View Full Version : Opinions on wwi 1911
Hello, I am considering purchasing this WWI era 1911. I would like to know whether the parts look all correct.
I also would like to know if the finish looks original.
And lastly what is it worth - what is a fair price?
Thank you in advance for your help.
Did the seller say anything about the grip safety being replaced. The finish on it looks better in your picture and it does not look arsenal refinished. I'll let the experts chime in on today's value as its crazy and I can't keep up.
Johnny P
05-13-2013, 07:13
It is not unusual for the grip safety to retain most of it's blue when the surrounding blue has aged/worn off. The finish on the pistol is original. What is the seller asking?
The seller is asking $2,400.00.
Unless I'm missing something, for that level of finish that is way too high by about $1000
The Wolf
05-14-2013, 02:00
It is not unusual for the grip safety to retain most of it's blue when the surrounding blue has aged/worn off. The finish on the pistol is original. What is the seller asking?
Johnny P,
Just asking here, but when you look at the even wear and matching patina on the frame sides that go up and around the grip safety, coupled with the fact that this is a high wear point due to the hand constantly making contact in this area, are these not indications the grip safety is more-than-likely a replacement? Or are there other factors that need to be taken into consideration here, namely the differing curing temps the various pieces from pistols of this timeframe go through which results in oftentimes huge variances in colors & related finishes? I've seen slide releases and safeties of the deep blue color that stand out in contrast to the rest of a 1911's finish on pistols from this era, but not grip safeties.
Best Regards from Virginia,
Chris
So you are saying the price is way too high and the grip safety is likely a replacement?
Any other thoughts?
Any suggestions where to get a nice 1911 without getting ripped off?
The problem is it takes a lot to become an expert on these guns due to all of the manufacturing variations on the parts etc.
Here is another one I am looking at but the price is $2,650.00.
Looks to me that the level of finish is worse on this one. It is a Black Army Colt.
Is this a better option?
Johnny P
05-14-2013, 06:16
The original set of photographs that we had to judge the pistol by were made with the camera flash on, and is absolutely the worst way to judge a pistol. The second set of pictures are much better, but in my opinion the pistol is not worth $2400.
As to the grip safety being replaced, if it was a 1911A1 type we could say with certainty that it had been replaced. In my opinion the second set of pictures confirm that the grip safety is original. The MSH begins to show wear before the grip safety.
This is a nice Model 1911 showing finish loss on the MSH, but the grip safety is still bright blue.
http://i42.tinypic.com/2yphu8l.jpg
I'll defer to Johnny P on the grip safety. My 1911 collection consists of a R.R. 1911A1 armory rebuild and a 1911 Colt armory rebuild. Wear is even on those but finish is much much better on both. If you want a decent 1911 they can be found but originals are hard to come by and expensive. As to where to look, everywhere they are rare. Armory rebuilds come up from time to time, but I'm not sure from your post if that is a consideration. I found my R R 1911A1 through a friend. The lady's father passed away and she had a bunch of old guns she wanted out of the house. I went and looked knowing next to nothing. Of the four handguns one was wrapped in old wax paper in Cosmo. I almost fell over when I peeled the paper back. She wanted 1200 for all of them (other three were revolvers). I took them all home. The moral of this story was I was lucky, but when you hear old guns in a negative context I always go look.
The early Colts, black armies, were the most made and taken out of GOV. service. Usually a well worn like you have posted are found for 1000-1400. All day long. Very early serial #s and SAs demand a much higher starting point.
Waltherman
05-14-2013, 09:53
About 1K to much. Don't spend $2400 on that.
PhillipM
05-14-2013, 12:22
So you are saying the price is way too high and the grip safety is likely a replacement?
Any other thoughts?
Any suggestions where to get a nice 1911 without getting ripped off?
The problem is it takes a lot to become an expert on these guns due to all of the manufacturing variations on the parts etc.
Here is another one I am looking at but the price is $2,650.00.
Looks to me that the level of finish is worse on this one. It is a Black Army Colt.
Is this a better option?
It may just be horrible resolution, photoshop, or ground off, but I can't make out even a trace of the serial number.
http://www.legacy-collectibles.com/new-items/black-army-1911-colt-ww1
Johnny P
05-14-2013, 01:39
A rebuilt pistol would not show the same wear characteristics. A rebuild would have a phosphate finish, which is a built up finish. An original finish 1911 will always be blue, and will have wear patterns like I described above.
What about the second gun I posted?
Still too much in my humble opinion. Keep looking.
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