Old Colt 1911....

[Xfuzz]

1913 MFG.
Old timer from a neighboring ranch came into
deer camp with this.
His old hands are wrecked by arthritis and he wants
to sell. It is an old re-work/re-blue at best with
some ammo and misc. parts included.
Old gun has "soul".
Based on condition I'm thinkin about $400.00 to be fair.

 

[Simmer down]

I see some pock marks from rust and I've seen that shape and age go for higher. Additional price may be the story that often comes with them. You could always add a good story if you wanted to sell it.

That gun has character/soul/ personality.

The "pitting" in front of the slide stop looks like a stamp. What it is?

 

[Cpo1944]

I think its worth MUCH more than $400 . I`m glad you asked before hand , cause you sure don`t want to under pay a Friend.
Some one of our experts will be along shortly with a good appraisal for you. I `d give $800 easy with out thinking twice.

 

[Xfuzz]

The letters A.A. which is Augusta Arsenal IIRC...

 

[824tsv]

I tend to agree with Jack, even with the refinish and arsenal rebuild it's worth more than $400. Your call, it's your neighbour.

 

[gregintenn]

It would bring a grand in a heartbeat around here.

 

[alaskavett]

I would gladly pay well over $400 for it. I have in the past told the "Old Man" his stuff is worth more and he has told me he wants me to have it at his price and not to insult him. So, I would tell him and ask him what he wants for it. Kyle

 

[ralph7]

It would bring a grand in a heartbeat around here.

A gun like that would last the weekend at any gun show around here, and then go back home with you at that price.

 

[arjay]

Are all the parts plausible for an arsenal rebuild or is it just a mixmaster?

 

[Watchdog]

The letters A.A. which is Augusta Arsenal IIRC...

Yep, Augusta Arsenal. What about the magazine, are there any stamps on the lower tab, either top or bottom? Just curious, did you run the serial number? And if it was rearsenaled at Augusta, are there any other markings/proof marks on the other side. I'd sure like to see some more photos, especially of the other side.

You sure won't overpay at $400, and if the guy's your friend and getting on up in years, I'd sure give him more than that unless he just refused to take more from you. I'd be all over it at twice the price.

 

[4barrel]

I saw one bring $1200 today at a gun show in Dallas Texas. The guy paid for it in $20 bills. 1918 was the date code & had been re blued & had the wrong slide stop & grips. There should be a Colt stamp on the back of the slide if below 1917. I don't see one on yours. Maybe it was buffed off & re blued. It is still worth a lot more than $400. I saw a slide like that for $400 with a barrel & bushing that was about 56-70%. Mine was rough to start with so I made a shooter out of it.

 

[Xfuzz]

Dust settled at $475.00 and two pigs (only in Texas) for
his New years eve BBQ party.
It is a old war horse. Ran two mags thru it and
function is great. Bore, lock-up all good.
Looks like most of the parts are original from the
arsenal rework. Lord knows when it
was be-blued. Mag is of current MFG.
I may have better/closer mfg. panels.
As requested, a couple more pics...

 

[6518John]

There is no school like the old school. If only it could talk.

 

[Qball]

Me like
Like very much

 

[silentflyer]

Nice find, give it a good home and remember to old gentleman who probably has a lot of memories with the gun. For me selling it would be like parting with something near and dear to me.

 

[Laketime]

You stole that one. My neck of the woods it would be hard to find one less than $1200.00

 

[Biginge]

Howard, I think those olds ones took the two tone mag. I have some WWII military contract if needed. Someone will chime in I bet. That is just cool. Worst part of that deal is rendering two hogs.

 

[Watchdog]

Dust settled at $475.00...

Glad you got the pistol. I wonder if it spent its life in Texas. If so, it's possible it could have been involved in U.S. troop actions during the Mexican Revolution. It's fun to speculate about the history of old guns. The "H" on the rear of the slide could be an arsenal inspector's mark...maybe Frank Hosmer or Frederick W. Hauff. But I've never seen an inspector's mark in that location before. Usually an inspector's mark is closer to the stamp that denotes an arsenal rebuild. I do think if it were mine, I'd put the checkered backstrap on it to match the slide stop and safety.

Is that a holster for it that I see in the background of one of the photos? If so, did it come with the gun?

I think you got a great deal, but I seriously doubt the pigs think so.

 

[TheHobbyist]

I'm not sure what to say, but hey, it's the Internet, and of course I'll share my opinion...

When I sell a gun to a friend, that is one price. When I sell at a show, that's another. It's really hard to say sometimes what they are worth when you have constant pluses and minuses on a firearm. My personal thought is if I was his friendI'd pay $550 - $650 for it. At a show, I would ask $725 and let them talk me down $ 25.00.

 

[arjay]

I would have bought it.Throwing a couple pigs into the pot is just too good [emoji1]

 

[don5]

Hey- we take pigs serious here in WV you know. Home of the Hatfield's of the Hatfield and McCoy feud. We all know how that went.

BTW- nice job with the 1911. I would never sell it if it was me. That would stay in my family and passed down.

 

[italiansport]

A gun like that would last the weekend at any gun show around here, and then go back home with you at that price.

I agree: The refinish kills the collector value for me.
Jim

 

[Falguy]

It's just an old gun
As a re-blued, arsenal mutt, it has no collector value.
$475 is more than fair

 

[Watchdog]

The refinish kills the collector value for me.
Jim

There's often more to a gun than "collector's value".

 

[bovw]

There's often more to a gun than "collector's value".

Correct, I would take this arsenal mutt over a safe queen in a heartbeat. I'd rather have something with character and a story, than something too nice to shoot.

 

[jdlii]

$475 and two pigs?!?!?! That's a deal that will make you squeal!!

 

[Xfuzz]

I know the old Colt is a re-blued beater with
warts but still a neat old WWI 45. The seller
thought it was special, that's why I asked about
pricing.
Made good on one of the pigs about 0715 hrs
this am.
I suspect she was outta this sounder.

 

[BAM-BAM]

I know the old Colt is a re-blued beater with
warts but still a neat old WWI 45. The seller
thought it was special, that's why I asked about
pricing.
Made good on one of the pigs about 0715 hrs
this am.
I suspect she was outta this sounder.

"Free pigs"........ even a better deal.

Great old gun....... from a friend.......... now you need to collect the "stories" that go with that gun.....

 

[lowriderfxr]

Dust settled at $475.00 and two pigs (only in Texas) for
his New years eve BBQ party.
It is a old war horse. Ran two mags thru it and
function is great. Bore, lock-up all good.
Looks like most of the parts are original from the
arsenal rework. Lord knows when it
was be-blued. Mag is of current MFG.
I may have better/closer mfg. panels.

Sounds fair. I don't think either of you got porked on that deal.

 

[PALADIN85020]

All the AA rebuilds of 1911s I've seen were given Parkerized finishes. It appears that someone, following the rebuild, carelessly overpolished it and gave it a dip-blue. Note the rounded edges which should be sharp. It's a mongrel 1911, and sadly has lost the value that even a legitimate arsenal rebuild could give it.

John