1911a1 Values and questions

BoogieMan · April 28, 2015, 11:56 AM

Found a 1911 Colt made in 1943 at LGS. Price is $1250 cash. Parkerizing is 90-95% intact with light holster wear at muzzle. A couple of nicks on slide from the link pin but no idiot scratch. Feed ramp still parked, magazine has no scratches from being removed. IMO it was issued to someone who was stateside or other non combat troop. Numbers appear to all match.
Is it worth $1250??? What should be my concern?
Its the price of a new Kimber and surely wont shoot as well, but next year it will be worth as much or more while that Kimber will drop $200 after the first shot.

RickB · April 28, 2015, 12:47 PM

I'd be concerned that everything is as it appears.
Are the slide serial numbers imprinted on the back of the (edit) firing pin stop (an indication that the gun has been shot with the numbered slide)?
Are all the small parts correct?
Is the frame feed ramp bare metal, or is it parkerized (the latter evidence of a refinish)?
There are all sorts of little details, but matching slide and frame, in the described condition, is going to be a valuable gun.
If there's a small part that needs replacing with a "correct" one, that's generally not a huge deal.
Everyone accepts that the military didn't care if parts matched, if a Colt slide stop ended up in a Remington Rand pistol, etc., so if the major parts do match, it's a rare find.
I have a '42 Colt with a slide numbered three units off the frame, so it's a "mismatch", and I wouldn't sell it for $1250.

eastbank · April 29, 2015, 02:15 PM

a nice piece of history from when world war 11 was still up for grabs, i would buy it in a heart beat. better than money in the bank. eastbank.

Buzzcook · April 29, 2015, 11:03 PM

If it is as you describe, buy it.

kilimanjaro · May 2, 2015, 01:18 AM

I'd kick myself for not buying it. Go back tomorrow morning, make your best deal, and buy it.

Money in the bank.

BoogieMan · May 2, 2015, 05:25 AM

I forgot to update the thread. Bought it tuesday. my best estimate at real value is about $1800. I think I made a good buy. Yesterday (friday) I ended up buying a 1903 colt for $500 (see other thread "darn it!"). 2 classic colt sa pistols in one week. WOW!

1stmar · May 2, 2015, 06:12 AM

I'm with rick on this one. Since 1943 this thing has been reissued dozens of times. Parkerizing on the barrel seems like a sign to me. Not saying it's not worth 1250 just be sure you know what you are getting. 90-95% parkerizing seems like a real find (read suspicious).

April 28, 2015, 11:56 AM	#1
BoogieMan Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2012 Location: South Jersey Posts: 2,217	1911a1 Values and questions Found a 1911 Colt made in 1943 at LGS. Price is $1250 cash. Parkerizing is 90-95% intact with light holster wear at muzzle. A couple of nicks on slide from the link pin but no idiot scratch. Feed ramp still parked, magazine has no scratches from being removed. IMO it was issued to someone who was stateside or other non combat troop. Numbers appear to all match. Is it worth $1250??? What should be my concern? Its the price of a new Kimber and surely wont shoot as well, but next year it will be worth as much or more while that Kimber will drop $200 after the first shot. __________________ Concentrated power is not rendered harmless by the good intentions of those who create it. Milton Freidman "If you find yourself in a fair fight,,, Your tactics suck"- Unknown

April 28, 2015, 12:47 PM	#2
RickB Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2000 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 8,518	I'd be concerned that everything is as it appears. Are the slide serial numbers imprinted on the back of the (edit) firing pin stop (an indication that the gun has been shot with the numbered slide)? Are all the small parts correct? Is the frame feed ramp bare metal, or is it parkerized (the latter evidence of a refinish)? There are all sorts of little details, but matching slide and frame, in the described condition, is going to be a valuable gun. If there's a small part that needs replacing with a "correct" one, that's generally not a huge deal. Everyone accepts that the military didn't care if parts matched, if a Colt slide stop ended up in a Remington Rand pistol, etc., so if the major parts do match, it's a rare find. I have a '42 Colt with a slide numbered three units off the frame, so it's a "mismatch", and I wouldn't sell it for $1250. __________________ Runs off at the mouth about anything 1911 related on this site and half the time is flat out wrong. Last edited by RickB; April 29, 2015 at 11:04 AM.

May 2, 2015, 05:25 AM	#6
BoogieMan Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2012 Location: South Jersey Posts: 2,217	I forgot to update the thread. Bought it tuesday. my best estimate at real value is about $1800. I think I made a good buy. Yesterday (friday) I ended up buying a 1903 colt for $500 (see other thread "darn it!"). 2 classic colt sa pistols in one week. WOW! __________________ Concentrated power is not rendered harmless by the good intentions of those who create it. Milton Freidman "If you find yourself in a fair fight,,, Your tactics suck"- Unknown

April 29, 2015, 02:15 PM	#3
eastbank Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2008 Location: pa. Posts: 2,450	a nice piece of history from when world war 11 was still up for grabs, i would buy it in a heart beat. better than money in the bank. eastbank.

April 29, 2015, 11:03 PM	#4
Buzzcook Senior Member Join Date: November 29, 2007 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 6,126	If it is as you describe, buy it.

May 2, 2015, 01:18 AM	#5
kilimanjaro Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Posts: 3,963	I'd kick myself for not buying it. Go back tomorrow morning, make your best deal, and buy it. Money in the bank.

May 2, 2015, 06:12 AM	#7
1stmar Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2012 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,378	I'm with rick on this one. Since 1943 this thing has been reissued dozens of times. Parkerizing on the barrel seems like a sign to me. Not saying it's not worth 1250 just be sure you know what you are getting. 90-95% parkerizing seems like a real find (read suspicious).