are easy to spot, as they are marked EEC on the left side and have a much larger font for the serial number (which is often very lighty stamped). There are other ways an experienced collector can tell also, but those differences are more subtle and are useful for spotting faked Remington-UMC pistols.