Gun value?

[Leadfoot281]

I've been all over the 'net today looking for a good gun appraisal site... without any luck. Dial-up sucks. :(

Anyway, I just found a very nice original Colt model 1911 (manufactured in 1917) that's 100% original, numbers matching, with original color. This ones never been back to the armory.

Before I plunk down any cash on this one, I'd like to know if the price is reasonable. Thanks!

[ImpalaSlayer]

oh man i love the 1911. pops has a newer springfield 1911 but just not as cool as the old 1911. as to your question.... i have no clue sorry.

[ts-pa]

Check out a "Barnes & Noble" book store. There are gun value books there.

[J D]

Wow, that IS an awesome Pistol, as for pricing like he said, try a B&N or maybe another gun shop, congrats on your find either way.

[Aren Jay]

http://www.gunsandammomag.com/

[Marauderjack]

Go to.....

www.gunbroker.com and register!! This is like ebay for sporting goods and all sorts of guns and ammo!!:beer:

Great site for getting approximate retail values!!:bows:

Marauderjack:burnout:

[Haggis]

I've been all over the 'net today looking for a good gun appraisal site... without any luck. Dial-up sucks. :(

Anyway, I just found a very nice original Colt model 1911 (manufactured in 1917) that's 100% original, numbers matching, with original color. This ones never been back to the armory.

Before I plunk down any cash on this one, I'd like to know if the price is reasonable. Thanks!

What price? You did not post a price John and take Jack's advice go to gun broker.com and see what other people are selling them for. Just remember Gun broker's prices are inflated.

[ParkRanger]

I've been all over the 'net today looking for a good gun appraisal site... without any luck. Dial-up sucks. :(

Anyway, I just found a very nice original Colt model 1911 (manufactured in 1917) that's 100% original, numbers matching, with original color. This ones never been back to the armory.

Before I plunk down any cash on this one, I'd like to know if the price is reasonable. Thanks!

How much are they asking?
Has it ever been fired? If not, this would make it very valuable!
Break it down and look at the wear and tear. Is it clean and lightly oiled and well taken care of and easy to reassemble? $600 - $1000
Lot of use and soso condition = $100 - $250 max
Not an expert - just common sense.
:burnout:

[KillJoy]

The last 1917 1911 I saw sold for $650. It was by someone who just found their Dad's old gun.

The shop that bought it turned around and sold it for $1200 2 days later.

What is the asking price on it?

KillJoy

[rayjay]

Two other sources of good info are 1911forum.com and auctionarms.com

[Leadfoot281]

The nearest Barnes and Noble is a 53 mile trip. Each way. The computor (and all you gun experts) are right in front of me.

They're asking $2,000 for it.

Normally I'd never even dream of spending that on a gun, but I feel this would be a very safe investment.... if it's bought right. It'll be a poor investment if I paid too much for it up front.

This one is matte black with unrestored color. There is a small amount of surface rust on the upper part of the barrel. This rust isn't scaley... just a slight texture to it. I don't see any wear on it other wise. It doesn't appear to have been handled much. There are no bare or shiney spots on the finish. If it were laying beside a brand new 1911 you'd be hard pressed to tell them apart.

I didn't disassemble it.

I'll try to get the serial numbers next time I go look at it. I'm NOT saying where it is so don't ask! This gun was begging me to buy it!

[sailsmen]

Any item bought as an investment to sell to a collector has to meet collector standards.

Things that are of no value to you aor me can be the difference between the gun being worth $150 or $5,000.

A man found boxes of old coins. He had a shop in his house and used a wheel to buff them all up. Guess what they were then only worth the silver value vs $500K.

Either buy it for fun or have an expert look at it.

[Mike Poore]

The nearest Barnes and Noble is a 53 mile trip. Each way. The computor (and all you gun experts) are right in front of me.

They're asking $2,000 for it.

Normally I'd never even dream of spending that on a gun, but I feel this would be a very safe investment.... if it's bought right. It'll be a poor investment if I paid too much for it up front.

This one is matte black with unrestored color. There is a small amount of surface rust on the upper part of the barrel. This rust isn't scaley... just a slight texture to it. I don't see any wear on it other wise. It doesn't appear to have been handled much. There are no bare or shiney spots on the finish. If it were laying beside a brand new 1911 you'd be hard pressed to tell them apart.

