price check on an older colt gov .45

[comus]

I'm cleaning out my safe to make room for more toys, and I'm looking to sell an old Colt Government model 1911. I beleive that it is post war because it's not stamped US Property, but it doesn't have the Colt on the slide. What is the going rate for them now? It's been blued, but it still has it's original wood grips.

Thanks.

 

[prproulx]

Pictures would help as well as the serial number prefix. If you could give out the first and last numbers of the serial number I could tell you when it was made.

 

[NAA]

Yeah, hard to rate without detailed pics showing overall condition... Serial number will determine if it's a Colt mfg frame or other. Slide may have lost it's markings if refinished... Could be worth $550 - $1,200 on the current Cdn market depending on exactly what it is, when it was made & what variation it is, etc... Also, do you have the orginal box/papers?

 

[comus]

It has a 6 didgit ser# including the first leter which is an S, the last 2 digits are 18. I have some pictures I can send out, but I don't have any posted on the net. It didn't come with a box or any papers. I bought it from a guy who was going to make it into a race gun. It comes with a B-sqaure scope mount, black "pearl" grips, and some other small bits.

 

[Garand]

Pictures would be really helpful, try this link to date the pistol

http://www.m1911.org/full_dates.htm

 

[prproulx]

My Colt book only goes up to 1985. The only S prefix I can find are the 1984-85 commercial versions which start with SS followed by five numbers.

 

[comus]

now with pics

What do you guys think?

 

[prproulx]

This is an original 1911. It predates the 1911A1. I can't see the markings clearly on the right side but it does not look familiar.

Definitely pre-WWII. Looks reblued. Can you get a closeup of the right side markings or write them out?

 

[Garand]

Markings indicate that this is a commercial model, the markings on the right side of the slide were moved to that location in 1914. Pictures that I've seen indicate that the commercial model was fitted with a rounded mainspring housing in 1920.

Something that I found on another site about the "S" on the pistol

"An S with serifs is found in 3 places: top of receiver by disconnector hole, rear of slide, and
interestingly on the inner surface of the mainspring housing."

http://www.seekblue.com/c332x.html

 

[NAA]

There's pretty much no question at this point that it is a Colt 1911 commercial model from the 1914-1918 era. On the left side pic you can see remnants of the Colt "VP" view proof on the upper part of the trigger bow. Also, on the lower part the initial "D" indicating an assemblers mark.

The small parts [slide release & thumb safety] are indicative of Colt production 1911. As well as the blued hammer in the pic that is not assembed on the pistol.

However, I am curious about the "S" prefix to the serial number. For a "commercial" model it should have a capital "C" prefix serial number:

Also, it would be nice to see a pic of the script on the right side of the frame. It should read " Colt Automatic Calibre .45":

 

[Garand]

Has the handgun been refinished???

 

[comus]

Here's some more pics as requested.

On closer inspection of the ser#, I now believe that it is a C, not an S. I got the S from the registration cert. And yes, the gun has geen reblued at some point in time.

Soooo. $650 ish?

 

[prproulx]

Put the original parts back on especially the original hammer which is so much nicer.

If the rebluing was well done and if someone was looking for one I would say anywhere from $450-$600.

 

[NAA]

You won't see anything real Colt, refinished or not, for less than $550 these days unless someone is giving it away...

 

[comus]

Thanks for your help guys. If anyone is interested, you'll find it in the for sale section soon.