US Army Colt 1911

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mzcloud

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Hi Guys,

Need some help on the value and possibly some history of this old gun. Seriel No 360###. There is a little stamp above the mag release. Slide reads united states property. PATENTED APR.20.1897.SEPT.9.1902 DEC.19.1905.FEB14.1911.AUG.19.1913

Thanks a lot

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1911 value

The value on the 1911 depends on several things

One if it has been refinished value goes down. WWI 1911s should be a nice deep Colt blue.

Two It should have all its proper inspection marks also marked united states property on the frame forward of the trigger guard.

wooden grips. and correct barrel and the condition of barrel is a big factor.

Your photos are not to clear the gun looks to be refinished. If it has a Small AA SA or other small letters it would mean it has been refinish by US army so thats is ok. Arsenal refinished Gun.

I would say your 1911 in Canada is worth a low of 500.. to 1200 if not refinished..
Theres loads of good sites for detailed info. Try 1911 pistol Forum for more expert info.

Nice looking old Gun,and what ever you do... Do not have it redone or change anythig on it such as sites Also try taking a photo out side makes a clear photo..

IMAT:)
 
IMAT said:
The value on the 1911 depends on several things

One if it has been refinished value goes down. WWI 1911s should be a nice deep Colt blue.

Two It should have all its proper inspection marks also marked united states property on the frame forward of the trigger guard.

wooden grips. and correct barrel and the condition of barrel is a big factor.

Your photos are not to clear the gun looks to be refinished. If it has a Small AA SA or other small letters it would mean it has been refinish by US army so thats is ok. Arsenal refinished Gun.

I would say your 1911 in Canada is worth a low of 500.. to 1200 if not refinished..
Theres loads of good sites for detailed info. Try 1911 pistol Forum for more expert info.

Nice looking old Gun,and what ever you do... Do not have it redone or change anythig on it such as sites Also try taking a photo out side makes a clear photo..

IMAT:)
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My flash ruined the photo. I don't think its refinished though, doesn't even have much blueing on it. I probably won't be able to get some outside pics until this weekend. By the time I am home, its pitch dark already. Try zooming in with your Internet Explorer. :yingyang:
 
okcorral1881 said:
Naa will jump in soon and tell you more!:)
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Here's my .02....

Not certain it is original finish.

Patent dates & proof marks appear correct.

Inspector stamp above mag release button looks like small eagles head with a number under it which would be correct for a 1918 mfg USGI.

Slide stop is not proper for WWI Colt commercial or USGI 1911. Looks like a much later blued one [maybe even 1960's replacement].

Hammer, thumb safety, trigger appear correct.

Suspect about the grips. I count 13 rows of checkering between the diamonds. Colt grips should have 15 rows.

Lanyard mag is for earlier WWI's. But still nice to have.

Lots of good info on this site: http://www.coolgunsite.com/

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NAA.
 
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I'm not sure the thumb safety is correct. The blueing appears to be exact same as the slide stop that is not original.

Nice patina on the pistol I would not do anything to it - oil it generously and into the safe it goes.
 
Paulinski said:
I'm not sure the thumb safety is correct. The blueing appears to be exact same as the slide stop that is not original.

Nice patina on the pistol I would not do anything to it - oil it generously and into the safe it goes.
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Could be the lighting but I think the slide stop, which is for sure not correct, is a slightly darker blue, but the thumb safety looks correct for a 1918-1919 mfg Colt USGI:

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NAA.
 
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I thought the WW1 commercial guns only had the deep blued finish (like the ones that came to canada, i have 2 of these) but the ones made for direct military survice had a park, so a park would be correct or I am way off? I had a USMS 1911 but it had no finish left so i cant compare. I know the thumb safety is correct same with the hammer, but i though the parts may have come from a similar era commercial gun.
 
NAA said:
Here's my .02....

Not certain it is original finish.

Patent dates & proof marks appear correct.

Inspector stamp above mag release button looks like small eagles head with a number under it which would be correct for a 1918 mfg USGI.

Slide stop is not proper for WWI Colt commercial or USGI 1911. Looks like a much later blued one [maybe even 1960's replacement].

Hammer, thumb safety, trigger appear correct.

Suspect about the grips. I count 13 rows of checkering between the diamonds. Colt grips should have 15 rows.

Lanyard mag is for earlier WWI's. But still nice to have.

Lots of good info on this site: http://www.coolgunsite.com/
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Don't toss the mag. When we could by and sell such things on E-Bay a while back the two tone mags could go as high as $150.00. I have a 1911 built in 1916 as a .455 which later became a .45 but is still registered as a 455. It came with the lanyard mags.
 
I bought a 2 tone mag at a US gun show 3 weeks ago with a C Broad arrow stamp for 30 bucks. Identical to the one i have with my 1912 gun. With Lanyard loop of course.
 
ShooterMcGavin said:
I bought a 2 tone mag at a US gun show 3 weeks ago with a C Broad arrow stamp for 30 bucks. Identical to the one i have with my 1912 gun. With Lanyard loop of course.
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You scored big. Likely the seller didn't know what he had. I've seen similar mags at the monthly gunshow at the convention center north of Las Vegas, NV, USA in the $150 US price range. Maybe the C broad arrow stamp threw 'em off............. :D

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NAA.
 
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ShooterMcGavin said:
I thought the WW1 commercial guns only had the deep blued finish (like the ones that came to canada, i have 2 of these) but the ones made for direct military survice had a park, so a park would be correct or I am way off? I had a USMS 1911 but it had no finish left so i cant compare. I know the thumb safety is correct same with the hammer, but i though the parts may have come from a similar era commercial gun.
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WWI military 1911's were not parked unless they were refurbed for WWII service or otherwise refinished at a much later date than the WWI era. The early ones were nicely blued and as WWI progressed & production increased the finish went to more of a black blued finish. But park was definitely a WWII deal. Even late 1930's and very early 1940's Colt 1911A1's are blued.

2007-10-27_091302_1aCoffee.gif

NAA.
 
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So what is the one I have? Either Blued or Park, its all pretty much gone anyways. I have other old guns and all have this kind of light colored finish
 
mzcloud said:
So what is the one I have? Either Blued or Park, its all pretty much gone anyways. I have other old guns and all have this kind of light colored finish
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I'd say it was blued at some point & now the finish is all but gone off the frame & slide. Still visible & clear on some of the small parts. Likely, the overall finish to your frame & slide will have looked like what the hammer, thumbsafety & trigger look like. As stated previously, the slide stop is not original to the pistol so don't look at it to determine what finish your frame & slide had on it before... ;)
 
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