A military USGI 1943 M1911A1 was originally parkerized, so it couldn't be re-blued. Of course it has been refinished, if blue now, and if in the correct configuration, it would be a M1911A1, and not a M1911.

Without pictures, a value would be like getting a haircut on the phone.

 

Thanks for the reply, can you recommend a good internet barber?

I figured that there may not be enough info, but that's all I have, plus I don't know enough about 1911's to know correct model designations.

All I know is that it was supposedly made in 1943, it was re-blued (and it definitely was a nice, smooth deep blue), and that I saw it fire approximately 30 rounds without a hiccup.

I have no idea if $350 is a fair price, $850, or $1250 or _____ .

 

I figured that there may not be enough info...

There you go....

 

I will take the contrary view. It has been refinished. It is now a shooter.Depending on the wear of the parts, it is worth 200 to 600. If it was never fired it might be worth 700$. It has been fired, so it would be worth up to 500 if not very worn. Refinish kills value.

 

.... and what if all the parts have been swapped around ?????? Add the re-finish in blue..... all the more reason for pictures.

 

If his asking price is $450.00 or less, you could consider buying it. It's got to be worth that for the shooter value alone. After all, what would a current issue used 1911 such as a Springfield Armory, Kimber or some other clone go for? Lots of these old Colts have had some degree of custom work done to them so a refinish shouldn't be a deal breaker. What is your reason for buying it? If you want to shoot it, then a refinished Colt at a fair price could be the way to go. If on the other hand, you want to put it away somewhere and watch it become more valuable to some future buyer, then maybe it isn't.

 

Collectibility is gone, so it is simply a used Colt .45 Auto. Whether it's still correct or not means nothing so pictures are probably of little value anyway. The going rate for a used Colt .45 Auto, be it a refinished 1943 or a Series 80 1991 is about $450-$500 these days.

 

I have followed with interest the comments on price provided by dsk, ak ray, gunfish, and old canuck. May I make a suggestion that might make such estimates more meaningful to the questioner? This would be for the responder to give a brief summary on their basis for providing their estimate. This is done on occasion by a clarifying statement such as " The 30th edition of the BLUE BOOK OF GUN Values shows a 95% gun at $xx" or " GUN SELLERS web sight show one for sale at $xx." A useful clarification might read " I go to several central Texas gun shows per month and a 1911A1 with a RR frame and upper even if reblued is above $800 table price asking." This gives the questioner a regional perspective, time frame and where the pricing is taking place. The questioner can then determine how much , if any of this information is applicaple to his status. With out this information the questioner does not know if the responder has just bought and/or sold several similar guns in his region recently or is basing his estimate on the 1969 issue of GUN DIGEST.
The thoughts and comments of others is always welcome . D

 

I understand what you're saying, but my experience (and possibly that of the others here as well) is that the various price guides bear little resemblance to actual reality. They're much like the Kelly Blue Book values for cars. Great for insurance companies trying to decide how much your totalled vehicle is worth, but way off when it comes to the actual replacement cost of an identical vehicle. Had I been able to purchase guns at the prices shown in the Blue Book of Gun Values my collection would've been double what it is now. The other problem is if you look up a 1943 Colt in the book it'll only list 90% percent condition, 70 percent, et cetera. There is no allowance for incorrect parts or a refinish. To a collector a pistol that has been refinished is 0% condition, just so you know. Therefore the only realistic answer I can give the OP is to tell him what I would expect his pistol to actually sell for if I saw it on a gunshow vendor's table, based on what I know similar pistols are selling for in various conditions. I recently sold a '43 Colt in 99% condition for $2200. I've seen plenty of others for sale as well, and I can tell you there are enough out there that one that's been refinished will be passed over unless it's a screaming deal to another person who just wants one that he can take out and shoot without worrying about ruining a pricey collectible. His other options will be a new Springfield GI or RIA, or a used Colt 1991 therefore it has to be priced accordingly.

 

I'd like to have pile of 1911's as the OP has described for $450-$500.

 

I fear I did not describe well what I hope other responders will do when suggesting the value of a gun. My wish is that the responder will provide supporting information to document how the suggested price was arrived at. By doing so the questioner can evaluate how applicable the suggested price is. IF the responder says the suggested price was taken from the Blue Book of Gunvalues and the questioner does not think this a reliable source he can discard it from the information base he is trying to construct. The more information as to location, currency and frequency the more likely it will match the perceived ideal data base. Perhaps a comparson of two responces will illustrate the point. Responder " A " replies to a questioner " I am a collector of Savage Model 1907 .32 ACP hand guns with Canadian Military acceptance marks similar to the one you have asked about and I have bought three at gunshows in Western part of Washington state in the past year. I have paid from $200 to $250 for guns in 85% to 90% condition." Now if the same responder had replied only " it is worth about $200 to $250" the questioner would have gotton the same price but not the supporting data. My plea is let the questionor know where you are coming from so he can better evaluate your responce. D