1911 value

There is no "really nice shape" in NRA ratings or Blue Book percentages, there is no way to know what he has until you see it.
Will you know what you are looking at?
A 1912 Colt in truly excellent condition with ALL original parts and a lot of original finish is a collector's dream worth some thousands of bucks.
If the Army ran it through Augusta Arsenal and put on some A1 parts and a nice coat of Parkerizing, it is worth several hundred dollars, maybe a thousand if a pristine rework.
If Bubba made it look real nice after he got it surplus, a few hundred dollars.
If Grandpa got nervous about the FBI tracking down his stolen government property and filed off the serial number, 5 years or $10,000.

1911

...and it's probably not a "shooter".

You need to check it out and see if all the parts are original - grips, barrel, trigger, hammer, mainspring housing - everything. If it's all original (and not just a frame with later parts) then you can go to the blue book and start looking at prices for military or commercial 1911's in that condition.

xtarheel said:

I'm looking for a price range here. Old guy (older than me) wants to sell a 1911 that was made in 1912. Serial number is 39XX. Says is is in "really nice shape". I want to make a fair offer, but really don't know what price range I should be looking at. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

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Is it a Remington Rand ? I paid 1,800 for mine in 99% condition in that year vintage.

Sorry DonRon, Remington Rand was not making guns in 1912. Remington Rand did not EXIST in 1912. Remington Rand did not get a 4 digit serial number block in 1942, either.

Maybe a Remington UMC, which is an entirely different cat. Not in production until 1918, though.

Just what did you pay $1800 for, anyhow?

Is it a Remington Rand ? I paid 1,800 for mine in 99% condition in that year vintage.

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Remington Rand 1911's were only made between 1943 to 1945 in Syracuse NY was approx 1,086,624 mfg. Only Colts were made in 1912