Colt 1911A1 .45 Auto Us Army

dapperdon · July 9, 2008, 08:08 AM

Can someone give me a estimate on the value of a Colt .45 Auto Pistol marked 1911A1 Marked United States Property and US Army Serial # Range is 776422 Has P stamped on top of slide and a WB stamped on left side by Slide release.Pistol is in very good condition for age in my opinion.I can put up some pics tomorrow but I have a friend that wants to sell or trade and I have no idea of the value? Thanks

Magyar · July 9, 2008, 08:19 AM

About $2,200 at 90% going by serial #...Blue Book of Gun Values: Latest Edition....Keep in mind this can vary from 20% by region of country & of course condition can be interpreted differently...

Saab1911 · July 9, 2008, 08:20 AM

I know just the man you should talk to. Try e-mailing dkamm AT hotmail.com
He's the expert.

Also, try visiting www.1911forum.com Visit the Colt section. D. Kamm is
the moderator for the Colt section. His handle is dsk. Try posting your
question there. You'll likely get an answer pretty quickly.

cheers,

Jae

Jim Watson · July 9, 2008, 08:47 AM

You will get more attention on the USGI section rather than the Colt (commercial) forum there.

Likewise at
http://forum.m1911.org/

Serial number is for 1942.
If it is as-issued, it will get a lot of interest and have a good deal of value. But collectors in that league are very picky and will check every little nook and cranny, every mark on every part that is due one.

dapperdon · July 9, 2008, 08:49 AM

Thanks for the replies.I will follow up on that.I would like to get this but really dont have any books that has a lot of details about this gun.Thanks

rellascout · July 9, 2008, 10:02 AM

No way to know. It all depends on condition and how much of the pistol is as it left the factory. Has it been refinished? Does it come with the original mags, holster etc..?

It could be nothing more than a shooter worth $500 or could be worth $2,000+ to the right collector.

RickB · July 9, 2008, 12:57 PM

Check beneath (that is, behind) the firing pin stop, and see if there's a serial number that matches the frame. That's important on early-war Colts. Later guns, which did not have serials on the slide, can be mismatched but will be assumed to be matched if everything looks right. No matter how good an early gun looks, if the numbers don't match, the value is reduced. The slide on my gun is three digits off that on the frame. All of the small parts - hammer, safety, slide stop, trigger, mainspring housing, mag release - should have checkered surfaces. If any are serrated, they are later or otherwise "incorrect" replacement parts. The finish of the slide and frame should match, but the smaller parts may contrast with the slide and frame. If all the parts are the same color and texture, it's certainly a refinish.
Dana K. is da man.

dapperdon · July 10, 2008, 07:27 AM

Pics Added. Thanks for any information.

Magyar · July 10, 2008, 07:58 AM

Dapperdon, real fine looking pistol from the exterior...If you want to have some fun, take your pistol to the next gun show in your area informing various dealers that you're interested in selling....Watch how they examine it and take out the Blue Books and "low-ball" your 1911...Then you'll see what it's really worth....

dapperdon · July 10, 2008, 09:01 AM

Just found that the Slide # is the same as serial #.Does that help in estimating value?

RickB · July 10, 2008, 11:18 AM

It means nobody can say it's a $500 mixmaster! Other than the incorrect grips, it looks pretty good from a distance. Can you take some close-ups, showing details and the markings on the slide, frame and barrel? The difference between a $1000 gun and a $2000 one, other than the overall condition, is in the details. Is the barrel of the original type, or a post-war replacement? Is the trigger milled (correct) or stamped (later replacement)? Etc., etc.

dapperdon · July 10, 2008, 11:59 AM

I will take some and post. Thanks

dapperdon · July 10, 2008, 12:16 PM

Here is a few close up pics.I will type everything on it in case the glare makes it hard to see.
On Right Side: Nothing on Slide but on frame has United States Property M1911A1 U.S. Army

On Left Side:On Slide Patented Apr.20,1897.Sept,9,1902 DEC 19,1905,FEB,14,1911,AUG,19,1913 Colt's PT. FA MFG. CO

On Left Side of Frame: Under Slide Lock has a WB stamped and by safety has a P stamped
Also has a P stamped just in front of rear sight.

Hope this helps. Thanks to all again.

Hornett · July 10, 2008, 01:52 PM

Just for fun and edification...
This doesn't help on the price, but if you go to this site it will explain all of the frame and slide markings.

For example the WB is the inspectors initials from Waldemar Broberg who inspected serial numbers 750,500 to 861,000. Your number matches the inspection stamp.

dapperdon · July 10, 2008, 02:16 PM

That is very good info!! Thank You!!