I didn't disassemble it.

I'll try to get the serial numbers next time I go look at it. I'm NOT saying where it is so don't ask! This gun was begging me to buy it!

I sent you a PM, this morning, John. The fact that it's black, could mean it's a 1918 Army issue, not a 1917 model, also, remember there are three things to consider: CONDITION, CONDITION, CONDITION! You'll notice, in the prices I quoted in my email, there is a large price difference between 100%, 98%, and 95%. The rust you describe; is it on the barrel, or on the slide? If it's on the slide, then the condition may be less than 95%. Will the owner allow you to take it to an expert and have it evaluated? Buying books is an exercise in frustration, as the level of expertiece needed to make the evaluation necessary to keep you from making a $1,000 + mistake will never be learned from a book.

[RCSignals]

Generaly the early and WW1 pistols were blued, not parkerised.
If it's flat black it has likely been refinished.
Are the grips wood?

what is the serial number?

[Leadfoot281]

I've posted pretty much all the info I have on it. I'll have to get another look at it for more info.

Thanks for the info and the links.

The shop that had this one for sale also had thousands of other guns including an old percussion cap rifle. They wanted $57,999.00 for that one. After seeing that, my brain blew a fuse and I forgot everything I'd seen that day.

[captain]

I know a bit about guns and I say 2 things... the posts above are quite good. seems there are a few afficianados in the pool. Secondly... if you are buying from a dealer the license thing is a must. There will be back ground checks and red flags. better think twice about stirring up sheriff Brand. Or chief Pomeroy....Especially on a public forum. They may opt to turn your investment into a loss, and a gain for them at the next police auction. Assuming they dont steal it.

[my_rodder]

1911 service pistols are a fickle market. Being that it is a Colt gives it a certain amount of 'tracking'-ability, since their series and production lots are generally well documented. Though exact production numbers may be approximated on record, the Colts are going to have higher production numbers than the 'off brand' Remington Rands, Ithacas, Singers, etc.
Therefore, as stated earlier, CONDITION percentage is critical, so originality and refurbishing history needs to be authenticated.
From what I know about mostly Pre-WWII models, you want to confirm the checkered wooden grips (with large diamond grip screw displays?), flat mainspring housing with laynard loop, short tang grip safety, and a few other characteristics of the earlier Colts (as opposed to the 'newer' 1911A1), since these parts usually aren't serialized to its respective model, but could have been changed by an armorer once in service.
$2,000 is probably a safe 'ballpark', but I would be surprised if the Colts will ever be worth much more, at least in the near future. Collector Colt's values have become fairly standardized in recent times, since there are so many Colt collectors out there with large, thorough collections that usually just sit, which can actually create a stagnant lull in the market (they may even be considered 'OVER-collected').
So be careful if purchasing as an investment. I hate to mirror the mentality of our "Ebay Culture", but if you can buy it 'right' and turn it around relatively quickly for a profit, it is certainly worth researching it further. Beyond that, sitting on a $1,500 to $2,500 investment for several years is asking much of the 1911/Colt pistol collector market to periodically increase values, when the one or two generations of interested collectors are going to be retiring, selling out, or passing on their collections to a generation that may not take that much interest in these firearms.

[captain]

Very well said.

[rumble]

If I remember right, the last one I sold I let go for $50.00,
Course that was back in '65 or '66.

Sold it to buy a set of pearls for my wife for Christmas. She
still has em.

[Mike Poore]

I've posted pretty much all the info I have on it. I'll have to get another look at it for more info.

Thanks for the info and the links.

The shop that had this one for sale also had thousands of other guns including an old percussion cap rifle. They wanted $57,999.00 for that one. After seeing that, my brain blew a fuse and I forgot everything I'd seen that day.

What about the CSMC Mod 21 Grand American they have? It's to die for..:cloud9:

[Leadfoot281]

What about the CSMC Mod 21 Grand American they have? It's to die for..:cloud9:

Wow! Those sure are some purty guns! They make my old Mosin Nagant (aka "The Thunderstick") look like a canoe paddle.

The 1911 I was looking at is gone. I'm still looking, and learning. Thanks for the info everyone!