Pre War Target Grips for M1911 . Help ID / Value
I just bought a Colt M1911 that was made in 1917. The grips on it are "target grips" made out of bakelite. That was a synthetic plastic used before WWII. These have a nice oak leaf pattern on them. And they are marked with the following on the underside of the right grip: AUTO / POINTER / 22 - 909 - 45. They are in excellent condition with no chips, nicks or cracks. Can anyone tell me more about them ? Who made them ? When they were made ? . Any current value for the grips ?
Here's are some photos . I hope.
Thanks in advance for your response.
jfc
Here's are some photos . I hope.
Thanks in advance for your response.
jfc
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I've never seen them before, but it's unlikely that they have any value. Aftermarket replacement grips for pistols have been around for a couple of hundred years.
What you SHOULD be asking is: "Where can I get a set of original wood grips for my M1911?" You have a desireable gun whose value & appearance would be greatly enhanced with the correct grips.
Neal0 -
With all due respect to nmeyers, I think those are a neat old set of grips; I have never seen any like that before. And anything neat and old, and in good shape, may have some value to the right buyer. Bakelite was in use, I think, for many years after your gun was made, so the vintage of the grips themselves is an interesting question. Hopefully, someone will have better information.
redcedars0 -
[:)] nice pistol
seems like i seen those before[;)]
good luck & enjoy0 -
I agree.....those are neat looking grips, and probably do have some value.
If you want a pair of "original" diamond M1911 grips, Sarco makes some nice reproductions for $12.95: http://www.sarcoinc.com/1911grip.html0 -
I just sold a 1934 production Colt Official Police 6-inch with thumb-rest grips just like that. They were common aftermarket grips in the 1940's and 1950's. To a period collector, they would have some value, but I have no idea how much. Whatever the market will bear. 0 -
I could see a collector paying $125 if they REALLY wanted the grip. Maybe more.
Bakelite jewelry sells for fantastic prices.
I'll be springing $60 for Chip McCormick slim wood grips eventually, and they are not antique.
It is a gorgeous gun. It is surprising how closely my Colt, a few months old, resembles it.0 -
Anyone take a look at the front sight? 0 -
They look like the Franzite produced grips of the middle fifties, old Stoeger catalogs had them at about $7.50 as I recall, 0 -
Bakelite is a brand name of phenolic resin developed in the first part of last century for molding various products. Are you sure the stocks shown are really Bakelite? (The pictures certainly look like it.)
I do not think they are "Franzite" stocks, which were made of plastic in the 1950s. (I think the original Franzite guy, or a successor, is trying to sell new old stock Franzite stocks on that big auction site.)
I believe the stocks would have some significant value for a Pre-War target gun collector. The way to find out their value is to list them on that big auction site with a proper heading that will reveal the information that will attract the right buyer group.
Before selling the stocks, I would consider that they apparently have been with this old war horse for a long time, and the gun looks to have wear patterns around the stocks that would show badly if the stocks were removed and correct stocks were substituted. Would it be worth $50-$100 to reveal the wear patterns that could not then be hidden? It might be better to keep it as it apparenly has been for a long time, and just enjoy it for what it is, a poor (very poor!) man's National Match. (Are there any other "target" modifications, like slide tightening, etc.?)
The incorrect later ramp front sight leads me to believe that someone tried to modify the sights to be better target sights. Perhaps the rear sight has a replaced or at least modified as well. It is impossible to determine from the picture, but the rear sight should have a "U" notch, not a square one. I cannot determine the serial number range from the pictures since most of it is under the stock panel, but the pistol is clearly a M1911-style pistol so should not have the sights (at least the front) pictured.
Still, this is a neat old gun that I think deserves to survive intact.0 -
I looked through old Shooter's Bibles back to 1939 and did not find them. Definitely not Franzite grips.
redcedars0 -
I don't know what brand they are,but I like them.
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ATF.Eagle Guns0 -
I agree with the Judge!!I'd keep them with the gun. They appear to be a period accessory, and fit the gun. I think they look cool.
Gun control is a steady hand0
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