Value of Restored 1911?

[w10085]

What would the general value of a 1918 maunufactured 1911 be with a restored blued finish? I have a nice 1911 that someone repainted with the new hi-tech paint finish. I am planning on getting Chuckindenver reblue it because it's horrible the way it is. I just wondered what the ballpark value of one would be after he is done. I can tell from the places where the paint is worn off that the original finish is very weak. What can I use to remove the old finish so I know what I have to begin with? Thanks!

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[Johnny Peppers]

First I would use a mild paint stripper to see what the original finish looks like as the worn areas on the painted finish are probably in the same place as the original worn places. Try something like lacquer thinner first as it works very slow. A 1911 with only 10% original finish is 10% more than a refinished 1911. As far as restored goes, the original finish was an oven blue finish done in either a coal fired or gas fired oven containing carbon from charred and powdered animal bone. If you just want it reblued, a modern hot salt blue will certainly should fill the bill.

[badabing]

What would the general value of a 1918 maunufactured 1911 be with a restored blued finish? I have a nice 1911 that someone repainted with the new hi-tech paint finish. I am planning on getting Chuckindenver reblue it because it's horrible the way it is. I just wondered what the ballpark value of one would be after he is done. I can tell from the places where the paint is worn off that the original finish is very weak. What can I use to remove the old finish so I know what I have to begin with? Thanks!

One thing to consider as JP has pointed out is to find out what is under that paint. What condition is the lettering etc. A little bit of original blue will be worth more than a 100 percent reblued pistol. In my mind, nothing looks worse than a reblued pistol that has had the lettering and lines buffed out. The new blue only makes it more obvious.

I would value a reblued gun as shooter grade and really no more than if it had little or no blue. A proper restoration such as Bill Adair used to do would increase the value somewhat that amount would just depend on who you're dealing with. Trust me, if you reblue it and then decide to sell it at some point in time, the first thing the prospective buyer will probably tell you is that it's been reblued.

[Sunray]

"...someone repainted with the new hi-tech paint finish..." Depends on which one, but the collector value is gone. Duracoat, for example, doesn't come off like paint. It's a two part chemical coating. A regular paint stripper won't take it off.
In any case, like badabing says, nothing looks worse than a reblued pistol. Won't be the rihgt colour anyway.
"...a coal fired or gas fired oven containing carbon from charred and powdered animal bone..." That's colour case hardening. Never used on any 1911 of any make. Hot salt bluing is expensive.

[Johnny Peppers]

"
"...a coal fired or gas fired oven containing carbon from charred and powdered animal bone..." That's colour case hardening. Never used on any 1911 of any make. Hot salt bluing is expensive.

Better check your facts. Up until 1918 Colt used coal fired ovens with carbon from ground charcoal and charred animal bone. The parts to be blued were placed in the mixture for a few minutes and the carbon and heat from the mixture blued the pistols. The process was repeated as many times as necessary to get the correct blue color. In 1918 Colt changed to gas fired ovens which contained the powdered charred animal bone and pure petroleum oil. The pistols were held on racks and the vapors off the mixture blued the pistols.
Color casehardening is done in sealed containers with the parts to be casehardened packed in charred animal bone. The containers are heated and then the parts are dumped in oil or water to quench them. The color casehardened parts are quenched in water.
Hot salt blueing is expensive?

[bczandm]

Back when M16's were cheap(er) I bought a factory Colt M16. It was pretty ugly when I got it and was a little disappointed as I had hoped it would be better than it was as it has been clearly refinished. After a few days I decided to take it apart and do my best at cleaning it up. I quickly noticed that it had been painted with what I would guess was spraypaint. I carefully removed the spraypaint and all I can say is WOW! I ended up with a nearly new factory finish M16. I have no idea as to why someone would paint a new gun, but they did and it preserved the original finish.

I hope it works out the same for you, but if not Chuck will do a nice job for you.
Bob