- #1990 COLT 1911 A1 VALUES HOW TO#
- #1990 COLT 1911 A1 VALUES SERIAL NUMBERS#
- #1990 COLT 1911 A1 VALUES SERIAL NUMBER#
After decades of use, this one (like most weapons of long service) was simply refitted with whatever parts at hand were required to keep it functional. The weapon depicted below is a "Frankengun" I carried in Iraq 2010-2011, comprised of a 1942 Colt slide and a Remington-Rand frame, which is fairly typical of GI weapons.
#1990 COLT 1911 A1 VALUES SERIAL NUMBER#
So the serial number is 397411, indicating the frame was produced by Colt in 1918. 45s were by the time of Korea and Vietnam.īy the way, the last two digits in the serial number are indeed ones. A mixmaster such as the OP's probably isn't going to be worth a huge sum, but as it is it's still a military collectible as it's in the configuration a lot of USGI. While old 1911 pistols certainly aren't fragile, they are getting more valuable by the day and to take even a small risk of damage from shooting the pistol usually isn't worth it. Back then 5,000 rounds was a lot of ammo to put through a single pistol, unlike today were some IPSC shooters fly through that much in a month. WW1-era slides should be shot little, if at all, unless you don't mind having to replace it eventually. WW2-era slides are a lot tougher than WW1-era slides, but are still less durable than modern 191 slides.
#1990 COLT 1911 A1 VALUES HOW TO#
During WW2 Remington Rand figured out how to fully harden a 1911 slide, but wasn't implimented until after WW2 after Remington Rand had already ceased production. The slide locking lugs remained unhardened, as there was no way to do so without warping the slide. In 1925 Colt began hardening the front of the slide using the heat & quench method, and then in 1943 the area around the slide stop notch was flame-hardened as well. Pre-1925 Colt 1911 slides were not heat treated at all, and were prone to cracking or peening wear after only a few thousand rounds. 1911Tuner, an acknowledged 1911 expert, posted the same thing earlier today: If you're not lucky enough to find a "correct" replacement slide, you're left with either a mongrel or a box of parts with a value of maybe a couple of hundred bucks.ĭon't take my word for it. So even with a replacement slide the value is reduced by a third to a half. If you break the slide because you insist on firing a collector piece, even if you find a "correct" replacement slide the weapon will never, ever again be all-original.
Secondly, collector value is heavily grounded in originality. First, of course, is that if an owner of an all-original 1911 breaks a slide because he insists on firing it after being advised not to, he can't just requisition a replacement slide. Now that M1911s and M1911A1s are highly collectible, we have a couple of issues that the military didn't face. Slides were considered expendable and, if a slide fractured, it was simply replaced. military, the military maintained huge stocks of spare slides (along with other parts). When the M1911 and M1911A1 were the sidearms of regular issue for the U.S. I am not drawing any incorrect conclusions, and I rarely half-read anything. What MATTERS is the total number of rounds through the pistol and whether or not it has been MAINTAINED properly. Many people still shoot WW2 pistols on a regular basis. I myself used an Ithaca made gun during Army AIT. Many 1911A1s made during WW2 were used in service right up into the 1970's. You are drawing an incorrect conclusion from something you half-read. I would definitely NOT suggest using it for self defense." If you want to shoot it as a "shooter," since it's a mixmaster and doesn't have huge monetary value as a collector - it's your gun. They were not fully heat treated until after the war (commercial models only). The mechanics appear to be in perfect working order and the bore is excellent."Any WW2 or earlier slide is an "early" slide. The grips are in excellent condition…free of any cracks or chips. There is some slight toning in areas but no pitting. Overall condition is excellent and the pistol retains nearly all of the silver plate. Lack of the usual internal Colt inspection markings makes me think it is likely a US&S frame at least.
#1990 COLT 1911 A1 VALUES SERIAL NUMBERS#
The serial number could be correct for either a WWII Colt OR a WWII Union Switch & Signal (US&S) since Colt duplicated the US&S serial numbers in this range by mistake. All original rollmarkings have been removed and the original serial number was relocated to the bottom of the front strap. The left panel features an Elk, the right side a wild boar. The gun is fitted with a beautiful set of carved ivory grips. I don’t know the name of the engraver, but the work shows that he was a master. I understand that the work was done in Germany during the post-war occupation. The pistol is extensively engraved in a classic oak leaf and acorn pattern. There is a platinum plated Grizzly on the left side of the slide and a Mountain Lion on the right. 45 Automatic that has been heavily engraved and silver plated. What a gorgeous pistol! This is a WWII vintage 1911A1 U.S.