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11 comments

Date Votes
  • NOAH
    imho i would rate it at 75-80%quote:Originally posted by Knifecollector
    Just curious, what would you grade this Colt at?
    I'm looking for a percentage number.
    http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=254139323
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  • Grasshopper
    Finish wear,,,35%,left,,,,I will let the Colt guys chime in on the other things..imo
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  • nmyers
    This is a great example of why grading is so subjective, & why photos have made the old NRA grading system obsolete.

    Grading should be "percent of original finish remaining". On the Colt 1911, the original finish was a dark blue-black on a highly polished surface. While the gun shown has a fair amount of blue remaining, it has been so abraded that I don't see any places where it can be called "original". If I added together all the places that have "traces of original blue", I would call it a 10% finish gun.

    And, of course, a buyer & a seller will usually see it far differently.

    Neal
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  • perry shooter
    This is one of the best examples of why it is so hard to grade a firearm the first three post with answers that are that different. All of these people are knowledgeable yet look at this item through different eyes. The 1911 of this vintage had one of the least durable finish of any produced. To say this has 95% original finish is like saying I am the most handsome man in my town.LOL There must be some ugly people living around me. The pistol does not look pitted but it also has VERY LITTLE FINISH. 95% is IMHO FAR from the truth of what I would expect.WOW[:0]
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  • nononsense
    Knifecollector,

    I was waiting for Perry Shooter and Neil to jump in here as they pay more attention to these details than I do. However...

    I did take some time to look at the description and all of the photographs. Several thoughts occur:

    The photographic coverage is superb for all of those folks wishing to see every detail before considering a purchase. One of the few folks that I see who puts this effort into pictures is Locust Fork and I admire her attention to the details. She isn't alone, I'm sure but I don't have the time to look at all the member's auctions let alone all the auctions that interest me.

    My assessment of the condition closely follows Neil's with regard to the 'original finish'. This is where I think the seller if off. But the difference might be where he has taken the physical condition of the pistol into account. I looked at the lettering especially and it's in very good condition as are most of the parts for rest of the pistol. Maybe this is the twist to the assessment?

    I see no reason not to query the seller in a positive manner to get his take on this condition question. I wouldn't attack his credibility but the question has merit for all of us who see things as being slightly different.

    Best.
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  • Knifecollector
    I agree with nmyers 100%. A numerical grade should be the amount of original finish remaining. I had given it a 10% before I made the post. On an older Colt or Winchester theres quite a few dollars between a 10% gun and a 95% gun. I just happened along on that auction this morning and thought it would be a good example to grade.
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  • slumlord44
    I am far from a 1911 expert but this gun is nowhere 95%.
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  • tsr1965
    The seller has done a great job with the pictures in that auction. Albeit, I believe he is at least a bit optimistic with his grading, and price, and even overall condition.

    A near mint, 93 year old gun should look near mint, not like a 95 year old gun that has been in a holster fr a trip around the globe 3 times. Although it appears mechanically sound, at its very best, has 10-20% of it's original finish, and overall condition is about 30%

    Best
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  • Hawk Carse
    Everybody seems to live by Blue Book Percentages and debate endlessly over 92 vs 93% finish. Or 10% vs 20% in this case.

    My eye is not that keen but this one sure looks like the old advertisement "10% original blue in protected areas."
    It would run from NRA Antique Very Good to an optimistic Fine.

    If the grips are original, it had very little use in spite of the departed finish and I would be proud to own it as an example of the type. But not at a 95% price.
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  • kimi
    15 to 20 percent.
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  • Herschel
    If the entire pistol had the percentage of bluing left as the trigger has, I would call it a 90%-95% gun. As shown in the excellent photos I would call it 10%-20%.
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