Looking at something on one of the auction sites...

Essex frame, Colt slide, other parts stated to be "milsurp". Regular GI configuration, 5 inch slide, GI sights, nothing fancy. Condition is what I'd call "fair" cosmetically, looks to be parkerized, with some signs of surface rust and/or grease gunk on the edges of the trigger and the grip frame. Nothing awful (no pitting from what I see), but definitely a beater.

And a beater would be what I would use it for.

What's a fair price range?

$250

Too many good basic 1911's out there new with warranty that are good guns. You can get a Rock Island for less than $500 and a Springer or Ruger for not much more.

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Straight shootin'
SWCA#2439

With the Essex frame? The Colt slide is a couple of hundred depending on series and age. The older the better for most 1911 guys. I would, without seeing it put $200.00 on it. The internals if truly mil spec are worth something again depending on the issue. If it is all WWII or WWI, they can be very valuable. If not then they are just parts.
The frame is, IMHO, about $100.00 but no more.
Might make a good truck gun or one for the tackle box.

I have one that was assembled with all Colt National Match parts on an Essex frame. Functions fine but I agree that it has no collector value considering the frame. A good blaster though.

He may well find a buyer at $500,but it wouldn't be me unless the gun shot tighter than average groups.There are loads of good basic new guns available now.Heck,you can find a new colt for about 750 on up.I wouldn't fool with it

I have one in this configuration(Colt parts on an Essex frame) and it's an excellent shooter. I wouldn't sell it for $500 period.
Jim

There is nothing wrong with an Essex frame. It is who put the gun together. Essex made frames in the 60s up & lots of bullseye guns were made from them by Fred Kart. His shop wasn't far away. Feel of the gun & if you know what to look for it may be a real shooter. That said I would not buy one unless I could fondle it.

Essex in of itself isn't a bad thing but buying off auction you have to assume the worst and pay accordingly. There is such a drastic gulf between a built custom gun on an Essex frame versus a kitchen table "Bubba job" that you have to be careful. IF 1911's in general were hard to come by it might sway it higher but as said good commercial guns that work are rolling off the shelf these days there is no reason to risk it.

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Straight shootin'
SWCA#2439

$1 - 200. no more. Assume for the worst and hope for the best,

Essex frames are good, and it may be a very good shooter, but it will never have any attraction for a collector. $500 is WAY too much, when you can buy some of the Filipino knockoffs, which are reputedly of pretty good quality, for a lot less.

Thanks for the info, I'll approach it accordingly.

I would be interested in a shooter, not a collector's piece... and if it happens to say "Colt" on the slide, that's gravy.

I'll swing low, and if I hit, I will approach it knowing I may have a little tinkering to do. if not, let someone else roll the dice for a higher price.

Well, it went slightly above what I was willing to go; I stopped at $300 and it sold for $377.
As this wasn't a "must have", I didn't chase it.

Go to buds gun shop .com

Look at the Tisas and Girsan 1911's checkout hickok45 review on YouTube.

I been looking for a shooter, beater, truck 1911a1 for decades now. Can't find a used one that's prices right. I might as well buy a cheap new one? Do a few mods.

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Plant garlic in the fall

I actually have a Tisas, got it used for just under $300. Has been flawless so far. I've used a couple of extra 7 rd magazines, and have had no problem feeding (the only real complaint I've read, outside of it being inexpensive and made in Turkey, is that the OEM Mecgar 8 rd mag can give it problems).

Re the magazines: my brother gave me 1 McCormick mag, which has been fine as expected.

What's interesting is that I also got 2 mags from Sarco, under $10 apiece, and they have also been good so far. I also bought the Sarco wooden double diamond checkered grips, and these fit and look great. The grips are also inexpensive as heck.

I looked at the parts gun on gunbroker, it started out at $50 with no reserve. I actually got to within 2 hrs before the price climbed over my max; I figured it was worth a run at it. But once it climbed over the price I paid for my Tisas, I let it ride.

RIA makes a very nice 1911 in several different configurations. I bought a 38 super standard for less than 5 brand new. Plus their warranty work is fast. I have colts, DWs, and Kimbers. I like the RIA brand. My RIA wouldn't eject, so i called em up and had it back in 10 days. Free. No problem at all. Shoots nice tight groups. One of my Dan Wessons froze up in the first 2 magazines. Fixed. Beautifully accurate. You can have issues with any of em. An RIA standard 1911 in 45 acp would be my truck gun.

My RIA compact just came back from Novak with night sights. I usually keep it by the computer so that if there are 'noises off' I can investigate with something beside my bare fists. I've shot it only about 300 rounds and most of these were handloads using SWC cast bullets. The instruction book says it may not feed these, but mine eats them right up. I really like my RIA.