What is my 1918 Colt 1911 worth? Iam confused here guys.

4

45automan

New member
Hey guys I have a 1918 Colt and I was wondering how much it is worth. I have heard of Colts going for insane amounts at gun shows though have not seen any myself. It is overall in good shape and all original which should count for something. I saw a Remington Rand with an Ithaca slide sell for $695 at a local shop. Crazy or is it me? I was on Guns america and someone has a Colt 1918 for sale I think for $750 I could be off here. BUT it needs the Original trigger,mainspring housing and something else. My gun is a brownish color,but so is a lot of old guns I've seen. Lugers,Mausers,P38's and 1911's. Why? Is this the way the finish or parkerizing ages? I have seen old 1911's that were in a lot worse shape than mine sell for big dollars some were not even Colt's. My gun has some very slight pitting if thats what it's called on top of the slide just in front of the rear sight. All the rollmarking is clear and readable. The serial number is up in the high 400 thousand range. I showed it to a guy who has 23 1911's,and he said leave it alone. Don't refinish it or tweak it.Leave the pits but don't refinish it. The most anyone has offered me is $700 to $800,the least is $400. I had one guy offer me $200 as a trade toward another gun! I told him where to go. I know it's no museam piece but $200!? It's original Colt and they will never make anymore. What are your thoughts on this?
Thanks,45automan
 
kEEP IT, You're right, they dont make em anymore, just keep it as is and be happy with it, someday when you cant find one you will have one. Its a piece of history that can not be replaced.
 
Even rebuilds are getting old; if your gun was built in 1918 and then rebuilt during WWII, it might still appear old and worn. A worn, original gun might bring $700 or more, while a similarly worn rebuild is worth more like $400 - sounds like you know the difference. $200 is ridiculous.
 
45automan, are you the same fellow who was asking a couple of months ago if he should customize a 1918 Colt? If so, you'll remember that I counciled you to not change a thing. Leave it alone. If it wasn't you, the same advice applies. I couldn't believe the number of folks chiming in saying, ahh yeah, what the hell. Customize it. You have heard the best possible advice from those saying don't do it. Any changes made to that Colt, I assure you would one day soon regret. Bank on it. Get a Kimber or something to customize. That old Colt will only increase in value, unless you do something foolish to it. Wipe it down with a light coat of gunoil and store it carefully. I wish it was mine...



[This message has been edited by parabellum (edited October 12, 2000).]
 
Old bluing turns brown after many years. This is common and if it can be prevented, I don't know how, other than storing in a vacuum sealed case.

As to values of non-Colt pistols in the same time period, other makes of Model 1911 (not 1911A1) pistols are rarer than Colts. The only others are Springfield Armory (the original Gov't plant), about 30,000 made; Remington-UMC, 21,500 made, and North American, 100 made. As you can see, all are much rarer than the 600,000 or so Model 1911 Colts.

Jim
 
Don't forget that Singer (yes the sewing machine people) also made a rather limited number of them.
 
45automan,
According to my 20th anniversary edition of Blue Book gun values, 1914 - 1925 Colt 1911's go from $2300 (100%) to as little as $375 (60%). Even the 90% 1911 shows a value of $625. Having said all that, the gun is worth what you can sell it for to a buyer willing to plunk down the cash. Over 2,550,000 were ordered by US Gov prior to and during WWII, so your 400,000 sn is fairly low, all things considered. If it has any sentimental value, hang on to it. But don't do anything to it,as it will lower the value.
 
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