Frank, Tucker Gun Inc. (770)856-2351 has a good bit of original mil-surp holsters, belts, cartridge belts, etc. They might have a correct magazine for that gun of yours. If you call them, ask for Scott, Phil, or Lee and tell them I gave you their phone number.

I would look inside the mag well to determine the loss of finish in that area, and attempt to find a magazine that matched that wear as evenly as possible, if I were trying to make it appear 100% original.

Hugh Brock could give you a accurate appraisal on it's value if you care to drive near Athens, GA where he re-located.

Thanks, Bruce. I'm getting a little annoyed by that 1911 forum.... after I spent most of the weekend taking pictures, they seem to be slow-dancing and praising the 1911 in general, instead of putting a price on it.

Maybe they just don't want to insult me, but I'm beginning to think they're more interested in promoting the 1911 mystique to further and feather their own collector interests instead of discussing values.

I'm tempted to post a video on their forum of me firing 1000 rounds through it - just to make them cringe. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" />

I can see that to some, the price is not as important as the appreciation of history, but everything has a price and no matter what a collector says, somewhere deep down is a value factor - or they wouldn't be collecting them.

Today, I bid $101 on a Scoville magazine and was outbid. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> I'm now trying to buy 2 Little magazines (also period correct) for $90. This can be a tough business when you want something. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Frank <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

I wonder how many of those guys would have to pop some nitro if you did a video on-range. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ignore.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Got a real treasure there Frank. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

People seem to want a gun more for the sake of having it than to use it. Granted, if I were to get my fathers gun I would want to vacuum seal it and throw it in a safe for the next 30 years. But I would more than likely do what you wanted and carry it. I mean, if you didn't find it, it would still be sitting in a trunk of a car destined to be crushed. or found and used in a crime.

Enjoy that gun anyway you see fit. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

Oh, and alot of people on gunbroker are demanding 2k for them, but here is what one is going for right now.
Gunbroker 1911A1

Sorry, if I missed it, but any updates on running the serial numbers?

By the way, the latest pics of the 1911 are gorgious! What an awesome piece of history there.

Don't know if you missed Frank's link, but one of the guys was runnin' the numbers, so it's got some provinance(?).

http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?t=64095

Brian - the local police ran the SN - it's clean.

Richard - the pistol you referenced is probably a "shooter". From my limited knowledge, I can see that it's in worse shape than mine, has mismatched internal parts, has the wrong magazine and was rebuilt at Rock Island Armory - all of which reduce the value to a collector.

Mine is not one that an experienced collector would want, either..... at least I don't think so. Those guys are looking for the Holy Grail of 1911s..... but at the same time they're pumping the value for the beginning collectors so the underlying value for all of the pistols is strong.

Without the beginning collectors, the experienced collectors wouldn't have anyone to buy their lesser important guns, so they sit around BSing each other - all the while drawing an admiring crowd of wannabe "big-time collectors".

Gun collecting is a great hobby if the prices are reasonable, but once it passes a reasonable amount, it becomes almost like a pyramid scheme - sometimes proving the Greater Fool Theory.

From what I've researched and had explained - reading between the lines, my pistol seems to me to fall somewhere in the middle ground. It's all original (parts and finish) except the magazine..... and that's an easily remedied fix.... but the finish is not so good it will command a premium price.

What I wanted to hear was that it was worth more than $2000 or less than $1000. To me, if it's worth more than $2000, I won't shoot it because I can sell it, buy a shooter and pocket $1000, letting someone else fall in lust and stroke it for a while. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

If it's worth less than $1000 - I can't buy much for the same price that would feel the same in my hand, so I might as well shoot it and consider any further wear devaluation as "rent". <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Frank

Uhm... Just start talking about using your dremmel to practice your gunsmith skills by cutting in front grip serrations, and then chroming the entire thing.

They'll listen up. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

I've waited long enough for one of them to respond, so I'm gonna p*ss in their Cheerios and see what happens. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Frank

Maybe this post will get a rise:



<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Frank