Shooting WW I 1911

C

cheyenne

New member
Do anyone shoot the Colt 1911 (first model)?
My gun dealer proposed me this kind of gun in excellent condition for about $1000.
Supposing the gun is in excellent mechanical condition with a good barrel can I use it as a shooter or just consider it as a collection piece?
I heard these guns where made of softer steel than nowadays could shooting actual ammo like hardball do any damage to the gun ?
I didn't saw the gun ,the gun dealer has to import it from Germany.
 
I for one would want to see *any* gun first hand before I paid that kind of money for it.

If you plan on buying the gun as a collectable then the idea might have some merit. On the other hand, if your buying the gun for self defense or as a general shooter look elsewhere. A gun that old simply isn't recommended for self defense due to parts and general metal fatigue.

If you have to have a 1911 there are many very nice brand new speimens on the market that can be had for much less.
 
I shoot one fairly often but do not put a lot of rounds thru it when I do. Does not seem to wear any worse than any other gun, seem better made than the new ones.
 
I have 17 variants of 1911s including two WW-1 veterans. One is a first year of production mfgd 1912 and it is in pristine condition, serial range 81xx and the other is a 1918 mfgd, both made by Colts. I have shot the 1918 gun and it is a sweetheart to shoot but the 1912 gun is to pretty to shoot and spends it time in the vault. I shoot 230 gr hardball in mine it functions well to be pushing the 80 plus year old mark. :)

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SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL POLICE, KEEP THEM INDEPENDENT.
 
BAck before collectormania hit the world, I bought a Government Model for $75 nearly-new. Serial number 4xxx.

I shot a bunch of ammo throughit before I got into self-defense and IPSC. I put another several thousand rounds through it.

The pistol was stolen in 1986. From the ad of a major dealer in Shotgun News, my insurance company "cheerfully" paid me around $500 for it.

I guess my point is that a four-digit serial numbered gun might well be worth $1,000. I start getting nervous in my ignorance about used guns, and used guns newer than the very earliest years. NRA 90% to 98%? Maybe.

As to the steel? Don't sweat it.

Hope this helps, Art
 
The 1911 is one of the old type overbuilt guns. The old timers did not have a lot of metallurgical knowhow so they figured if steel 1/16 inch thick was good enough, steel 1/8 inch thick would be better, and steel 1/4 inch thick would be even better. Result was that the guns weighed a ton, but lasted forever. The old 1911 guns are just as good as the modern ones (IMHO better than most of the cast clones) but if in good shape are simply too collectible and valuable to shoot much.

Jim
 
cheyenne,
I have an original M1911 which I shoot on a weekly basis. It is, in fact, my only handgun. It's 100% original, and nothing has ever broken or failed on it. I hate the sights, but don't want to change them as the gun is original. Anyway, I fire it without fear. It will someday break of course. But anything mechanical will die eventually if used.

What you need to ask yourself is, "Will I want to fire this gun if I spend $1k on it?" If you want it for collection value then you prob should not fire it much. Mine is 85 years old and looks it, so I don't care.
Happy Shooting :)
 
Cheyenne, First off I would want to see the gun before I would lay down the money. Second of all depending on the condition I would make my deciesion from there as far as shooting it.
I have a WWII .45, nothing special, belonged to a friend of mines father, Just a run of the mill Remington Rand, Used, saw action.
I keep it in the gun safe. Its a collector. But since it is used in good condition. I may shoot it once a year just to do so.
Hope this helps?

Happy Shooting :)

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Help Stamp Out Gun Ignorance.
 
Chip, you lurker! Finally posted something! :) Anyway, I was going to jump in on this thread last night but figured it would be enough to tempt you into posting.

/Sciri/
 
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