Ballpark Value of Colt 1911

[FPrice]

I know this is almost impossible without being able to see the pistol in question but I would like to get some opinions anyways. I saw a parts gun today on which the frame was a Colt 1911, sn 541,xxx. The gentleman had put a commercial slide on it but says he has the original slide, plus a magazine, and possibly some other items. He changed slides because the original was "loose". The frame is worn down to the bare metal, virtually no finish seems to be present (it looks silvery). IF the slide is in similar shape, and is a Colt slide from the proper series, what would be a fair ballpark price for this gun? I have J C Harrison's book on "U S Pistols & Revolvers 1909-1945" to check for the details. I'd like to make a fair offer but I'd prefer not to finance his next trip to Hawaii on this gun.

Any advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Phoenix_III]

Could use the poor mans library and check out a Borders or similar and check in a gun blue book... maybe buy it too if you like it.

p3

 

[jacobtowne]

Frosty:
Charles Hadley in Portland usually has refinished parts guns starting at $650. I saw some at the show in Marlborough last year, and they looked really nice. I've never bought from him, however.
207 741-2655 is his number.
JT

 

[Old Fuff]

A lot of "If's" here ...

A 541xxx serial number on a 1911/USGI frame would date from late 1918 or early 1919, and be among the last 1911 USGI pistols made.

Is the lockwork (trigger, hammer, mainspring housing, grip safety, etc. comtemporary with the frame, or something else?

Are the grips and magazine(s) original to the frame?

Is the barrel original? (I suspect not).

If the pistol can be reassembled back into its original configuration it would have a collector's value. Otherwise it's just a "parts gun/shooter."

Need to know more before coming up with anything like an accurate value.

 

[FPrice]

A lot of "If's" here ...

Yup, I know that. He volunteered to bring all the original parts and pieces in to my dealer's and let me take some time to look them over. I'll try to match them using Harrison's book and then decide if I want to buy it and how much. If it's substantially correct (I already am sure that the grips are not) then I'll try. This will definitely be a historical buy and a shooter, not a collectable.

This same guy also had what looks to be an all original and very nice late WWII Winchester M-1 Carbine and a 95% or better 1925 Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless .32! All willed to him by the same guy. Plus a beautiful Remington 870 Wingmaster.

How lucky can one man get.....

 

[Old Fuff]

>> How lucky can one man get..... <<

Indeed ...