Old Colt 1911 .45 ACP.

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lowbud

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I may be selling this soon. Anyone know what the approx value would be?

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It would have been a whole lot more if somebody hadn't Bubba'd it with the chrome & gold plating and pearl grips!
It would be a $1500 - $2000 gun if it was still original.

As it now stands, maybe $400 - $500?
Maybe whatever you can get out of it.

PS: Let the hammer down against the slide before it gets dropped and ruins the sear or hammer.

rc
 
Well, some folks like that kind of thing.

You might get big bucks out of it if you find the right gang-ban --- drug deal ----- ehhh--- I meant right guy.

rc
 
melt down

I could be wrong, but it also looks like they sanded down the edges a bit when they were getting it ready to plate.
 
I suggest you list it for sale, set a price and negotiate with an interested party.
Might get something worth more in a trade situation.

Just my HO

Good luck with it.
 
The person I got it from said it was a presentation model.

Yeah, that's BS. That's just an early Army Colt that was nickeled and tarted up at some point. "Presentation" guns would have had some engraving and been commerical models, not military. Look like it was nickeled because it had been abused and the original finish/surface was pitted in places underneath.

How does it shoot? Did you actually check it out?
 
In the last picture, look at the slide just forward of the dismount notch (the part with the streak of high light on it.) You can see the pitting under the nickle.
 
Just out of curiosity, is it possible or worth it to remove the plating and have it re-blued? Would that help or hurt value any?
 
Cost more then any added value.

The first gun butcher over-buffed it already and rounded edges and obliterated markings.

Too late now to do anything except enjoy it for what it is.
And what it is, is what it is!!

rc
 
Looks like early 1917 colt

It looks like it was made in early 1917. Try gunbroker. I saw one redone in nickel just like yours not that long ago. Somewhere in the 800 to 900 dollar range. It is really sad to see someone cannibalize such a great gun. It has no collector value to it now.
 
Now, now - let's not "diss" a man's gun. :)

After all, it isn't the gun's fault it's that way.

That gun will make someone very happy and will very likely serve its new owner very well. It has a lot of life left in it - and will probably be around for another 100 or more years give or take a few decades. It can be fired for fun or it's next calling could be to protect an entire family.
 
I've sadly seen similar guns many times. From my observations it must have been pretty popular to "pimp my gun" in the 50's and 60's. Alot of this work was done at the request of the Vets who carried the old girls and wanted to pretty up their service arm when they got out and returned stateside. Be thankful they did or all the original guns would be worth alot less considering how many GI guns are in circulation.

I'd say $500 would be top dollar. I don't think $800 to $900 is a reasonable estimate considering condition.
 
How sad. Poor old Colt. I'd still love it and take it shooting, but $400 would be my max offer. At least they didn't grind the USP rollmark off of it, although it's been heavily polished.

Oh, Lowbud, in case you didn't know, it should look like this....although this is a Colt reproduction of the originals, and not a REAL original. Best damn pistol I've ever owned....

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I'm thinking you could get more if you found the right buyer. Maybe up to $700 if you replaced the grips and removed the gold plate, although the nickle looks to be scuffed-up too. Depends on the condition of the pistol's internals.

I'd buy it as a project gun for $500 in CA.
 
The person I got it from said it was a presentation model. No idea how to track or prove that tho..

If you call Colt they can give you a "History" on the gun, for a fee I think. I have never had it done so I don't know how much info they can give you.

Your best bet is probably to put it on Gun Broker and just see what you can get for it.
 
Calling Colt would be a big waste of time and money on this one. Last time I checked Colt letters were over $100 and it isn't going to help the value.
Since it says United States Property it is pretty clearly a GI gun that was redone by a gunsmith/plater after the War.


The grips appear to be Jay Scott jobs and probably add to the value of the gun more than detract from it.

I'd pay $400 for it FTF in Missouri $450 if the barrel is in really good shape.
 
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