On GI Issue M1911A1s, Their Use, Their Value...

The most surprising gift I received this Christmas was my uncle's issue M1911A1. At first, I was excited because I had been meaning to build a 1911 for awhile now, and here I was being given an excellent starting point; new barrel, trigger job, nicer sights and I'd have a great little shooter on the cheap.

Then I did some Googling on GI issue M1911, a subject I admit I was inexcusably ignorant (Big Ego?) about. This appears to be a genuine collector's item that I'd be a fool to turn into a shooter. It's a Remington Rand, S/N 2,xxx,xxx, so not exactly rare, but still I was surprised at the value these things could obtain.

Obligatory pictures:

So, GRM brain-trust, any guesses at the value? Collective agreement that it should be enjoyed occasionally in it's unmodified state?

Dunno, but once upon a time I milled out some ironwood grips for one of those.

Dan

I would say leave that one as is, shoot it and enjoy it. Then if you want a hot rod build one just for that but keep the heirloom as it is.

I could not give you an estimate on price but I know some of those can bring in stupid amounts of cash. Not that I would even consider selling it if I were you.

I am no expert but that is a very clean gun and i would not touch an original Remington Rand. That one looks to be in really good shape for its age and IMO i would not fiddle with it much. Any clue how old this gun its, i know most were built around WWII and serviced and rebuilt until the M9 replaced them so one gun could have passed thorough quite a few hands.

Were it me i would just take the thing out and shoot it to see how it does.

JohnGalt wrote: I am no expert but that is a very clean gun and i would not touch an original Remington Rand. That one looks to be in really good shape for its age and IMO i would not fiddle with it much. Any clue how old this gun its, i know most were built around WWII and serviced and rebuilt until the M9 replaced them so one gun could have passed thorough quite a few hands. Were it me i would just take the thing out and shoot it to see how it does.

Made in 1945. If I understand right, when my uncle was an Lt he was given the option to purchase a "surplus" 1911 to use as a service pistol. He said that while it was considered surplus, it was packaged as new, so I'm assuming it's only been in two hands now.

Probably this weekend it's getting a couple of FMJ's through it. You know, for funsies.

I have the EXACT SAME pen.

Looks just like the one I carried in Desert Shield/Desert Storm - several years after the M9 "replaced" the M1911A1. That was in a Regular Army FORSCOM unit, too, and not some Sneaky Pete or Snake Eater unit, either. Let's just say that the Army has a lot of logistical momentum.

Actual US military 1911A1's were built from the mid-20's through the end of WWII. To make it fun, the slide may not have been original to that receiver. Odd things happen to weapons in the service.

Look it over closely, do a good function check. If it passes, shoot it. I'd suggest hardball - 230 grain FMJ - for reliability in a stock GI .45.

One nice thing about 1911-style pistols is that all of the parts are available aftermarket, with generally good interchangeability. If there's something you don't like, change it. Put the old parts away somewhere safe and reassemble with a newer barrel and bushing, a new sear/hammer combination, spring set, maybe even a new slide with fancy sights if you like.

Even as it sits in the photos, it would be fun to shoot.

References: Try M1911.org

awesome.

Get your C&R FFL now and start collecting.

I am a BIG M1911 fan. I don't have a smooth-top, but I do have a pre-series 70 National Match, and a Lightweight Officer's ACP (my preferred carry weapon).

I'd probably keep that Rand original, and get another 1911 to hot rod. I have a friend with a 1911 that was carried by a guard for the U.S. Mail train cars back in the 1930's. Cool old pistol, compete with the mail guard's holster. No way I'd mess with that one, either.

Lemme see if I can find a copy of the Blue Book at work tomorrow. Won't be current but it'll be an idea.

Shoot it often. Personally I would not modify it externally. It might benefit from a little polishing on the trigger, feed ramp and so on. What does your uncle want you to do with it?

Put me in the "keep it original' camp. That is cool piece of American history, shoot it, keep it, live it.

Keep it as is. There are millions of post war guns to hotrod.

my guess is that if your uncle didn't keep a collectors item for 58 years for no reason. if he wanted it to ever be sold as a collector piece he probably would have done it himself. keep it in the family in whatever condition you want. but the collectors value shouldnt be a part of the decision...... IMHO......

FWIW 28th edition Blue Book indicates:

98% $2K

95% $1600

90% $1300

80% $1000

70% $900

60% $800

pilotbraden wrote: Shoot it often. Personally I would not modify it externally. It might benefit from a little polishing on the trigger, feed ramp and so on. What does your uncle want you to do with it?

He complained about the trigger pull and suggested I tweak that.

I'm pretty set on leaving it as-is now, though. Seems the most prudent course of action. Great, now to rummage around for couch-change to buy another one.

lewbud wrote: Keep it as is. There are millions of post war guns to hotrod.

Yep. Some of them were even relatively cheap to start with. The Chinese Norinco works fine for the "accurizing" work if that's something you want.

Field-stripping the 1911 is easy and it's neat to see how Browning achieved a reliable, dead-simple locked breech with the "swinging link." Genius.

I have shot some that look like yours that are very accurate and some with all the do-dads on them that are nearly useless. The military style 1911 is one of my favorites. Understated and simple looking with a whale of a punch. The January 2011 issue of the American Rifleman has an article about 1911's and the Medal of Honor.

I see no issue with tuning it up a bit if the trigger is balky.

My uncle (and godfather) brought his WWII issued .45 home from the war. He served aboard the USS Cabot ,an escort carrier. He said the gun was horribly inaccurate and sold it for $45 several years after I saw it. I would have given home $45 for it.

1911's are what I enjoy the most. I would own 10 different versions of them if I had the $$. Sadly, I browse GRM, which means I have no moneys.

Do the trigger, add a match barrel and bushing (put the old one away), and start shooting LEG matches. That's what I'd do.

What are LEG matches?

I carried that exact model for 7 years.

By the way, Osterkraut, I hate you for getting a free 1911.

Especially one with history.

stroker wrote: By the way, Osterkraut, I hate you for getting a free 1911. Especially one with history.