1939 colt m1911al

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The_Multicam_Man

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So I’m just looking for options/info on the best way or place to sell a collectible pistol I’ve got. I’ve already contacted rock island auctions but they said they are very back up and it will take a while to get the ball rolling auctioning. It is a colt 1939 m1911a1 original bluing annd matching numbers only about 3600 were produced. And they were all sent to the us navy. I have seen others sold for around $19k. I would love to be able to find the person who has been searching for this pistol. I look forward to hearing your insights and opinions 188B573E-EDC3-4F7D-8B1A-D09A32710A04.jpeg

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Welcome. You’re looking for “insights and opinions” I’ll be honest - your pistol must be 100% original and have providence and documentation to prove its history to command high level pricing. Your pistol appears to not be original sights , grips and maybe other parts? It’s hard to tell , but it looks like a dovetail was cut and milled into that slide to change the rear sight. Does the other side of the slide have any markings ? Did you have this examined and valued by a professional ? Not to mention the CMP is now selling WW2 era pistols. A lot goes into it and I wish you the best of luck.
 
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OP, post what you posted above at 1911addicts.com and see what they say. Probably the same as what you are hearing here, but there’s a better chance of moving a pricey 1911 there.
 
BrettB said:
Welcome. You’re looking for “insights and opinions” I’ll be honest - your pistol must be 100% original and have providence and documentation to prove its history to command high level pricing. Your pistol appears to not be original sights , grips and maybe other parts? It’s hard to tell , but it looks like a dovetail was cut and milled into that slide to change the rear sight. Does the other side of the slide have any markings ? Did you have this examined and valued by a professional ? Not to mention the CMP is now selling WW2 era pistols. A lot goes into it and I wish you the best of luck.
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So you are spot on, the sights and grips are aftermarket, and also it has a slip on “bullseye” trigger. I did have this gun examined by three different experts in my area. They all Said this gun was made to be an bullseye gun. All of them said in our area we did not have the clientele to buy this gun. They all think that everything else is original to the pistol. Thank you very much for your reply.
 
BrettB said:
Welcome. You’re looking for “insights and opinions” I’ll be honest - your pistol must be 100% original and have providence and documentation to prove its history to command high level pricing. Your pistol appears to not be original sights , grips and maybe other parts? It’s hard to tell , but it looks like a dovetail was cut and milled into that slide to change the rear sight. Does the other side of the slide have any markings ? Did you have this examined and valued by a professional ? Not to mention the CMP is now selling WW2 era pistols. A lot goes into it and I wish you the best of
fieldgrade said:
OP, post what you posted above at 1911addicts.com and see what they say. Probably the same as what you are hearing here, but there’s a better chance of moving a pricey 1911 there.
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thanks you very much for your insight. It was comments like this that I was looking for. I did not know about 1911addicts. I will post there as well. I did not expect to sell/move it here on this site. Just trying to throw some lines in the water in the firearm community. Thought maybe someone knows someone, because this is a special piece of history.
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Would love to see more pics.
The other side, top, bottom, back, front. pics of it apart as well.
 
Ok just know that you asked for it! I’ve got all the pics of this pistol completely broken down. I just didn know if all those pictures would be welcomed here.

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I know very little about older 1911's, but love them. I sent the original pic to my buddy - he collects high-end 1911's, many from JACKTHEDOG.
 
Dan0311 said:
I know very little about older 1911's, but love them. I sent the original pic to my buddy - he collects high-end 1911's, many from JACKTHEDOG.
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Thank you so much. That is exactly what I was hoping for. I knew someone on here would know someone who has been looking for this. And just so anyone knows I will be flexible on price if I’m not going through an auction house because I will be saving thousands on auction fees.
 
Welcome!
I'd be curious what the other 1911 experts say. With CMP offering ww2 guns for about 1k, rock Island being overwhelmed with guns to auction, and the unoriginal state, I have no clue what the value will be
 
BlueGecko said:
Welcome!
I'd be curious what the other 1911 experts say. With CMP offering ww2 guns for about 1k, rock Island being overwhelmed with guns to auction, and the unoriginal state, I have no clue what the value will be
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So CMP offers from what I’m seeing “mix masters” from everything I’ve seen and been told by several experts this is not a mix, someone just put new sights on it possibly during the 60’s-70’s and made it into a “bullseye” pistol. and I put the new grips On it because the bullseye grips were horrible. I’m sure I won’t command top top value. But from the experts I talked with it would be on up there near top value.
 
The_Multicam_Man said:
So CMP offers from what I’m seeing “mix masters” from everything I’ve seen and been told by several experts this is not a mix, someone just put new sights on it possibly during the 60’s-70’s and made it into a “bullseye” pistol. and I put the new grips On it because the bullseye grips were horrible. I’m sure I won’t command top top value. But from the experts I talked with it would be on up there near top value.
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Well there you go.
 
