Colt 1911

[Pyscodog]

Not being much of a pistol guy, I have a question. A friend acquired a very old Colt 1911. Mechanically its fine but there isn't much blueing left on it. I have heard that if the pistol is sent in to Colt, they can refinish it and it won't effect the value. Is this true or should he just leave it alone? Also, the previous owner has passed and he bought the pistol from the widow. Under the grips the owner had his name engraved. Is there any problem there? He said he might ask the widow for a bill of sale just to be safe.

 

[DirtySteve]

I would check on a Colt Collectors Forum.. I would lean toward leaving it as is..

 

[1911nut]

Very old. I wouldn’t refinish it. Prevent any future rust.

 

[hpshooter]

Very old. I wouldn’t refinish it. Prevent any future rust.

If it is very old and a commercial model you would be hard pressed to duplicate the original Colt high polish Carbona blue without spending a lot of money with someone like Doug Turnbull..

Generally you are ahead to leave it as is. As mentioned above, do some research on the Colt collectors or 1911 forum or see if you can still get a documentation from the Cody museum. If it turns out to be a rare or special order piece the situation could change. Could turn out like a top grade car or motorcycle restoration. You have 5 time the money invested than it would sell for. And, if the work isn't done exactly correct, the value falls like a rock.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I dont think id send it to colt seeing the stuff they put out these days. I wouldnt touch it if it turns out to be valuable. One little slip and its a kimber to collectors.

 

[Tom Baker]

Not being much of a pistol guy, I have a question. A friend acquired a very old Colt 1911. Mechanically its fine but there isn't much blueing left on it. I have heard that if the pistol is sent in to Colt, they can refinish it and it won't effect the value. Is this true or should he just leave it alone? Also, the previous owner has passed and he bought the pistol from the widow. Under the grips the owner had his name engraved. Is there any problem there? He said he might ask the widow for a bill of sale just to be safe.

If it were mine, I wouldn't touch it, as far as refinishing, by anyone. The name under the stocks won't hurt a thing.

 

[mike711]

I agree with all the above in not doing anything until your friend figures out what he has. Try the links below to figure out how old is "very old".

Colt's Manufacturing LLC
ProofHouse.com

For help in determining originality and collector status, I would recommend visiting here:

Colt Semiauto Pistols | Colt Forum

A lot of the folks there have decades of experience and will tell you the truth. As a forewarning, they will ask for clear, close up pictures of every stamp you can find. Good luck to you and your friend.

 

[Ggmac]

Leave it alone . Did you ever watch the Antique Road Show , well it usually ends like this - This centuries old fine ( fill in the item ) would of been worth a small fortune, but unfortunately someone restored it and its value now is about $100 .
An bad example but the message is the same . Its only new once .

 

[Knotwild]

I agree with all the above in not doing anything until your friend figures out what he has. Try the links below to figure out how old is "very old".

Colt's Manufacturing LLC
ProofHouse.com

For help in determining originality and collector status, I would recommend visiting here:

Colt Semiauto Pistols | Colt Forum

A lot of the folks there have decades of experience and will tell you the truth. As a forewarning, they will ask for clear, close up pictures of every stamp you can find. Good luck to you and your friend.

The guy in the link below was very helpful to me. I already identified what I had, but needed an estimate on value, so I paid a $10 donation (on my own to let him know I appreciated his time) and he gave me his opinion. He also has a for sale section too.

Sam Lisker Colt Autos

 

[Liven The Dream]

If you re-Finish ! The Value is done ...

Note : I had a 4 digit Serial # 1911 Years ago .
CADA Gun Show it Pulled $3000 Cash.

 

[Edd]

Not being much of a pistol guy, I have a question. A friend acquired a very old Colt 1911. Mechanically its fine but there isn't much blueing left on it. I have heard that if the pistol is sent in to Colt, they can refinish it and it won't effect the value. Is this true or should he just leave it alone? Also, the previous owner has passed and he bought the pistol from the widow. Under the grips the owner had his name engraved. Is there any problem there? He said he might ask the widow for a bill of sale just to be safe.

There are so many variables on those, you need research the history of the gun before you decide what you want to do with it.

When someone says there isn't much blue left, it sometimes means there isn't any blue left. There were some of those that never got blued. They will bring a premium.

Even the name under the grip could have some significance. Normally a name engraved on something is a negative but sometimes it isn't. If it can be verified and says Frank Hamer, the value goes up.

 

[kendog]

When Colts quit working on Pythons and the like, around 5 or so years back, they recommended "The Custom Shop" in Hamilton Montana. I don't see them referenced on Colts website any more. I can tell you from a very painful experience you DO NOT want to use these people for anything. Johnny-come-lately carpetbaggers to the gun culture. Sent them a Python and they jacked it up good. Total phony's. I had a Officers Model Match .38 redone by a kid in gunsmith school in Susanville, CA back in 1979 that did a far superior job.
Sorry for the rant.

As far as your 1911, probably best to leave it alone.

 

[Pyscodog]

Like I was saying, I know VERY little about 1911's and/or Colt pistols. This one is pretty old, so I'm told. He got it from the widower really cheap and was told by a dealer that he stole it. We were talking about it and I told him I had heard Colt would refinish them and it not effect the value. Of course it was something I had heard somewhere in passing. Maybe his best bet would be to call Colt and see what they say. My advice and a quarter won't buy a cup of coffee.

 

[jds holler]

Were there 1911's that were Parkerized, instead of blued? I'm thinking maybe Gummint issue?

jd

 

[shortgrass]

Were there 1911's that were Parkerized, instead of blued? I'm thinking maybe Gummint issue?

jd

it'd be stamped, U.S. property, or Property of U.S. Army (or Navy)

 

[dryhumor]

Whatever it looks like, it took its whole life to get there. I wouldn’t touch it, just oil to prevent rust.
“As Found” condition is worth more to a collector more often than not.

 

[nicholst55]

Having Colt refinish it will be no different than having anyone else refinish it, as far as collector's value goes. Unless Colt really jacks it up, that is. Once it's refinished, it's just another old gun. As stated, it's only new (or original) once.