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old 1911

diver1diver1 Member Posts: 502 ✭✭
edited June 2002 in Ask the Experts
Would you mind telling me what the price range is for an old 1911?
I want a shooter not a collectors piece. The numbers don't have to match, and is a gun show my best option?I look at guns here but mostly
they look new. Is there a web page for older guns out there? thanks
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  • diver1diver1 Member Posts: 502 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Would you mind telling me what the price range is for an old 1911?
    I want a shooter not a collectors piece. The numbers don't have to match, and is a gun show my best option?I look at guns here but mostly
    they look new. Is there a web page for older guns out there? thanks
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  • diver1diver1 Member Posts: 502 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I just picked up an old Colt 1911, serial #82741 on the right side of the frame, nowhere else on the gun. It has four patent dates on the left side of the slide, the most recent being Feb. 14, 1911, so I assume it was built befor the last patent date of 1913, am I right? This gun has a laynard ring on the bottem of the mainspring housing, and one on the bottom of the original magazine. I'm supposed to get the original grips tomorrow, I would estimate it to be a 60-65% condition, it has no military markings, and I have the original barrel, although it's pretty shot out. My questions, when was it built, and without photos(it's late and I'll post some later) does it have much collector value? Perry Shooter this is right up your alley.
    Thanks in advance.
    W.D.
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  • mballaimballai Member Posts: 1,280 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I assume you want a Colt. Series 70 guns are pricey (mine was over $500 and that was years ago) and I'm not a fan of the 80 series. Your best bet is to look for a decent used 1911 by Colt, Springfield Armory or Kimber. Depending on the condition, the seller and any specific features, you might expect to pay around $450-500 (and up) for a decent used gun. The good news is it can last you a lifetime and you might never need to have any work on it depending on your preferences.

    Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead
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  • XracerXracer Member Posts: 1,990 ✭
    edited November -1
    The best bargain in a 1911 are the arsenal refurbished Argentine Systema 1927s.

    These are license-built Colt M1911a1's built in Argentina on Colt machinery...and are every bit as nice as Hartford built prewar commercial Colts.

    They sell for around $300.
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  • JudgeColtJudgeColt Member Posts: 1,790 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    This is kind of asking "How high is up?" What do you classify as an "old" M1911? One made in 1911? One made in 1920? 1930? 1970? You can buy butchered, near junk M1911-style pistols for $200 or less, or spend five figures for some of the rarer versions.

    If all you want is a shooter, why consider the most pricey category of M1911 pistols? Generally the older the M1911, the more costly, with some rare exceptions.

    If you want a shooter, there are many for sale on these boards, many over-priced, but the occasional bargain. You can buy new clones for less than most original Colt or military pistols.
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  • MyjackMyjack Member Posts: 86 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Xracer might be a little over zealous on the Argentine Colts on his statement:
    "The best bargain in a 1911 are the arsenal refurbished Argentine Systema 1927s.
    These are license-built Colt M1911a1's built in Argentina on Colt machinery...and are every bit as nice as Hartford built prewar commercial Colts.
    They sell for around $300."
    If that was true, there wouldn't be so darn many available and their owners wouldn't be selling them. Sure they are CHEAP but lacking in accuracy and most need help to feed and run reliably. In my experience, most happy Argentine owners either just bought it or are trying to sell it to some other prospective "happy owner"
    For the relatively small difference in cost, I'd save a few more weeks and get a piece I will want to keep, and out shoot every Argentine around.
    Colt, Kimber, Wilson, and then a tight (relatively) Springfield Armory .45
    And I'm not terribly fond of the Springfields - at least till the next choice is an Argentine.
    Happy hunting!
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  • diver1diver1 Member Posts: 502 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks for the help. I had a Balester Molina several years ago. I was told they were made from steel from the GRAF SPREE. Sorry about the spelling and thanks again. Vince
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  • XracerXracer Member Posts: 1,990 ✭
    edited November -1
    Diver1....that sounds like an old wives tale.

    The Ballester Molina was manufactured in Argentina....the Graf Spee went down in the Rio del Plate estuary in Uruguay.
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