ww2 US property marked 1911

mmcintyre1220

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I am trying to talk my way into buying a vet bring back 1911. This gun was brought home from the war and is in very very poor condition. It is all numbers matching but it poor condition ( no bluing left, heavy surface rust but no pitting) . From a collectors standpoint, i believe the value is gone. Would this be a candidate for rebluing or should it be left the way it is? On the note of rebluing , who in canada would be able to do a good job ?
 
no, as re-bluing/refinishing would more than half the value- ie refinished it would be worth less than if u left it alone- moreover ww2 guns, esp 1911s were not blued but parkerized which is a completely different process- unless you can get it for a song- ie less than 300 or so it's not worth it- moreoever , you didn't tell us whether it was a colt, Remington rand, singer, Ithaca, or other brand name- the colts and Remington rands are run of the mill, but the singers are worth an arm and a leg and 2 small boys- do some more research and then figure out whether you want to do it or not- either way DO NOT REFINISH the gun-remove the rust and leave it-and have somebody asses the gun BEFORE you do any work- somebody that KNOWS 1911s- ie at this point I couldn't tell u to go even chemical or wire brush just to remove the rust- and I know a fair bit about 1911s
 
Awesome thanks t-star. It is a colt, As you said its run of the mill. I will have it assessed before i touch anything on the gun, You never know what it could turn out to be. I know a little about 1911's but not to much. I do know enough not to bubba something tho.
 
Consider Vulcan Gun Refinishing.
http://vulcangun.com/
http://vulcangun.com/gun_refinishing.htm

1911%20Colt.jpg
 
I think preserving it even though it is rusty is far better than refinishing. you can go a long way with gun oil and very fine bronze wool
 
From a collectors standpoint, i believe the value is gone.
English is not my Forté - Are you saying it already lost its value as a collectible?

If so, its yours to turn it the way you like it.

But as far as collectible goes and like previous posters told you. Unless aiming for proper and expensive "restoration", pretty much all attempt at refurbishing it will kill its value.
 
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