Smithhound
US Veteran
Well, I'm in a bit of a quandry here. I have the opportunity to take possesion of a beautiful Colt 1911, besides Smiths I do enjoy the 1911. I've pretty much made up my mind to go ahead with the purchase, i guess I'm looking for encouragement more than anything else.
This is a stone cold mint conditon Series '70 Combat Commander, brushed satin nickle, with a mint state 'wood grain' box. All paperwork is intact and I believe still sealed. There is even a letter included congratulating the original owner on his purchase, most likely a form letter but I've never seen one of these letters before.
I've examined the gun, it does not appear to have been fired, or for that matter racked, no scratches on the barrel hood, no marks on the frame to indicate the slide has been worked.
I know all Smiths have been fired, but have all Colts been factory fired? I've never seen a 1911 in as good conditon. The diamonds on the grips are still sticky sharp, I mean this thing is as 100% mint as one could ask for.
16 Dec 2011
Well, I haggled a bit for this, won't go into too many details on that but it is mine now. After doing some research I learned alot about these particular guns, Thanks Much to all here who gave encouragement and advice. After getting it home and looking at it close it still appears near 100% mint, I do believe it's been fired at the factory which makes sense, but otherwise it has sat for 35 years or so untouched.
I pulled the grips off (carefully) and there is no rust underneath, that was a major concern and I was allowed to do it in the shop, shows the trust these folks have in me, and that always makes one feel good. Box is excellent showing the wear one would consider way above average for it's age, the paperwork is still taped to the styrofoam container, never opened and it does have a form letter of congratulations from the factory.
Well, enough chit-chat, lets look at some pictures, hope you all enjoy them, not often you get to see a time capsule like this one:
From what i can find online these are a pretty rare gun, i found two for sale on GB, both fired and listed as 95% or 98%, both listed for $1100.
I have the chance to get this one for a bit more, and as I said, am pretty convinced to act on it.
This is an investment gun for me, it will remain a safe queen, I'm a collector and have many such items (NIB) I also have 4 other Colt 1911's to play with, so the temptation to fire this one is not there.
In any Colt experts opinion, would slightly North of $1100 be a realistic figure to pay for a truly pristine example of this gun?
I have untill Thursday to decide, any help is appreciated.
Sorry no Pics' i did not have my camera with me.
RD
This is a stone cold mint conditon Series '70 Combat Commander, brushed satin nickle, with a mint state 'wood grain' box. All paperwork is intact and I believe still sealed. There is even a letter included congratulating the original owner on his purchase, most likely a form letter but I've never seen one of these letters before.
I've examined the gun, it does not appear to have been fired, or for that matter racked, no scratches on the barrel hood, no marks on the frame to indicate the slide has been worked.
I know all Smiths have been fired, but have all Colts been factory fired? I've never seen a 1911 in as good conditon. The diamonds on the grips are still sticky sharp, I mean this thing is as 100% mint as one could ask for.
16 Dec 2011
Well, I haggled a bit for this, won't go into too many details on that but it is mine now. After doing some research I learned alot about these particular guns, Thanks Much to all here who gave encouragement and advice. After getting it home and looking at it close it still appears near 100% mint, I do believe it's been fired at the factory which makes sense, but otherwise it has sat for 35 years or so untouched.
I pulled the grips off (carefully) and there is no rust underneath, that was a major concern and I was allowed to do it in the shop, shows the trust these folks have in me, and that always makes one feel good. Box is excellent showing the wear one would consider way above average for it's age, the paperwork is still taped to the styrofoam container, never opened and it does have a form letter of congratulations from the factory.
Well, enough chit-chat, lets look at some pictures, hope you all enjoy them, not often you get to see a time capsule like this one:
From what i can find online these are a pretty rare gun, i found two for sale on GB, both fired and listed as 95% or 98%, both listed for $1100.
I have the chance to get this one for a bit more, and as I said, am pretty convinced to act on it.
This is an investment gun for me, it will remain a safe queen, I'm a collector and have many such items (NIB) I also have 4 other Colt 1911's to play with, so the temptation to fire this one is not there.
In any Colt experts opinion, would slightly North of $1100 be a realistic figure to pay for a truly pristine example of this gun?
I have untill Thursday to decide, any help is appreciated.
Sorry no Pics' i did not have my camera with me.
RD
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