July 9, 2008, 08:19 AM	#2
Magyar Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,581	About $2,200 at 90% going by serial #...Blue Book of Gun Values: Latest Edition....Keep in mind this can vary from 20% by region of country & of course condition can be interpreted differently... __________________ *"Gun companies and gun magazines have long had relationships beyond cozy" C.J. Chivers, author "THE GUN"*

July 9, 2008, 08:20 AM	#3
Saab1911 Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2008 Location: Los Angeles, Kalifornia Posts: 1,176	I'm not the one you should talk to, but I play him on TV I know just the man you should talk to. Try e-mailing dkamm AT hotmail.com He's the expert. Also, try visiting www.1911forum.com Visit the Colt section. D. Kamm is the moderator for the Colt section. His handle is dsk. Try posting your question there. You'll likely get an answer pretty quickly. cheers, Jae

July 9, 2008, 08:49 AM	#5
dapperdon Junior Member Join Date: December 4, 2007 Posts: 12	Colt Thanks for the replies.I will follow up on that.I would like to get this but really dont have any books that has a lot of details about this gun.Thanks

July 10, 2008, 07:27 AM	#8
dapperdon Junior Member Join Date: December 4, 2007 Posts: 12	COLT Pics Added. Thanks for any information.

July 10, 2008, 07:58 AM	#9
Magyar Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,581	Dapperdon, real fine looking pistol from the exterior...If you want to have some fun, take your pistol to the next gun show in your area informing various dealers that you're interested in selling....Watch how they examine it and take out the Blue Books and "low-ball" your 1911...Then you'll see what it's really worth.... __________________ *"Gun companies and gun magazines have long had relationships beyond cozy" C.J. Chivers, author "THE GUN"*

July 9, 2008, 08:47 AM	#4
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,546	You will get more attention on the USGI section rather than the Colt (commercial) forum there. Likewise at http://forum.m1911.org/ Serial number is for 1942. If it is as-issued, it will get a lot of interest and have a good deal of value. But collectors in that league are very picky and will check every little nook and cranny, every mark on every part that is due one.

July 9, 2008, 10:02 AM	#6
rellascout Junior member Join Date: September 2, 2004 Posts: 2,435	No way to know. It all depends on condition and how much of the pistol is as it left the factory. Has it been refinished? Does it come with the original mags, holster etc..? It could be nothing more than a shooter worth $500 or could be worth $2,000+ to the right collector.

July 9, 2008, 12:57 PM	#7
RickB Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2000 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 8,518	Check beneath (that is, behind) the firing pin stop, and see if there's a serial number that matches the frame. That's important on early-war Colts. Later guns, which did not have serials on the slide, can be mismatched but will be assumed to be matched if everything looks right. No matter how good an early gun looks, if the numbers don't match, the value is reduced. The slide on my gun is three digits off that on the frame. All of the small parts - hammer, safety, slide stop, trigger, mainspring housing, mag release - should have checkered surfaces. If any are serrated, they are later or otherwise "incorrect" replacement parts. The finish of the slide and frame should match, but the smaller parts may contrast with the slide and frame. If all the parts are the same color and texture, it's certainly a refinish. Dana K. is da man.

July 10, 2008, 09:01 AM	#10
dapperdon Junior Member Join Date: December 4, 2007 Posts: 12	Colt Just found that the Slide # is the same as serial #.Does that help in estimating value?

July 10, 2008, 11:18 AM	#11
RickB Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2000 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 8,518	It means nobody can say it's a $500 mixmaster! Other than the incorrect grips, it looks pretty good from a distance. Can you take some close-ups, showing details and the markings on the slide, frame and barrel? The difference between a $1000 gun and a $2000 one, other than the overall condition, is in the details. Is the barrel of the original type, or a post-war replacement? Is the trigger milled (correct) or stamped (later replacement)? Etc., etc.

July 10, 2008, 11:59 AM	#12
dapperdon Junior Member Join Date: December 4, 2007 Posts: 12	Colt I will take some and post. Thanks

July 10, 2008, 01:52 PM	#14
Hornett Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2006 Posts: 569	Just for fun and edification... This doesn't help on the price, but if you go to this site it will explain all of the frame and slide markings. For example the WB is the inspectors initials from Waldemar Broberg who inspected serial numbers 750,500 to 861,000. Your number matches the inspection stamp. __________________ Guns don't kill people, Jack Bauer kills people.

July 10, 2008, 02:16 PM	#15
dapperdon Junior Member Join Date: December 4, 2007 Posts: 12	COLT That is very good info!! Thank You!!