The_Multicam_Man said:
So I’m just looking for options/info on the best way or place to sell a collectible pistol I’ve got. I’ve already contacted rock island auctions but they said they are very back up and it will take a while to get the ball rolling auctioning. It is a colt 1939 m1911a1 original bluing annd matching numbers only about 3600 were produced. And they were all sent to the us navy. I have seen others sold for around $19k. I would love to be able to find the person who has been searching for this pistol. I look forward to hearing your insights and opinions View attachment 719735

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The_Multicam_Man said:
So CMP offers from what I’m seeing “mix masters” from everything I’ve seen and been told by several experts this is not a mix, someone just put new sights on it possibly during the 60’s-70’s and made it into a “bullseye” pistol. and I put the new grips On it because the bullseye grips were horrible. I’m sure I won’t command top top value. But from the experts I talked with it would be on up there near top value.
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You really don't need advice from random forum members after consulting with experts. Your best value proposition is an auction house or nationwide venue like Gunbroker. It is extremely doubtful the rare buyer who would pay "near top value" for your pistol would happen to be on this forum.

Good luck!
 
gc70 said:
You really don't need advice from random forum members after consulting with experts. Your best value proposition is an auction house or nationwide venue like Gunbroker. It is extremely doubtful the rare buyer who would pay "near top value" for your pistol would happen to be on this forum.

Good luck!
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Well I’m just trying to throw some more lines out, because I would love to find someone that is looking for this pistol. Thank you for your insight.
 
A test auction on gunbroker would be interesting.
 
I’d pay the premium for a set of period correct grips, or at least good looking reproductions (to be disclosed of course).
I’d also replace the mag release screw. I assume that it’s the oldest screw on the gun, and it’s beat relative to all the others.
@John Travis may not opine on value, but he may have other useful thoughts.
Thanks for all the pics, I‘d be proud to own it. Can you tell us anything about it’s history? At the least, how did you acquire it? As they say, uy the gun, not the story, but we want to k ow the story anyway.

edit: I’d also pay for the letter from Colt.
 
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ronn47 said:
What did the 3 experts offer you for your 1911A1?
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Also, do you have a Colt letter for the pistol?
That would help a little knowing it's history.
 
The_Multicam_Man said:
Thank you so much. That is exactly what I was hoping for. I knew someone on here would know someone who has been looking for this. And just so anyone knows I will be flexible on price if I’m not going through an auction house because I will be saving thousands on auction fees.
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My buddy weighed in on he photos. He pointed out the obvious flaws; grips, trigger, sights, mag release screw. He said all can be sourced and replaced at an expense, except the frame. The sight modifications to the frame pretty much killed most of the (high) value of the firearm.
Still, to the right person who can't afford a correct 1939, they may pay a few grand for what you have. He's in the "correct" world (has a Singer and 3-digit 1911, etc.) and can't think of anyone that would be interested in yours, but will let me know.

It's really a nice piece, thanks for sharing.
 
ronn47 said:
What did the 3 experts offer you for your 1911A1?
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Dan0311 said:
My buddy weighed in on he photos. He pointed out the obvious flaws; grips, trigger, sights, mag release screw. He said all can be sourced and replaced at an expense, except the frame. The sight modifications to the frame pretty much killed most of the (high) value of the firearm.
Still, to the right person who can't afford a correct 1939, they may pay a few grand for what you have. He's in the "correct" world (has a Singer and 3-digit 1911, etc.) and can't think of anyone that would be interested in yours, but will let me know.

It's really a nice piece, thanks for sharing.
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Well that’s the info I was looking for but not hoping to get. How unfortunate that someone took such a collectible year and ultimately destroyed the value. At that price I would hold onto it. But when I saw that 1939’s were bringing such a high price tag that is what spiked my interest to seeking a collector who wanted to add it to their collection. Thank you so very much.
 
The_Multicam_Man said:
Well that’s the info I was looking for but not hoping to get. How unfortunate that someone took such a collectible year and ultimately destroyed the value. At that price I would hold onto it. But when I saw that 1939’s were bringing such a high price tag that is what spiked my interest to seeking a collector who wanted to add it to their collection. Thank you so very much.
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The_Multicam_Man said:
No I looked into getting the letter and they are over a year out.
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Remember 1911A1s after WWII when they started to surplus them were very common.
No one paid much attention to dates unless it was a 1911 WWI dated.
So turning an A1 into a bullseye gun was done a lot.

Join the Colt Collectors Club and then ask for a letter.
Adding your CCC # may help speed up the process a little, then again it may not.
 
