1911 Collector's Question

[Winston33]

One of my buddies has an old passed down 1911 and is curious about what its value might be.
Its made by Remington Rand, says United States property on the side, and the serial number starts with 133. Also the grip is brown but not wooden, it seems to be plastic. Thanks

[gregthehand]

Here is a good place to start.

http://www.sightm1911.com/1911Production.htm

[smyrna]

Hard to say...Values of old military 1911s vary widely according to condition, amount of original finish, correct configuration of ALL parts, ordnance marks, etc. My latest Blue Book (which is about 2 years old) shows $500 for 60% condition up to $1300 for 98% condition. This assumes original finish and original configuration of parts. With that said, street value or collector value is determined by what the buyer is willing to pay which in many cases is more than the book value. Do a search of Gunbroker completed auctions and you'll have a better idea of what people are willing to pay for a similar pistol.

The trouble is, many of these old warhorses were customized at some point when they were relatively cheap and are not in their original glory. My dad has a pristine example that he picked up many years ago for $75. One of the first handguns I ever shot. I've been addicted to 1911s since.

As far as Remington Rands, there were just over one million produced between 1943-1945 making them the most plentiful government contract 1911s. The rarer government contract manufacturers command many times over. If you find a Singer (as in Singer Sewing Machine Company) you will have one of only 500 ever produced by that company....Book value of an all original 60% Singer...$12000. Yep three zeros. WOW!

[Mike1951]

Every time I see a R-R at a show, I want to cry.

I bought one from my brother way back when for $50. Can't even remember what it got sold or traded for.

Forty years later, I have never seen one for less than about $1200, in only reasonable condition.

This is why I don't part with them anymore.

[57Coastie]

Well done, Smyrna. I might venture to add one more element to your comprehensive list.

Provenance -- as with most any collectible item. I, for example, have owned and fired a lovely c.1916-17 M1911 for nigh on to fifty years. It has provenance reflecting that it went to France for both WWI and WWII. I will not venture to put a price tag on that history, but it is an element which should not be ignored in valuing a firearm if there is such in its background. As another example, my collection includes a firearm whose serial number indicates that it may have been at Harper's Ferry at the time of John Brown's raid -- uncertain, but not excluded as a possibility. I could not put a price tag on this element either, but I was offered a premium by a prospective, but unsuccessful, purchaser.

Jim

[smyrna]

Well done, Smyrna. I might venture to add one more element to your comprehensive list.

Provenance -- as with most any collectible item. I, for example, have owned and fired a lovely c.1916-17 M1911 for nigh on to fifty years. It has provenance reflecting that it went to France for both WWI and WWII. I will not venture to put a price tag on that history, but it is an element which should not be ignored in valuing a firearm if there is such in its background. As another example, my collection includes a firearm whose serial number indicates that it may have been at Harper's Ferry at the time of John Brown's raid -- uncertain, but not excluded as a possibility. I could not put a price tag on this element either, but I was offered a premium by a prospective, but unsuccessful, purchaser.

Jim

So true, Jim! Oh, the stories they could tell if they could talk! To have a traceable history to a firearm is sometimes priceless.

[The Annoyed Man]

I have a 1943 Ithaca that was my dad's sidearm in WW2. I don't know about the originality of all the parts previous to his acquisition of it, but the finish is in extraordinary condition for a pistol that old. The only things I've replaced is the recoil spring while I was shooting it, and a set of Pachmyar wraparound grips to protect the front strap from my wedding band. I still have the original recoil spring and the original grip panels, so I can restore it to the same condition I received it in, and I have the original shoulder holster with the 2 canvass magazine holders.

[57Coastie]

I have a 1943 Ithaca that was my dad's sidearm in WW2. I don't know about the originality of all the parts previous to his acquisition of it, but the finish is in extraordinary condition for a pistol that old. The only things I've replaced is the recoil spring while I was shooting it, and a set of Pachmyar wraparound grips to protect the front strap from my wedding band. I still have the original recoil spring and the original grip panels, so I can restore it to the same condition I received it in, and I have the original shoulder holster with the 2 canvass magazine holders.

Marvelous! Here we see provenance shown in two forms all at once -- an item related intimately to one of the most important events in the history of our nation, and an item related intimately to the history of the owner's family. You simply cannot get better than that. Attempts can be made to place a value on the first. The second is beyond price. Added to all of that is the owner's dedication to being able to restore this weapon to the condition it was in when his father put himself at risk to protect the continued existence of this great land in which we live. May it go down through further generations of similarly dedicated members of the family, reminding them of both an event and an ancestor never to be forgotten.

I salute your father's service, sir, and the service of his M1911 which was put to precisely the use for which it was designed so long ago by John Browning, the memory of whom is also preserved for all posterity by your possession.

Jim