Springfield Armory 1911; This oldie has seen better days

William Wallace

William Wallace

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Would you guys feel safe shooting this? Other than some surface rust it looks rock solid, no rattles and the slide slides back smooth.

According to the serial number it was produced in 1914. The standard catalog of firearms lists the values as follows:

Exc: $7250
VG: 5000
Good: 3500
Fair: 2500
Poor: 1500

Wow, had no idea. Also, apparently it's in the serial range that has the rare "stubby" hammer which adds 15 percent.



picture023vwj.jpg
 
I'd probably have it checked out by someone like Mike LaRocca or Greg Derr to be sure, but many of these old guns are still shot regularly.
 
Although not as rare as your SA...
I have a Colt 1911 from 1913..i shoot it like i stole it!!
IMHO, enjoy the firearm for what JB designed it for...no safe queens.
 
Is the pitting deep into the metal? It looks like the finish has been stripped off. Even a well used gun has areas which wil have full finish(parkerizing) due to location. This looks bright in all areas. If you want it to last it should have a finish on it, like Parkerizing. Greg
 
Greg Derr said:
Is the pitting deep into the metal? It looks like the finish has been stripped off. Even a well used gun has areas which wil have full finish(parkerizing) due to location. This looks bright in all areas. If you want it to last it should have a finish on it, like Parkerizing. Greg
Click to expand...

Hi Greg, the pitting isn't deep, at least not to my inexperienced eyes. The standard catalog describes the original factory finish as: "Dull (Rust Blued) finish".

The picture is indicative of the surface condition:
picture025yup.jpg


Is this firearm worth restoring?
 
Just be very careful. Anything you do could devalue that gun very significantly.

I'd run this by some serious collectors on a dedicated forum (maybe 1911 forums? or ??) to get good advice on how to proceed. There's no "going back" if you do something that adversely effects the value.
 
LenS said:
Just be very careful. Anything you do could devalue that gun very significantly.

I'd run this by some serious collectors on a dedicated forum (maybe 1911 forums? or ??) to get good advice on how to proceed. There's no "going back" if you do something that adversely effects the value.
Click to expand...

By the looks of it, that has already been done Len.
 
EC, you may well be right. It's just that the collectors prefer honest wear/pitting and all to a refinish job. That's why I referred him to some real expertise before he does anything to it.
 
I'd clean and oil it up real nice and put it away for a while and get it appraised. It may be worth a considerable sum with the early hammer and all original parts. If you want a shooter, sell it and get a S&W or a Springfield if you can find it. It sucks to make it a safe queen, but these oldies aren't being made anymore. If anything, they are being destroyed.
It's a part of our history. It'd be like ringing the Liberty Bell because it was made to be rung or sending the USS Constitution on a Med cruise since it's done that in the past and was made for that purpose. Save it.
 
Curiosity got the best of me and I put about 20 rounds through it today. It fired without a single hiccup, except for the fact that I was only able to hit the target once from 50' and 4 times from 35'. Ouch. That fact that it's missing the rear sight didn't help.
 
For a better photo try turning the flash off and taking the picture in sun light. Indirect sun light is best, like indoors near a window. The flash tends to misrepresent the finish.

Where did you get it? I've been looking for an old 1911 shooter but don't really know that much about them. Let me know if you'd like to sell it.
 
Wow, where did you dig that thing up (literally)?

As was suggested earlier, I'd run it by a few collectors before attempting any permanent restorations, but it looks like the original finish is gone anyway. Otherwise, I'd shoot that bad boy all day long!
 
Curiosity got the best of me and I put about 20 rounds through it today. It fired without a single hiccup, except for the fact that I was only able to hit the target once from 50' and 4 times from 35'. Ouch. That fact that it's missing the rear sight didn't help.
Click to expand...

Unlike the other, unfired 1911 you told us about recently, this one I wouldn't have had any qualms about firing either. I'm glad you took it out and cleared its throat.

However, the issue of "restoration" is something else entirely. As a purist, I abhor refinishing of any kind, no matter how little of the original blue remains. I think the gun looks good just way it is, which is to say it looks old.

It's great that you're able to enjoy shooting a piece of history like that. Even shooter-grade original 1911s are priced beyond the reach of many of us.
 
from what i gather. Military Springfield 1911s are super rare. I wouldn't refinish it myself.

just think. pull it out at a range and everyone will step back because they'll think it'll explode! haha

realistically everyone will want to check it out.
 
What no rear sight! The value just dropped dramatically...as a matter of fact it is probably worthless now.

Tell you what...I'll give you $50 and I'll even come pick it up, you don't have to ship it [wink]

I'm doing this out of the goodness of my heart for a fellow NES'r. [smile]

Awesome pistol...I have a Colt built in 1918! Clean it up, be careful too much restoration may actually decrease the value and enjoy what will undoubtedly be a great shooter!
 
Carguy said:
What no rear sight! The value just dropped dramatically...as a matter of fact it is probably worthless now.

Tell you what...I'll give you $50 and I'll even come pick it up, you don't have to ship it [wink]

I'm doing this out of the goodness of my heart for a fellow NES'r. [smile]

Awesome pistol...I have a Colt built in 1918! Clean it up, be careful too much restoration may actually decrease the value and enjoy what will undoubtedly be a great shooter!
Click to expand...

I ordered a fixed rear sight two days ago.. hopefully it only takes some minor tweaking to get it to fit.. obviously i don't want to machine the slide on this puppy or mar it to hell. probably will have to get out the sandpaper.
 
+1

Before you go to far with the 1911, i would check with knowledgeable source

and understand fully what you have.I'm no expert on old firearms,

but its worth looking into.

JimB
 
JimB said:
Before you go to far with the 1911, i would check with knowledgeable source

and understand fully what you have.I'm no expert on old firearms,

but its worth looking into.

JimB
Click to expand...

I'm don't think I'm planning on doing anything that's going to alter its value. The new rear sight either fits right in, or i'll take 220 grit to the sight until it slips in.

Here is what the price guide says about grading:
picture092t.jpg


Here are the details on this 1911...
picture095h.jpg


picture096g.jpg


I would say that with pitting/rust and lack of original finish that it's in the "Poor" category.
 

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