The_Multicam_Man said:
Well that’s the info I was looking for but not hoping to get. How unfortunate that someone took such a collectible year and ultimately destroyed the value. At that price I would hold onto it. But when I saw that 1939’s were bringing such a high price tag that is what spiked my interest to seeking a collector who wanted to add it to their collection. Thank you so very much.
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Hey man, not too many people have an almost correct 1939 Colt 1911 that may be worth $3K as is. That's pretty damn good in my book.
 
The_Multicam_Man said:
They all Said this gun was made to be an bullseye gun. All of them said in our area we did not have the clientele to buy this gun.
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I am a collectible firearms dealer and considered by some to be an "expert." Whether I deserve that title or not is up to whomever you ask. That phrase is a polite way that collectors and dealers let someone down that their gun isn't worth nearly what the person is expecting. You have a rare gun that has been devalued 80-90% by the modifications. The buyer for your gun is someone who thinks they can restore it, either by replacing the sights (assuming the slide wasn't modified to put them on) or by replacing the slide and stamping a "matching" serial number on it. They will then sell it for closer to what it would have been worth had it not been modified.

At the time this gun was modified, it wasn't considered a rare collectible. It was one of hundreds of thousands of surplus 1911A1s that were cheaper to modify into a target gun than buying a new Colt and modifying it. It was an extremely common practice from the 1950s to the 1970s.
 
BlueGecko said:
@The_Multicam_Man where did you get it? Hopefully you're not too underwater on it.
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got it from grandpa in a hoard of guns when he passed. And I finally got around to shooting it, and didn love shooting it at all. I have many other 1911’s I love shooting but this one just didn do it for me. So my wife said it looks real old you should look it up. And when I ran the serial numbers and did some digging is when I thought hell I’ll turn this into some other guns that I really want. It’s absolutely wild to me that an almost perfect conditions 1939 that just has a sight mod and different grips kills the collector value. To me it’s like having a 1964 mustang but the rims aren’t original now it’s not worth even close to what it should be. If I can find the time I’ll try to get the age appropriate grips and see if I can return the sights to normal. Thank you to everyone who has commented. This was my first post in this group and it is very nice to see the intelligent/respectful side of the internet! Happy new year everyone. I was hoping to turn this pistol into a scar 20s .308 so if anyone has one in Nc I’m still in the market.
 
@The_Multicam_Man I'd guess it's more like having a '64 Mustang and someone doing irreversible work to the original engine. Once you cut and/or drill the slide, you can't go and put the metal back. Like most MilSurps, once you drill and tap for a scope, or shorten the barrel, etc, the value drops considerably.

It's still very cool. Maybe it can be a family heirloom, pass it down.
 
I have a Remington UMC 1911 from 1919 and I have seen period correct grips for it sell for over $600. I suspect correct grips are available but might be pricey, same as the correct magazine.

The biggest detractor will be if the slide was modified for the sights. There is also damage to the side of the trigger where it looks like a trigger shoe was installed, and the mag release screw looks really bad for the over all condition of the gun.
 
Dan0311 said:
Anyone need new-ish grips for their Singer 1911? Only $7,500 (gun not included).


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Don't EVER trust that seller. He gets a lot of stuff reproduced then words his ads such that technically he isn't lying about them being repros. Ever wonder where all the fake Colt boxes, labels, manuals, and hang tags came from on the market today? Wonder no further. He has so tainted his own brand, that I wouldn't believe these were real simply because they come from him - and they may well be real.
 
Also missing the correct barrel. That is a later High Standard replacement barrel.

Here is what I would do if I owned the gun. I would see if the rear dovetail has been enlarged for that rear sight-if it hasn't, I would restore the gun with original sights, barrel and send it to Turnbull and have it refinished. Since the front sight has been soldered in and the slide is heat marked, a proper refinish may remove that. if the rear sight dovetail has been enlarged, you have a shooter or a project base for a custom project. Could possibly microtig weld up the rear dovetail and refinish, but that is fine work indeed.

it will be worth more restored than it is in this shape. its a project right now. unfortunately...a substantial one
 
Bladeandbarrel said:
Also missing the correct barrel. That is a later High Standard replacement barrel.

Here is what I would do if I owned the gun. I would see if the rear dovetail has been enlarged for that rear sight-if it hasn't, I would restore the gun with original sights, barrel and send it to Turnbull and have it refinished. Since the front sight has been soldered in and the slide is heat marked, a proper refinish may remove that. if the rear sight dovetail has been enlarged, you have a shooter or a project base for a custom project. Could possibly microtig weld up the rear dovetail and refinish, but that is fine work indeed.

it will be worth more restored than it is in this shape. its a project right now. unfortunately...a substantial one
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There is a class of collectors who collect Turnbull restorations. This is one instance where a restoration might net more than it costs to have it done, for sure.
 
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