Real GI versions of the 1911/A1 have jumped off the charts pricewise, in the last few years. A nice Remington Rand that used to cost 800$ is now asking maybe 2000$. That is why I don't own one, I drug my feet about coughing up the 800-850 and now they are out of reach, IMO. If you find a real GI pistol for 500, better grab it unless it is a true junker or something. Be careful and look closely. Sometimes you will find mixed parts assembled pistols made from a mix, like a commercial frame and a GI slide and other parts, etc. A GI lookalike built on say, an Essex cast frame or something, might be nice as a shooter but not particularly valuable. Also beware that rearsenaled genuine GI pistols may have mixed parts, but the frame will be GI and so should the other parts. Now, if something insignificant were not GI, like just the sights or trigger, or what have you, that could be cheaply put right, not a huge problem. Frame and slide better be. And maybe the barrel. Those are the big dollar items. A GI gun will have a US property stamp on the frame, in any case.