1911 Colt input wanted b4 I sell

[cpuckett812]

Obama's economic plan is forcing me to sell my Colt 1911. Ive been to three shops to sell it outright, and got offered 1700 by the first one. Seemed like alot to me unless its worth more than I thought. Records I found say it was shipped to the USN in 1912, but I suspect the slide got replaced around 1943. Markings are HS on the barrel, P on the top of the slide, I think VP on the forward trigger guard, no circle border around the colt logo. 2 mags, 1 says R the other CS. I tried getting a idea of its value online, but it varies too much for me to be confident in my guess. I need to sell ASAP too. Should I go back and get the 1700 or.....? Also, if any of yall are interested let me know. Id much rather give one of the THR guys a good deal than the gun shop, no offense to gun shop owners. Thanks alot guys, pics will follow below

 

[cpuckett812]

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[Bozwell]

You can always try something like gunbroker but if you need to sell ASAP, that's probably not a good option. My first thought is that this is really a niche item and it's going to be a matter of finding the right buyer to get top dollar for it (i.e., a collector who's very interested in it). However, that takes time. Sorry I can't be of any real help, but best of luck in your search.

 

[cpuckett812]

Hey thanks alot there Bozwell. Youre exactly right about finding the right buyer, I just dont have time. Im not much into collectible value really anyways, and hope to be able to replace it and have enough to still pay off some debts. It is a really nice one for those interested in these types of items though.

 

[mgmorden]

Something doesn't add up. That frame looks solidly like a 1911-A1, not an original 1911. It's got the arched mainspring housing, the shorter trigger, and the relief cuts behind the trigger.

If that gun was originally from 1912, then it had to be retrofitted to the A1 configuration later, which I'd think would reduce its value vs an original config 1911.

 

[cpuckett812]

One of the gunsmiths said just about the same thing, and also speculated it may not be a colt lower. Since theres no colt markings I know of on the lower except the triangle on the trigger guard, I couldnt say either way . Heres the link where Im getting the 1912 from http://coolgunsite.com/pistols/colt production.htm

 

[cpuckett812]

I can take more pics too if it would help, just tell me where

 

[OldCavSoldier]

Take the $1700 offered. It is a WWII / post WWII rebuild with 1911 slide and post WWII Government Model frame. You can get one like it in a gun-show around here for around $900.

 

[cpuckett812]

Thanks OldCav. I ll wait a few minutes to see if anyone objects to your advice. I agree with you though, but why in the world would a gun shop owner offer me so much for it? Maybe this is one of those times where its best not to ask why

 

[cyclopsshooter]

us gun shop guys dont always know what were doing... a few years ago i bought a copy (thought it was real) of a colt single action (really good copy) off a customer for what i thought was a good price.. later when i entered it into my A&D book i fount that i paid retail...

we all learn as we go...

 

[cpuckett812]

I did 4 years as a gunners mate doing maintenance on 1911's, but until the last couple days, I had no idea how many different models there were out there. All this time I thought a colt 1911 was a colt 1911, but that wasnt the case at all lol

 

[cyclopsshooter]

HAHA- yeah.. to us 1911 nerds the smallest rollmark or proof can mean hundreds of dollars

 

[Jim Watson]

It isn't a 1912 Navy.

Ah, HA, FIGURED IT OUT.
You have a 1930 .38 Super receiver with a .45 upper on it, likely installed for cheap surplus ammo in bygone times. and the original slide and barrel long lost. The Supers had no serial number prefix in those days.
See a picture of what it started out life as at
http://www.coltautos.com/1911a1_Super38_9655.htm
So it is not some renumbered pilfered hack job but it is not what I would call a $1700 gun, either. There was a guy here who similarly ruined a nice Super by putting a Sistema 1927 upper on it because he only liked .45s.
If you must sell, let your conscience be your guide. I don't think a parts job like that is worth $1700 but if a store offered you that, he was expecting to resell it for a lot more. A real Navy that clean would be worth twice that amount, but representing this gun as one would be fraud. Not that it would pass as one to anybody who had studied the field or even stopped to look stuff up, like me.
An unaltered second year Super would be worth a lot, too.

No need to get into all this other stuff, but I will leave the differences for reference.

The receiver is of 1911A1 profile with trigger finger scallops.
The serial number has no prefix either "No" for a military or "C" for commercial and the font looks odd.
There is no "United States Property" marking as would be found on a military weapon.
There is no inspector's marking as would be found on a military weapon.
The VP was not used on military until the 1911A1 came out.
Grips are peacetime A1 or commercial.

The slide is at least post 1914 to have the 1913 patent date on it.
It lacks the model marking which is a sign it too is a 1911A1 part because they went to putting the model designation on the receiver instead of the slide.
Markings are thin indicating reblue.

The short A1 trigger has set screw divots from a trigger shoe.

The slide stop IS of 1911 pattern but may be the only part that is.
The magazine catch, trigger, and safety are checkered, the hammer has a wide spur, signs of a pretty early A1 or A1 pattern Government Model.

 

[gary@r&g]

I think Jim is spot on. The VP is Colts verified proof. A-1's started with the 1924 guns around 700K. The numerals only serial number without pre or suffix on an A1 style frame would only be right on an early Super 38. Clawsons books can give you idea of a date range of the slide.

 

[cpuckett812]

Jim Im pretty sure you nailed that one. Youre pretty good I tell ya. Thanks to all of yall for the help, and Gary at randgfirearms.com, for getting me some answers too. Roll the credits!

 

[SSN Vet]

I sure hope you have $1,700 in you pocket today.

or perhaps $900 and a brandy new Colt 1991.

I pitty our TMC who had to keep all the 1911s in our small arms locker operating.

I've seen a lot of stovepipes at the POOD/Topside Sentry proficiency shoots.

Chief was of the opinion that all the mags had bent feed lips.

He's the only person I've ever heard recommend that you depress the mag. release when seating a mag during normal range use, as he beleived smacking them home contributed to the feed lips deforming.

The PG Remmy underfolders we had sure were a hoot to shoot.... but I digress

 

[gvf]

Obama's economic plan is forcing me to sell my Colt 1911. Ive been to three shops to sell it outright, and got offered 1700 by the first one. Seemed like alot to me unless its worth more than I thought. Records I found say it was shipped to the USN in 1912, but I suspect the slide got replaced around 1943. Markings are HS on the barrel, P on the top of the slide, I think VP on the forward trigger guard, no circle border around the colt logo. 2 mags, 1 says R the other CS. I tried getting a idea of its value online, but it varies too much for me to be confident in my guess. I need to sell ASAP too. Should I go back and get the 1700 or.....? Also, if any of yall are interested let me know. Id much rather give one of the THR guys a good deal than the gun shop, no offense to gun shop owners. Thanks alot guys, pics will follow below

Post what you did here + photos on Colt Forum. They're real experts on questions like that.

 

[rich642z]

I have a Colt in .45 cal and both were built one in 1913 and the other in 1925. both are shot using ball ammo only and have original boxes and papers and are not for sale. Goes way back on the family tree.