What would you do with this old Colt 1911?

[Dirtebiker]

First name "Joe"

Call me anything you want if your giving me a good deal on a 1911!

 

[churchmouse]

Mix master or not I am sure that gun or part of it has some history. Not many from that period are all original especially military pieces. They got ran through the parts bin a lot.

 

[palerider0485]

i wouldnt be afraid to shoot it, but i wouldnt refinish it. thats a nice colt, enjoy.

 

[BrinNutz]

You should sell it to moi, so it can hang in my bar!

 

[hoosierdaddy1976]

your gun, do as you see fit and don't feel bad. if it was mine, i'd figure that a 70 year old g.i. gun got the "been there, done that" look by actually being there and doing that.

 

[Trigger Time]

Pretty universal that I should appreciate the old finish. I'd still like to clean off the rust spots, but I'll take that heavily into consideration before rebluing.

Is $500-$600 still a fair value for an older shooter colt like this, or has that changed much in one direction or the other over the past few crazy years?

Damn I wish I could find one for that price with the govt property stamping. I wouldn't care about the finish. I'd leave it just like that. If there's a rust spot you can use some oil and 00 steel wool and slowly and lightly work it. It WILL take off metal so don't be too rough. That's all I'd do to the gun and I'd shoot it with pride!

 

[Bennettjh]

I would keep it the way it is and shoot it. That's a cool piece of history.

 

[JDvader]

Think of it this way....if you take a nice looking 1911 to the range and shoot it, no big deal, nobody will pay attention. You take a 70 year old 1911 with that patina on it, and everyone will notice. Not that you are trying to get attention, they are just uncommon.

 

[Sha]

Thanks for the responses, everyone. I'm sold on keeping the patina. I'm just going to work on cleaning it up some and working off that rust, then I'm going to get to shooting.

Does anyone have any insight on the "United States Government Property" marking being partly polished off? Was that something they did when selling these surplus after the war? There is also a second marking to the right of the serial that was polished off and they did a slightly better job there. I'm glad I can still see the first marking clearly.

 

[Sha]

Decided to take it into JM Gunsmithing because he lives in my neighborhood and I feel good about his work. I just asked him to check out the internals before I shoot it and might have him clean up the rust a bit for me. I've never used steel wool on a gun and I'm a little timid about butchering it.

 

[STEEL CORE]

It is your pistol, do as you wish, many G.I. .45's have had the property of the US Government marking removed for whatever reason. Once an armorer looks it over and you can shoot it, think about how the current finish will react to the elements. If it was in my collection and I was keeping it for a shooter, with the condition I see it in, I would have it re parked. If I found out it killed three Ameigo's during Black Jack Pershings 1916 run in with Mexican Banditos, it would have histric value.................oh wait, I do have one of those!

 

[AKMSU]

I would do what you have already done and stop. Do not refinish and enjoy the war horse as it is with all its character!

 

[12many]

I picked up this old Colt 1911 for a good deal. The serial number places the frame as made in 1943. The slide appears to maybe be from earlier and I can't find any other serial numbers or markings on slide, barrel, magazine, etc.

Markings on the left side of the slide say "Colt's PTFA MFG CO". Right side of the frame has "US Government Property" but it looks like it was partially polished off intentionally, like maybe it was sold as surplus?

I cleaned and greased it and everything moves and feels great. What would you do with this gun? I don't believe it will have much collector value so I'm thinking about having it refinished and making it a shooter. Any other ideas?

Thanks!
View attachment 30026 View attachment 30025

Love him, hug him, squeeze him and name him George, but please don't do anything to the greatest handgun ever made. OK maybe the insides and shoot it. And for what it's worth the old ones with that finish really do it for me, just sayin'...........

Classic Looney Tunes - YouTube

 

[Sha]

I finally took it into JM Gunsmithing (highly recommending for those on the south side). He did a full disassemble, thorough internal cleaning, and inspection. He gave me the go-ahead to shoot it so I'm going to hit the range next week. I'm planning on keeping the finish as-is and appreciating the history. Thanks all!

 

[juans]

Good luck. I own a Remington rand 1911 manufactured in 1945. The finish is about 98 %. I am looking for one ww2 era rebuilt to use it as a shooter.

good luck

juan

 

[Sha]

I'd love to buy this one, but I'm going to get in trouble with the wife if I buy any more guns right now:

ARMSLIST - For Sale: REMINGTON RAND 1911 45ACP

 

[FreeFAL]

I would enjoy it as is, as well, unless you want to refinish it or something. I certainly wouldn't upgrade it. That's tantamount to bubbafying a Garand in my book.