How much is it worth?

[Evil Quint]

I recently inherited a 1968 Colt 1911. It says government model on the side but according to the person I spoke with at Colt customer service its the commercial model. (It does not say US property). Anyway I would say its roughly 90+% condition and does not look like it was fired much if at all. I have the gun and mag but no box or paperwork.

Any ideas what its worth? Just looking for ballpark since I plan on keeping it. I searched but could not find exact model and it seems like there is a wide range in prices.

[Evil Quint]

Thanks for the reply, I think its in pretty good shape. I am new to this so here is an attempt at posting a pic to give you an idea of quality.

[mrdd]

Looks like it has been modified. No grip safety.

[komifornian]

After analyzing the picture carefully I'm confident that it's worth $679.50

[Evil Quint]

Thansk so far for the responses. I believe there is a grip safety. There is a pin at the bottom of the gun that appears to lock the grip safety. If you slide the pin the grip safety releases. I don't know if that was modified or if that was just how it was in 1968.

[Peter.Steele]

Thansk so far for the responses. I believe there is a grip safety. There is a pin at the bottom of the gun that appears to lock the grip safety. If you slide the pin the grip safety releases. I don't know if that was modified or if that was just how it was in 1968.

There may be a grip safety there, of sorts, but it's not the one that came with the gun.

You should have separate pieces there - a grip safety at the top, and a mainspring cover at the bottom.

[trob]

Needs a factory grip safety... Other than that, it looks good.

[r3dn3ck]

It has one.. it looks like a primitive beavertail pin-on bit. In any case, nice example. Treat it good and shoot the hell out of it. I won't go into value since I am convinced 1911 prices are retarded in the extreme lately and it's mostly because of the me-too-ers IMO.

[Evil Quint]

Interesting. I am at work but I can post some better pics tonight on the grip area. Is there any other areas I should post photos? Let me know so I can take a pic of that also.

[mrdd]

It looks like it has a mainspring housing that replaces the grip safety with a beavertail.

[Peter.Steele]

It looks like it has a mainspring housing that replaces the grip safety with a beavertail.

You know what, looking at it more ... I can't tell if that's just a cover that's over the MSH and the GS, or if it's an MSH that extends up and holds down the GS. If you look in the gap between the back of the ... whatever it is and the frame of the weapon, you can see a little line, right about where the bottom of the GS should be. I can't tell exactly, though, if this is something glued on (or w/e) to the back of the MSH, or if it's a whole separate and new MSH in and of itself.

[foxtrotuniformlima]

I'd insure it for $ 1200.

[Evil Quint]

I looked at it further and it appears the entire back is a safety not just a full cover for the original safety. You can see from the pictures there is a slide button/rod at the bottom that lets you have the grip safety open or shut depending on its position. I tried to take a bottom view picture but on the bottom the pin mechanism has a logo on it with the words "CARAVILEE ARMS" and "DOUBLE ACE". Any thoughts on this?

Grip open:


Grip closed:


Bottom View:

[mrdd]

Here, look at the bottom of the page:

http://www.m1911.org/seecamp.htm

In any case, I don't suppose you have the original parts?

[Oceanbob]

It has an aftermarket cocking mechanism by Caravelle Arms. My advise is to remove it and install the normal mainspring housing and grip safety.

The weapon would be worth $1000 to 1200 in clean stock form.

http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-162107.html