To refinish or not

[littlejake]

I just picked up a 1911 Colt made in late 1918 to early 1919. Model of the US Army. Mechanically good and appears correct in all respects. The finish was "Army Black" -- not known for its endurance. Most of the finish is gone.. perhaps 60% bare metal. Still a nice example of the 1911.

Do I leave the Colt as is .. or should I try to find someone who could restore the Black finish???

Any ideas on who could do a black refinish?

THX

[usmcchet9296]

Unless its total toast id leave it
as soon as you refinish it you ruin its value and history

[Spiggy]

there's a certain point for any type of antiquity where the damage from time and use actually adds value to the item.

[Jarhead]

+1 on leave it alone

[wksun88]

post a pic, I bet the wear looks nice... gives it character

[uxo2]

Sell it and get yourself a gun you can BUBBA all you want.

[bombadillo]

Don't Do It!!!

[Astig Boy]

DON'T DO IT! Check out most 1911s of that era that are refinished, their resell value is LESS compared to ones with the original worn 60% finish.

[drawn]

This common question could use a flow chart. A few first questions leading to packing it in cosmoline MIL-C-11796C and into the safety deposit box it gos. The next few leaving it as it is and shooting vs not shooting. A few for restoring it traditionally and the final few for complete finish update. Refinishing a firearm doesn't destroy it's history, it adds to it. Collectors are eccentric is as eccentric does. The deviation could in the future make circa 1950 plated color guard specimens or circa 2012 Armory Airbrush refinishes worth more than any other in circa 2112.
This specimen was horribly plated in the 50's, won in a poker game in 1973 Vietnam, refinished by Armory Airbrush last year. The owner considers it priceless and shoots it a few times a year.


If your not a collector or gambler get rid of it to someone who is or refinish it to make yourself happy and in your own eccentricity own a priceless firearm.

[El Gato]

there's a certain point for any type of antiquity where the damage from time and use actually adds value to the item.

+1
leave it as is... unless someone else nickeled it or something back in the 60's when they were cheap...
if it has NO bluing and yet is original... keep it as is...it will definately keep it's value...if only it could talk...where has it been...
if the finish was 100% in factory original condition... it would have been nowhere...is that rust... or blood... american blood shed for our freedom? makes me tear up it does at just the thought...

[Milsurp Collector]

Post pictures at http://forum.m1911.org/forumdisplay.php?f=81 and
http://forums.1911forum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=30 and get opinions.

You can do whatever you want with your pistol, including powder-coating it pink. However, as others have stated, a civilian refinish will destroy its collector value. It will still have value as a shooter, but not as a collector piece. Exception is if there is little or no (0-20%) original finish left, then it already will be of little interest to collectors, so refinishing won't hurt its value.

Keeping a 40% original finish 1911 unmolested will maintain its collector value. However, if you just can't stand the way it looks, you could sell it to someone who appreciates it as it is and get a nicer-looking one. Or, if you decide to refinish it anyway, there were two guys who do first-class restorations, Bill Adair and Doug Turnbull. Mr. Adair passed away recently, but Doug Turnbull can be contacted at http://www.turnbullrestoration.com/store.asp?pid=20180

[RECCE556]

Bill Adair's will be sorely missed. He was a great guy to talk to about 1911's. I had my 1942 USGI M1911A1 restored by him just before he passed away. He even told me on the phone that mine would "one of the last ones" that he was going to be working on...man, when I received it, I was both happy and sad at the same time. He also sold me (for cheap) a mint, period correct holster for my gun so it would be "complete". He was a true craftsman and one of the best at his art.

To the OP: Leave it alone. The only reason why I had my 1942 restored was because it was previously POORLY refinished (by someone other than the military). 1918/1919 M1911's are NOT "shooters" IMO. Pack it in grease and stick it in the safe, it'll only gain value. If you plan on refinishing it, just sell it and buy a modern day 1911 and hack the sh*t outta that instead.

[tankerman]

Leave it alone. If you have to mess with something, buy a piece of junk like one of those Rock River Phillipino made 1911's.

Sell it rather than ruining it....and whatever you do please ignore the ruined camo gun a few posts up.