1943 Colt M1911A1

[Motherland]

My grandfather recently gave us the 1911 his brother carried in the Pacific since he really doesn't shoot anymore. Its got the original holster and two magazines and is in great condition (theres a spot or two on the slide where the parkerization is worn away but a lot of the pistol looks like it just came out of the factory), and while we definitely don't want to sell it, my dad is really interested in how much its worth.
Anyone here know a ballpark? I saw a wartime Ithaca for like $2200 on gunbroker in similar condition but I was wondering if it being a Colt and having the original holster added any value.

[gyrene81]

i'm seeing $3000-$4000 depending...don't sell it, get it insured. then take it to a trustworthy gunsmith and have it checked for operability.

[Motherland]

i'm seeing $3000-$4000 depending...don't sell it, get it insured. then take it to a trustworthy gunsmith and have it checked for operability.

Oh wow
He actually was having all his pistols looked at over the past month. He's got some real interesting pieces accumulated over the years and since hes giving them to us he wanted to get that done. I'm pretty excited about this one especially, I've always loved 1911s.

[eagl]

Also don't try to restore it yourself.  Don't even scrub off any rust.  Just keep it clean and store it properly so it doesn't degrade any further.  Don't use any strange products to clean it either since some modern cleaning methods can kill the finish on old firearms.  And don't be that guy who cleaned his old gun by dumping it in boiling water...  Yea it won't have any dirt or grease on it after that but it also may completely rusted over within seconds of removing it from the water.

If you get any advice on cleaning or restoring it, even from a reputable gunsmith or antique firearms expert, get a second and third opinion before any work is done.

You guys watch pawn stars?  They had one antique pistol that was badly worn but would have been worth more than a thousand "as-is".  Instead, someone scrubbed off all the rust and tried to restore it which cut its value down to a couple hundred bucks.  I think that sort of thing has happened a few dozen times on that show, a bad restoration effort destroying the value of an antique.

[Stampf]

Bubi, that is one of the most desireable handguns.  Congrats.  Keep it safe...and keep it Original.

[Motherland]

I  love historic firearms and wouldn't dream doing anything that would damage the gun or ruin its originality. Beyond being the priceless piece of history any other service 1911 would be to me, it's also a family relic so the value of this firearm to us isn't really describable.

My grandfather had all of his pistols professionally cleaned by someone who knew how not to ruin the value of his guns, one of which is a police revolver that's apparently upward of 100 years old. The 1911 he said really didn't need much though.

I got it in some better light to take pictures and there is actually some wear/almost very very light rust at spots on the slide under the parkerization but other parts of the pistol look great still and the pistol is easily still in fireable condition (it's always been maintained and in very occasional use, not just sitting in a closet or something, and of course recently it's been looked over by a gunsmith). The holster is definitely in not-as-good shape but it's still very cool.








Holster's a bit worse for wear

[gyrene81]

omg    that thing is in better shape than the loose rattley piece o junk i fired in the corps. it's beautiful.

[Stampf]

Yeah that's a winner right there!

Awesome.

[Copprhed]

That is one fine piece of weaponry...hang on to it as if your life depended on it.

[Selino631]

I'd say $1,800-2,500

Its in great condition and the big thing is you have actual known-fact History of that specific weapon (which is awesome!)

 DON'T SELL IT

[mbailey]

Have one just like it   1943 built to Colts patent by Remington Rand. Marked United States Property   Dad used it while he was on the US Army (national) Pistol Team.





If you want, shoot me the serial number and i can look up when, where, and by whom it was made.....also give you an appx value  

Edit  Sorry didnt see you listed the SN in one of your pics.....
Looks like yours is a true Colt manufactured firearm (not an Ithaca, Rem Rand, RIA, Singer etc etc)

1943 MFG  1096405-1208673 Manufacturer Colt           1944 starts at 1155000 112,269

Working on price now, let you know a close number but without inspecting it in person, ill have to guess the quality in the Blue Book. If i were to go by the NRA grading system id have to say its Excellent, or Very Good (just guessing)

EXCELLENT: New condition, used but little, no noticeable marring of wood or metal, bluing perfect, (except at muzzle or sharp edges).

 

VERY GOOD: In perfect working condition, no appreciable wear on working surfaces, no corrosion or pitting, only minor surface dents or scratches.

 

[morfiend]

Yeah that's a winner right there!

Awesome.

  I agree it looks cherry!  Just the right amount of wear in the correct places,looks like it was issued just a couple of weeks ago!

   As for the holster,well it's leather and will degrade,best to get some advice on how to store it to keep it as it is now!  Patina, even in leather is often a desirable thing.




   

[MarineUS]

omg    that thing is in better shape than the loose rattley piece o junk i fired in the corps. it's beautiful.

Right!?

That is seriously a beautiful piece. You are lucky! I'd give a heck of a whole lot (if I had any to give lol) for something like that.

[Gman]

Of the dozen + 1911`s I own and shoot, from Knight Hawk custom, Wilson Combat, Kimber, Sig, etc, my Remington Rand WW2 pistol is by far and away my baby.  I don`t have any family connection to it, nor any leather, unlike you Motherland, so I`m jealous in that respect.  Up here in Canada we have a little more and easier access to WW2 stuff due to our import laws, surprisingly enough, and I was able to get it fairly cheap, but it would be worth 2500$ easily in the USA from what I`ve seen.  Same with my 03A3 Spring and my M1, which were purchases at a fraction of what their value down south would be.

As everyone else has said, keep that pistol whatever you do, and do NOT do anything to it other than regular maintenance, and gently at that.

I do have one family hand me down, the Derringer my Gr Grandfather came over to Canada with in his pocket.  Unfortunately due to its barrel length up here it is considered a prohibited grandfathered device, and since I have no children, will get destroyed by the government when I die unless I can convince one of my very anti gun relatives to take it in my will in such case.  Lame huh.

Great post, great pics.

[eagl]

It looks like its in great condition.  Even the holster just looks like it has normal wear.  If its serviceable (not rotten or coming apart) it just adds to the character of the gun.  Keep them together.