Info needed on Colt 1911

[JTC]

I was wondering if someone would know the approximate value of a Colt 1911 made in 1918 per serial number, Stamped "Proprety of US Army". It is not a collector, as it has been nickled by an unknown refinisher. The frame and slide appear to match, along with all the external features, it is unknown if the barrel matches and the grips are aftermarket.
Thanks for the help.
Jason

 

[Ron James]

If in good condition, 4 to 5 hundred.

 

[Hammerhead6814]

Any real Colt made before WWII is worth bare minimum $1000. Nicks and scratches be damned. Dealers sure don't seem to mind, one 0% (NO paint and some obvious nicks in the metal) 1911 Colt stamped 1920 had a $3000 price tag on it at the RKshow expo in March in Kansas City.

The only thing that would absolutely RUIN the value of your 1918 stamped 1911 JTC, is if someone put an after-market barrel and grips on it. Collectors only want 100% original parts. You can re-blue and re-paint, but losing a part is losing the value.

If the barrel and grips were replacements made by the US Army then the value would probably be fine.

 

[Harvey]

Agreed. The pistol is certainly no collector, but any 1911 that shoots well is worth five hundred bucks, no more. You say that it has been nickeled? ... as in a bright finish? That sux.

But be a bit careful. The breach-face ends of 1918 slides are notoriously soft and prone to cracking if used as a daily range beater.

PM 1911Tuner for a better assessment.

Regards.

 

[rklessdriver]

Nickled war trophies are quite common. It's one of the reason's that orginal condition pistols are so valuable.

IMO you pistol is a occasional shooter and nothing more. Worth maybe $500-$700.

Keep in mind I said OCCASIONAL SHOOTER. Those old Colts are dead soft and the slides/frames will crack and can crack at anytime.
Will

 

[DPris]

No nickled original military 1911 is worth a minimum of $1000 unless it belonged to Patton or Eisenhower.
Depending on what else was done to it, $500 would probably be about right. Value is only as a shooter, and the 1911s had inferior heat treatment BY MODERN STANDARDS that renders them risky to continue shooting today.

Even parting the gun out would be questionable, since backroom nickeling jobs of the 50s & 60s were frequently overly buffed under the plating & the slide & frame may not be of much value if de-plated & sold separately.
Denis

 

[Oro]

Those ranges are right along with what I see, too. $400 to $500, as long as it's not pitted beneath the nickel.