Apx. Value of Colt 1911 Early 1918 build.

[Joe W]

I am looking in a local gun shop at a Colt 1911 in the serial # range of 2690xx, John M. Gilbert inspected. From what I can see without breaking it down is that it appears to be correct for early 1918, with the exception of magazine, which has a lanyard loop. The safety lock, while correct, appears not to match the wear of the pistol. The overall condition of the gun is nice without any pitting but is turning somewhat brown. Bore is good. The stocks are good with no cracks but show a decent amount of wear, especially the right panel which I would suspect is normal. The shop is asking $ 2800.00 and appear to be firm on that price. Sorry I have no pictures. I realize it is hard to set a value without, at least, good pictures. I am just trying to determine if the pistol is as I described, is that price in the ballpark or way out of line. I collect M1 Garands, mainly N.M. rifles and am aware of pricing in that area but have been away from the 1911 for many years and, other than what I see on auction sites, have little knowledge as to current values. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Joe

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[Sergio Natali]

If you could give us some up close , detailed pictures we could probably help you out.
Need some good photos. Flash photo burns out the middle and leaves the rest too dark to see. Outside in open shade works good, on a medium background.

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[browningautorifle]

Without pics we are relegated to giving you prices from Fladerman's or some such.

[Joe W]

If you could give us some up close , detailed pictures we could probably help you out.
Need some good photos. Flash photo burns out the middle and leaves the rest too dark to see. Outside in open shade works good, on a medium background.

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I do realize pictures would be necessary to give a good evaluation but this gun is in a gun shop and I am not sure I could get pictures. My question would be, considering the gun is as I claimed, ( original finish without any pitting but turning brown. All parts other than magazine correct for period, decent bore) does $ 2800.00 seem way to high or in the ballpark ?

[RASelkirk]

I recently gave $1k for a 1913 Colt (236xx) which needs a restoration. Value totally depends on condition...

Russ

[Joe W]

Russ, assuming your Colt needed no restoration, was all correct but showed about 30% of original finish. What do you feel it might be worth ??

[RASelkirk]

Russ, assuming your Colt needed no restoration, was all correct but showed about 30% of original finish. What do you feel it might be worth ??

I'm thinking an early Colt like that would be over $2k, ASSuming all was correct including grips. I just got blown away though, someone on CMP just offered a Colt in my serial range for $900 complete! Of course, it was "gone in 60 seconds"...

Russ

[Joe W]

Thanks Russ. That sounds like my kind of luck.

[oldcorps]

Hard to say without percentage of original finish and a "good" bore sounds ominous because original barrels for these in decent condition have become very difficult to find (The last one I sold went for more than I would have paid for the entire gun twenty years ago). Lanyard loop mags were no longer being shipped at the pistol's manufacture date but they remained in use at least through the Korean War. A couple of Tulsa shows ago I bought an all-correct 1911 in the 268,000 serial range with +/- 30 % original finish and a beautiful bore for $1,700 from a nearby table holder. Even in high condition, $2,800 seems a bit ambitious.

[Sergio Natali]

As somebody says, asking for an evaluation without pictures is like asking for an haircut through the phone...