Info for a very old 1911

G

grenadier1974

Inactive
Hi guys,
I came into possession of a very old 1911 (not a 1911A1 but a 1911). Accounting to the serial on the receiver it was manufactured in 1918 or before. How can I tell what other parts are original besides the receiver? I know the grips are not (my uncle but on some pimp gun mother a pearl grips) and doubt the barrel is, but how can I tell? Also, I have no intention of ever getting rid of it but I would like to get an idea of value since I still shoot it and would not want to mess up an antique. Here is a link to a very blurry pic, I'll have to get ahold of a better camera.

Thanks
http://homepages.ius.edu/adrian/1911.png
 
If all original and in good condition it would be worth in the $1500-$2000 range (maybe more depending on condition and who was looking for it). With the modified slide/sights and who knows what else it's now worth about $400-$500 as a shooter.
 
Agree with SaxonPig cept I would open the range up to $300-$500.

It might be an excellant shooter.....or it might not.

Sam
 
Other than the grips and the sights, the gun looks to be original in terms of parts (from what can be seen in the picture); is it also refinished? If so, it is nothing but a shooter; maybe a good shooter, but still a shooter. In terms of collectibility, the gun is already "messed up".
 
I doubt very much that the barrel and bushing are original given the sights on it. No need whatsoever for the target sights with the originals. It has also been refinished, looks to be recent as well. If it shoots good it will be 300-500 as said above. If it is just a mediocre shooter it will be 250-350. A real tack-driver will bring it up to 500-650. Most guys that will pay for a 1911 (not a A1) consider your gun to be modified enough that interest is lost. A cherry all original 1911 is worth some serious money.
 
For many years my bedside gun was a 1917 Remington 1911 that had been refinished. Looked similar to yours, but with a better blue and different sights and grips.

I got a sweet deal on this pistol in '90 (I don't remember if it was $200, $225, or $250), and I got about $450 out of it in trade ten or so years later (I'd put on IWI tritium sights and Eagle grips). My barrel was original - not in the greatest shape, but ramped, ported and polished and it shot fine.

I would not worry about hurting its value by shooting it. Have fun!
 
Sorry, not an antique.

Grenadier,
More than likely, your pistol was sold off by the DCM long ago and "accurized".

From the picture, the trigger, hammer, grip safety, and so on are all of the type used on 1911 pistols. Obviously, the sights are not original; and logically, the barrel bushing and most likely the barrel have been replaced with "match" components (as mentioned by HSMITH.) I would think the trigger has been tuned up as well. If the trigger is light and falls with little movement, someone did something to it. Just as a caution, some were unsafe for anything but target shooting when the modification was done. Some get lighter (more treacherous) with age, and some get heavier.

All that said, I like these old beasts and have one as an "anything" gun. Keep it as it has history in your family. Shoot it with either hardball or lighter loads and it will last a long time. (You'll probably want to replace the mainspring. Cost you 10-15 bucks and you do it yourself.)
 
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