US M17

I recently picked up one of the US M17's that Sig was selling. Since I collect US military firearms, I felt it was incumbent on me to acquire one while they were available. Here are some detailed pictures of what I received.

Others that have picked up these handguns report that the condition varies from like new to showing some definite use and holster wear. I would rate mine at very good condition with just a few minor wear marks on the grip area and some very minor wear on the top of the slide.

Information received from a Sig employee says that approximately 3500 of these pistols were released for civilian sales. Serial numbers reported so far on the Facebook Surplus M17 group, range from TF00010 up through the TF005906

The box as received:
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo..._FotorXL-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo..._FotorXL-1.jpg

The contents:
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo..._FotorXL-1.jpg

Box contains one M17 pistol with one 17 round magazine, two 21 rounders and various bits of literature including the Certificate of Authenticity and an extra recoil spring and the gun lock (not pictured):
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo..._FotorXL-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo..._FotorXL-1.jpg

The magazines are brand new. Some have been shipped with used magazines with various unit and/or other identifying numbers/letters.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo..._FotorXL-1.jpg

View with 21 round magazine inserted:
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo..._FotorXL-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo..._FotorXL-1.jpg

Slide markings are unique to military issued M17's with the manufacturer code and part number:
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo..._FotorXL-1.jpg

Same code and numbers on the barrel:
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo..._FotorXL-1.jpg

Left side:
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo..._FotorXL-1.jpg

Grip has a rack number marked in Sharpie "GUN1"
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo..._FotorXL-1.jpg

Field stripped:
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo..._FotorXL-1.jpg

Underside of the slide:
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo..._FotorXL-1.jpg

Probably a good investment.....A few years ago the USMC turned loose their Colt M45A1 pistols. These went from around $600 at first to like $2000+ later! Most of those were well worn finish

Not being someone that tracks these pistols (wish I had been now) and did not get in on the early $650 or so price, I decided I wanted to invest in one and traded a $1150 pistol which I had no problem parting with. Thinking of purchasing another outright as an investment. A couple questions:
1) Is it safe to assume that the future value of an average specimen M17 will not reach the current value of an average specimen M45A1?
2) Gunbroker shows that the low end as of right now is around $1200. I know it's a roll of the dice, but does this sound like a decent investment at this time?

I keep hearing from "sellers" that the "markings" on their M17s enhance the collectability of their M17. Markings such as an engraved or sharpie number here and there.

My unskilled opinion is that these are not like arsenal rebuild marks on a USGI 1911. I can write or engrave whatever I want on my M17 with whatever I want to "enhance" it. I assume this is the case unless their is some proven provenance to back up the engraving.

In other words, the "been there done that" look does not apply here.

Compared to many of the "cleaner" examples I've seen, these would be worth less in value. Again, just my unskilled opinions here.

Love to hear some thoughts from anyone.

Not that it affects the operation/disassembly of the pistol, but has anyone else noticed that when going from Page 45, 9.1 Disassembly, Step 2 to Page 46, it goes to Step 4. It is not skipping a step, it just mis-numbered it to Step 4. Should have been numbered Step 3.

I'm assuming this is in all of the manuals, not just mine.