1916 1911

Take good pictures. If the gun has been refinished the markings won’t be sharp and the guns’s value goes down the tubes.

Colt only made 4214 1911s in 1916, apparently they had equipped the peacetime military with larger orders 1912-1915 and were not yet preparing for WW I.
So, yes, I can see a price that high if IF IF it is all original and excellent condition.

CMP is selling arsenal refurbished "mixmasters" for $850-$1050, with better condition or less common variants auctioned off for $2000 and more. Some get flipped for considerably more money.

Not sure off the top of my head when Colt began making 1911s for the commercial market, but your gun is one of them it will have a "C" prefix to the serial number. This would increase the value.

To be worth $3,200, that gun would have to be at least a 95% gun ( percentage of the original finish remaining ) and have all original parts. It should be blued, Parkerizing hadn't been invented yet. Grips should be wood, with double diamond pattern. Look for anything that seems out of place, like a part that exhibits more or less finish wear than adjacent parts. It should have the long trigger, a flat mainspring housing, a grip safety with a short tail, a wide hammer spur and no scallops on the frame.

I see 1911s matching the above description in the Rock Island Auction Co. catalogs going for around $3,000, all the time, but when you get to this level, correctly assessing and grading the percentage level of the finish is critical. Each extra percentage point after 97% can significantly raise the value of the gun.

Must have those pics!!

I wouldn't be buying any old 1911 without reading up and learning a lot about them. That price seems ridiculous to me.

reloaded_in_pa

The serial number range for a Colt 1911 made in 1916 for the Army should be from 133187 to 137400.

On the left side of the slide, closer to the muzzle, it should have:
PATENTED APR 20, 1897 SEPT 9,1902

Beneath that it should have:
DEC 19,1905 FEB 14,1911 AUG 19, 1913

To the right of the first line above it should read:
COLT'S PT. F.A. MFG. CO.

Below that it has:
HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.

There is also Colt's trademark Rampant Horse on the slide just above the thumb safety.

On the left side of the frame it is marked:
UNITED STATES PROPERTY


On the right side of the slide there is:
MODEL OF 1911 U.S. ARMY

Below that on the frame, close to the top of the grip, there is the serial number:
No. 133XXX

Research research research..

Too many fakes out there

https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/i-have-this-old-gun-colt-commercial-model-1911/

Has photos at link.

Gun: Commercial Model
Manufacturer: Colt’s Mfg. Co.
Chambering: .45 ACP
Serial No.: C93XXX
Manufactured: 1917
Condition: NRA Very Good (Modern Gun Standards)
Value: $2,000 to $2,250

View attachment 1008720

reloaded_in_pa said:

I'll be shooting it regularly

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Had 3 different ones. Accuracy was not good. Heavy triggers & sights are very hard to see. (when i had "good" eyes)

reloaded_in_pa said:

I'm glad he ended up with it.

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You got lucky. Bad investment. Imo. Back in the 1950s, surplus price was $45. By the 90s, at auctions, they sold for $600 to $800.

I dunno, Tark, the boards I read, Army surplus gets more collector interest than commercial. Lots of different inspector marks to make them special.
Phooey.

My Gdad's '17 is a tackdriver with 200g swc and light(LIGHT) loads of 231. We keep it to about 50 rounds a year,along with a good cleaning.

I'll dig it out a shoot a cpl groups and pics,maybe next week.

I am very leery of old military guns in a condition that just seems unbelievable. In regards to long guns I have seen too many fakes.

Obviously, coming here and asking was a very wise move with all the good info provided.

Jim Watson said:

I dunno, Tark, the boards I read, Army surplus gets more collector interest than commercial. Lots of different inspector marks to make them special.
Phooey.

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May well be true, Jim. I base a lot of my info on the estimated, and prices realized, in the Rock Island Auction Co. cats I Know that the commercial versions were polished and blued with a lot more care, and that is what I based my assumption on.

Here is a 1917 just sold at auction for $1650. https://www.horstauction.com/gun-auctions/gun-auction-results/june-2021-gun-auction/#prettyPhoto

Serial # 166089. .45 ACP caliber semi auto pistol with a 5” barrel. The bore will clean to excellent. Made in 1917. Marked “MODEL OF 1911. U.S. Army” and “United States Property”. “AA” stamped near take-down lever indicating that it was rebuilt at Augusta Arsenal. The Parkerized metal finish is excellent showing little wear. The checkered walnut grips are replacements and are in excellent condition. Lettering and proofs are very good. No markings on top of the barrel. Action works fine. Please see the picture to get a better idea of the description. C&R

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View attachment 1009396 View attachment 1009397

Sounds like a lot for an AA rework. Wonder if it is one of the current crop of $1100 CMP guns being flipped.

Jim Watson said:

Sounds like a lot for an AA rework. Wonder if it is one of the current crop of $1100 CMP guns being flipped.

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Could be?

Looking up the Augusta Arsenal history may help on the vintage?

Added- "The arsenal remained in operation until 1955"

Jim Watson said:

Sounds like a lot for an AA rework. Wonder if it is one of the current crop of $1100 CMP guns being flipped.

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Too much!