Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

Singer 1911a1

jcwelch111
I had a guy tell me about a 1911a1 from the early '40s that he had aquired from someone who apparently didn't know what they had. He said it was made by Singer and is in excellent shape with barrel, slide and frame all matching numbers and also supposedly with the original mag. He claims its worth several thousand dollars and I was wondering if it is authentic and I could get it for around 18000 if it would be a good deal. I've done a little poking around being the 1911 enthusiast that I am and it seems that this would be a good deal if it is authentic. Any comments?
0

Comments

8 comments

Date Votes
  • rufe-snow
    If it's the real McCoy $1,800 wold be a good deal, not $18,000 what it probably be truly worth. Got to be careful though, these are so valuable to collectors a bunch have been faked. Make sure this guy isn't setting you up as a chump, with some shadetree gunsmiths basement project. Sometimes when a deal looks to good to be true, it really is.
    0
  • JudgeColt
    In that price range, a mistake can be costly. Whether the price is market or not depends on condition. The price may be over or under market, depending on condition. With only 500 made, Singer guns are very rare, but there are fakes so be careful.

    The "numbers matching" statement concerns me since I do not think Singer guns had numbered parts. According to Clawson, the barrels are not marked, and I infer that the slides are not either.
    0
  • jcwelch111
    What would a man look for to authenticate this pistol?
    0
  • Hawk Carse
    Singer 1911A1s are marked
    S. MFG. CO.
    ELIZABETH, N.J.,U.S.A.
    on the left side of the slide.
    Serial numbers run from No S800001 to S800500

    Collectors say they are very rare, 500 made and only 2000 survived the war. There are numerous fakes.

    1911A1s are not "matching numbered" on multiple parts except for Colts in the late 1930s and 1940s which have the serial number under the firing pin stop as well as on the frame.

    A nice Singer is worth much more than $18,000. A fake is worth nothing. Be sure you can tell the difference, which I would not count on learning over the internet. Maybe if you could get some pictures and post here and on http://forum.m1911.org/forumdisplay.php?f=81
    http://forums.1911forum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=30

    I would still not bet invest that much without expert in person support.
    0
  • Radar
    Maybe if i found it in a crashed B 17,i think they were all issued to Aircrew.
    0
  • jcwelch111
    10-4 sir. Thanks for the info. Time to lay eyes and a camera on this thing.
    0
  • o b juan
    I had a guy in a chl class that brought his dads gun from WW2 (he was a pilot on a bomber) over germany and he had the whole package, the meds the little flag the gold coins the whole shebang and when I looked at the 45 I almost fell over it was a singer that looke like it had never been fired. Begged him not to0 shoot it and told him he could use my 45.. He didnt care what it was worth.. it was his dads and he was gonna shoot it to0 qualify.. His dad had died about a year or so before ,, I guess I understand...
    0
  • nmyers
    For starters:

    Buy a copy of "Collector's Guide to Colt .45 Service Pistols" (the big book) by Charles W. Clawson.

    Check out photos on
    http://www.coolgunsite.com/

    Neal
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity