1926 Colt 45 Govt. Model value?

Upload pictures to a hosting site like Photobucket. Then, copy image tags and post here. Not trying to be an #######, but a more detailed desctiption of the gun is also helpful, like is it all matching? bore condition? which arsenal produced it? Just a tip
 
Photos at last!!

Hopefully these images will answer some of the questions! Thanks "vhenem" for the offer to help!!


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This old ACP shoots well but the nickel(?) finish is worn. I want to sell it but do not know what would be a reasonable price to ask. Any guidance?

Colt made ~ 6,000 commercial Government model .45ACP pistols in 1926. From the pics I doubt that nickel finish was original.

In the condition it's in I'm not even going to try putting a $$ value on it as is. Okay, I'd say ~ $650'ish as a conversation piece & shooter, but that's just me.

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NAA.
 
Colt made ~ 6,000 commercial Government model .45ACP pistols in 1926. From the pics I doubt that nickel finish was original.

Were there factory nickled Colt pistols of that era Marcus?
As in - do you doubt this particular guns finish, or that there were any nickle finished commercial Government model .45ACP pistols in 1926?
Thanks.
 
Were there factory nickled Colt pistols of that era Marcus?
As in - do you doubt this particular guns finish, or that there were any nickle finished commercial Government model .45ACP pistols in 1926?
Thanks.

It is my understanding that there were factory nickel 1911A1's in that era. However, the commercial 1911A1 had only been made for a couple years at that point....1926.... [as "upgraded" from the 1911 model]. From what I've seen, generally there are more "after market" nickel jobs on older 1911A1's than factory nickel jobs. Usually, factory nickel stays nicer longer as the metal underneath is prepped better than after market jobs. This one looks to me like previous examples of after market nickeled 1911A1's that I have seen/examined over the years.

Of course how a pistol is looked after, particularly in storage, dictates how the finish fares. For example, pistols stored in leather holsters, particularly in damp conditions, can result in some pretty nasty finish deterioration. Nickel finishes is prone to do this, usually starting on/around the sharp edges, contours of the pistol, slide serrations etc.

Generally, the Blue Book states to add 50% to the value for [factory] nickel 1911A1's. But that is contingent on overall conditon as well. Hence, my ball park for this piece at ~ $650. That's the max I'd go if I was offering on it.

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NAA.
 
NAA, am I right in assuming that the nickle would have offered some protection to the roll marks ? and stripping the nickle off would result in a fairly decent restoration prospect ?
 
NAA, am I right in assuming that the nickle would have offered some protection to the roll marks ? and stripping the nickle off would result in a fairly decent restoration prospect ?

I think it depends how the nickel is removed and then the pistol is subsequently refinished. If the nickel is flaking in spots because of corrosion/rust from underneath that may dictate how a denickel/refinish turns out.
A friend recently had an aftermarket nickeled WWII 1945 mfg Colt 1911A1 GI denickeled and refinished. Most of the markings & script stayed intact. There seemed to be an issue with markings that had originally been lightly struck. In his case, the "GHD" inspector proof, the crossed cannons proof, and the rampant pony between the slide dates suffered in the process.

This one looks like it might denickel and refinish nicely. But of course a blued 1926 commercial Government Model would've been very nicely blued. To resto it to near correct finish would be a bit of a feat unto itself.

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NAA.
 
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