Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

Colt Govt - Value & Age

bluegoose1989
I have an older M1911 that has a fair degree of blue wearing, some nicks in the metal and some apparent holster wear. The gun's serial number is 282X - it has a "Kensight" front sighting system and sports Pachmayr signature grips. I'm more interested in an approx. age determination than valuation - thanks.
0

Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • nmyers
    The frame was made in 1912 & originally had a Navy-marked slide. We'd need to see photos in order to tell you any more about it. Guns made in the first year like yours are highly sought after, but value depends upon how many parts have been replaced & how badly mutilated it is.

    Neal
    0
  • bluegoose1989
    A couple of months ago, a friend told me that the gun may have been "accurized," for what that's worth. It does appear to lock up tight and have limited play. I located a couple of other numbers on it. At the front/business end of the gun - just above the bushing assembly - is the #7267718, underneath of which are the letters N and M - spaced apart. NM 7790429 appears on the barrel itself - at the ejection port - followed by Colt's Pt. F.A. Mfg. Co. The blueing on the slide assembly appears different than that on the frame. The left side of the barrel is inscribed with Government Model Colt Automatic Caliber 45 and the right side with Colt's M__(missing letters) Hartford CT USA. It's by no means beat to death, but does have some scrapes and is missing blueing.
    0
  • perry shooter
    Hello Blue the frame of your gun could be a pre WW1 military model or pre WW1 civ. model IT could also be a PRE WW2 38 super or PRE WW2 ACE . However it could also be a non colt frame as you state it is MIS MATCHED in finish to the slide. We would need you to look for any lettering or PROOF marks on frame and slide pictures would be great of top of frame with slide removed .As far as the national match parts these of cours are replacement parts and the Ken Sights date to most likely the late 1960's . This would KILL the collector interest in your pistol .Even if this gun was all correct as it left the military armory shop it would be of interest to a very small group of people SORRY . NOOOO BODY 40 years ago thought about a 1911 being collectable . "PRAISE THE HARD-BALL GUN".Please read the next post IMHO many of these pistols depending on who put the parts together shot "BETTER" then a factory Gold Cup.
    0
  • Herschel
    In the 1960's and 1970's bullseye shooting was still the primary pistol shooting sport. Those who couldn't afford a Gold Cup could have a similar gun made up using whatever kind of 1911/1911A1 frame that could be obtained at reasonable cost. I have a 1911A1 hardball gun that I had made in 1970 from an Argentine 1927 frame. The barrel, slide and most other parts are Colt. Serial number is 48377 and all the Colt parts could easily lead a person to think it was a Colt pistol.
    0
  • bluegoose1989
    I appreciate the information, even though the pistol seems to be a "mutt" of sorts and definitely not purebred. Interesting to know the possible history behind the big 'ole beast.
    0
  • nmyers
    It's like going to the dog pound & asking the pedigree of a certain dog: all they're going to be able to do is tell you it looks part cocker spaniel & part rottweiler.

    We can't even do that much unless you post photos of your gun. The best we can do is tell you that you have a Mixed Parts Mongrel.

    Neal
    0
  • bluegoose1989
    I'm going to attempt to throw a few pictures of the pistol in here, to give the 1911 gurus a better idea of what it looks like.

    [url][/url]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d14/bluegoose1989/MVC-005S.jpg

    [url][/url]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d14/bluegoose1989/MVC-006S.jpg

    [url][/url]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d14/bluegoose1989/MVC-008S.jpg
    0
  • nmyers
    Not much help. We need close-ups that show specks of fly s--t.

    Neal

    colt_1945_slide_left.jpg
    0
  • perry shooter
    Hello the frame I believe is something else but colt I also dont believe it is an Argentine frame their serial was large format tilted scrip the front and rear sight do look like what gunsmiths were useing in the late 50's and 60's on their match bullseye guns the ken sight was the government contract sight for 1968 and if it had a small u.s. onthe side od the sight it was built at the springfiel armory a large U.S. and it was built at rock island armory.....no marking on the side and more then likely some gun smith put it together ....I bet it will shoot shoud have nm7791414 on the barrel and posibly serial of frame also slide should have serial of frame might be behind the fireing pin retainer.
    0
  • nmyers
    Perry Shooter is right; it can't possibly be a M1911 frame, as it has the scallops for the trigger finger at the rear of the trigger guard, which didn't appear until WWII.

    During the 1960s & 1970s, there were a bunch of frames made by 3rd world countries available for sale to those who wanted to build their own guns. I would guess that's the origin of yours.

    Neal
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity