WW II or older 1911

[hminsky]

I am interested in getting a 1911 which is US military from WWII or before. Anyone have suggestions for a good place to start looking, and how to not get ripped off?

 

[stoneypete]

Start at Cool Gunsite and learn. Get Clawson's book and learn. Then and only then will you not get ripped off. As to where to shop, I don't know. I fell into the two that I own.

 

[dwarven1]

There's a WWI vintage 1911 at K&R Target Sport in Hudson, MA.

(yeah, I know I sound like a broken record here... what I can I say? when I was there last week, I spotted two Logers (in .30), a Nambu, an M1 Carbine and this lovely 1911. Among all the other toys. Hey, he's got a good stock of stuff!)

Ross

 

[PatMcD]

You mean like this one?

You've just got to frequent gun shops and eventually you get lucky. I stumbled across this one last fall. It's one of the NRA "unserviceable" .45's from the 60's. Colt frame 1943. Remington slide. Rebuilt at Red River Ordinance Depot. Nothing unserviceable about it, and it came with all the NRA/DCM paperwork to boot!

 

[hminsky]

Yes, that's the kind of thing I'm looking for... what are typical prices you might see for that?

 

[PatMcD]

Prices are going higher all the time. A few years back, you could get a arsenal re-build like mine for $300-$400; nobody wanted them. Today, expect $600+. An all original Colt or Remington are closer to $1000 and WAY above.
I paid $600 for mine, which, when you factor in the original purchaser's paperwork from 1962, I thought it was a decent deal. Not the steal of the century, but a decent deal.

 

[Coyote33]

Isn't there some Brazilian maker of these? Something like Sistema or Systema? Are these considered C&R? If so, does that change anything regarding purchase?

 

[PatMcD]

Isn't there some Brazilian maker of these? Something like Sistema or Systema?

Yes, but those wouldn't be WWII U.S. military, which is what I thought hminsky was after.

 

[Coyote33]

Oh. I thought they were made for US back then.

 

[Pilgrim]

Be prepared to shell out $500-700 for any rearsenaled 1911 or a1 around here...more if they're all matching or have a good original finish.

 

[Coyote33]

What about a somewhat junky parts gun for the serial number, then build the rest up from newer stuff?