Need help with Colt M1911A1

[pantera52]

I recently inherited this Colt M1911A1 from my grandfather.
Some basic info (year mfg, value, modifications etc...) from any of you 1911 pro's out there would be much appreciated. I'd also like to know if it is smart to make this a "shooter" or if it's something fancy that shouldn't be shot on a regular basis.

Year mfg 1944
Serial # is 1155843 (from my research which could be wrong)

It seems to me that the trigger and grips have been modified from the original

"M1911A1 US Army" is stamped on the side

Two conversion units were also included (see photo). Any info on those would be appreciated as well.

If further pics are needed please let me know.

Thank you in advance for your insight.

[Andy Taylor]

The grips are Pachmeyer aftermarket and a trigger shoe has been added. Both are easy to correct to have the gun appear original. Simply remove the trigger shoe by the two screws holding it on. Grips are an easy swap. Correct grips are brown plastic and reproductions are not expensive.

According to www.proofhouse.com 1944 is correct, however it looks like that S/N belongs to a Remington Rand, not a Colt. Many times parts were swaped in the armorys.

Personally I would shoot it. Those Colt conversion kits are probably worth more than the gun itself.

[pantera52]

The grips are Pachmeyer aftermarket and a trigger shoe has been added. Both are easy to correct to have the gun appear original. Simply remove the trigger shoe by the two screws holding it on. Grips are an easy swap. Correct grips are brown plastic and reproductions are not expensive.

According to www.proofhouse.com 1944 is correct, however it looks like that S/N belongs to a Remington Rand, not a Colt. Many times parts were swaped in the armorys.

Personally I would shoot it. Those Colt conversion kits are probably worth more than the gun itself.

Ok that's awesome. Looking at the link you provided it seems to be a colt all around. Am I missing something? . If I were to sell one of the conversion kits what do you suggest I price it at?

[Andy Taylor]

The site is primarily for Colt. But during both world wars the US Government had various manufacturers make 1911/1911A1s because Colt was unable to meet the demand. In the chart on that site for the Colt 1911, in the fourth column, it states which manufacturer actually made that particular serial number range. Note also that we are talking about Remington Rand, the typewriter company, not Remington Arms/Union Metalic Cartridge Company, the firearms company.

A LGS in my area recently sold a vintage Colt .22 conversion for $800 with little trouble. Now when I said the kits could be worth more than the gun, I was refering to both kits, not just one of them. I would guess the gun is probably worth about $1000-$1200. If it was all Colt, or even all Remington Rand, it would likely be at least double that.
Good luck.

[beetle]

The second picture clearly shows it to have a GHD acceptance stamp. I think this would indicate it to be a Colt frame, not a Remington Rand. From your initial pics it looks like you have an original Colt slide on a original Colt frame.

I wouldn't shoot it just yet. From the pics it doesn't look like it's been refinished. If the rest of the gun is untouched you could easily return it back to original state and have a collector. That would put the value at several thousand ($2K or more).

but that's only if the gun is untouched. Can you post a pic of the right side so we can see if there is a re-arsenal stamp?

Alternatively, take it over to the USGI subforum of www.1911forum.com and the experts over there will tell you everything about your pistol.

[Curley Red]

My Colt 1911 made in 1919 is a regular shooter. If I had your grandfathers gun I would shoot it all the time, it is a gun not a piece of art. But do as you choose.

[one*eyed*jack]

I'm not an expert by any means. There is a 22 conversion in the "Private Firearms Parts and Accessories" forum. If all the parts for yours are pictured, they appear to be incomplete. I don't see any barrels or magazines, and only one set of the other parts. Looks like you have one incomplete conversion kit and an extra slide there to me. Nice pistol though.

Oops, looks like the barrels are in the slides, didn't notice that at first.

[pantera52]

I'm not an expert by any means. There is a 22 conversion in the "Private Firearms Parts and Accessories" forum. If all the parts for yours are pictured, they appear to be incomplete. I don't see any barrels or magazines, and only one set of the other parts. Looks like you have one incomplete conversion kit and an extra slide there to me. Nice pistol though.

Oops, looks like the barrels are in the slides, didn't notice that at first.

I didn't include the 16 mags that go with the kits. The barrels are in the slides still. I do only have one set of all the other parts thus far. I've still got some digging to do through my inheritance.
Thanks for reminding me to clarify.

[pantera52]

Thank you guys for all the info. I will post a pic of the other side this evening. Should I black out the s/n on the photo?

[pantera52]

.

Can you post a pic of the right side so we can see if there is a re-arsenal stamp?

I added the requested photo to the original post.

[beetle]

From what I see there is a lot to like about this pistol. Let's start with the positive things I see.

1) To my eye the pistol does not appear to be refinished. All of the edges are sharp. In addition, the markings a very clear, including the small markings on the trigger guard.

2) The color appears to be correct, more of a greenish hue. After-war parkerization typically has more of a grey color.

3) With the exception of the obviously changed parts, everything else looks to be proper. WW2 style slide stop lever, ramped front sight, etc.

4) The serial # indicates that it's a Colt produced gun made at the start of 1944.

5) GHD final inspection marking (Guy H Drewry) is the correct stamp for Colt made in that time period.

6) Hard to see, but Rampant Colt logo appears to be the correct one to match the timeframe of the frame ( They went to a more "chubby" looking horse in 1944).

7) No indiciation of a re-arsenal stamp anywhere (that's good)

8) Overall condition is very nice (with the exception of the changed parts). Still has lots of finish across the entire gun.


things I can't see the picture, but you can check:
1) Mainspring housing should be ribbed not checkered. There should be 7 vertical ribs.
2) Barrel should be blued, be marked "Colt 45 Auto" and have a P near the link.

Incorrect parts:

The two incorrect parts that are obvious are the stocks and the trigger. You can easily replace the pachymyr grips with correct "Coltwood" stocks. For a Colt it should have the large re-inforcing ring. Here is a correct set for your gun on gunbroker (I have no relation to the seller):

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=261624097

The second thing that needs correction is the trigger. not sure what is going with the trigger shoe, or if it is a original trigger underneath. Try removing it.

Provided that the other parts check out (barrel, etc), and if you can return it to original condition I would put value at between $1700-$1900.

Here is one similar to yours (a little later, 1944 model) that sold for $1900+17% commission = $2223. Notice the "plump" horse I was referring to earlier.



anyways, you have a nice pistol! I hope you can return it back to original ww2 as-issued status. cheers!

P.S. Most of my info comes from "The Collector's Guide to Colt .45 Service Pistols" by Charles Clawson. This is the book to get if you are into collecting 1911s.