1911 Experts, I Need Your Opinions...

[Markis82]

Please look here at posts 17 thru 21 and tell me what you think.

Thanks,
Mark

[TheTman]

Not an expert, but I don't think I'd go with GI sights. They are horrible, I don't think they were meant to really use much, just to not hang up on anything when you need your pistol out in a hurry. Of course those guys had much younger eyes than I do so maybe they were more usable to them. I kind of look at it as a weapon of last resort where you were doing more point shooting than aiming.
As far as value, I'd look at some of the auction sights and see what similar weapons are going for, and offer a bit less. I don't think the sights will matter that much to a WWII vet, as much as the weight and the feel of the gun will. These hero's are getting up in years, and I doubt if many could even use the GI sights, lord knows I have trouble with them. It is a nice looking gun, which has obviously had some work done on it, but I don't think that would diminish the nostalgic feeling a veteran might get when holding one. Especially if they haven't held one in awhile.
I'm also not certain how many men actually carried a 1911. I think they were issued mostly to officers and others that weren't in front line combat situations. For an enlisted man, it would just mean more weight, two different types of ammo to pack, and not be of much use except in close quarters combat. That's just my opinion I've got from reading and watching WWII movies and stuff. I have heard the guys in the pacific theater desired them more than their European counterparts, due to the banzai charges by the Japanese. Would be nice to have one when your position was about to be over run by fanatic troops. I guess they would be useful for clearing houses and such over in Europe, just not sure that they got issued to the front line troops.

[jg rider]

Please look here at posts 17 thru 21 and tell me what you think.

Thanks,
Mark

I can't tell if that's a trigger shoe or a welded build up. If it's a build up I don't know how you're gonna take out the trigger, if you had to, since it comes out the rear where the grip safety is.
The rear sight looks like an old MMC, so that dove tail is OK. Back then they either stacked in the front sights or silver soldered them on. Tall ones like those were usually silver soldered. If you're gonna replace the rear for a shorter one your gonna do a lot of filing on the front.

Here's my wifes Reminton Rand with a Wilson rear site that I think looks good on it

[cjm2022]

just get an auto ordinance

[Bawanna]

Pondering this last night that came to my mind too. Get an Auto Ordnance or even a new Remington. Both are exactly what you want to end up with. The Remington for pretty close to the same money. The AO only a bit more.

That's what I'd do. You get exactly what your looking for and you know the whole story being new.

[Tinman507]

I am seriously looking into an AO1911.
Trouble is locating one. Gun Genie chokes on it.

[dkmatthews]

Pondering this last night that came to my mind too. Get an Auto Ordnance or even a new Remington. Both are exactly what you want to end up with. The Remington for pretty close to the same money. The AO only a bit more.

That's what I'd do. You get exactly what your looking for and you know the whole story being new.

I'm no expert but I agree with Bawanna's reasoning.

[Markis82]

Yeah, I know. But the Remington Rand and Property of the US Army on the side cannot be duplicated. Just like, made in Prescott Az cannot on that SR 1911.

[dkmatthews]

I was recently given a bit of wisdom to chew on regarding old guns -- if there is no provenance, then it's just another piece of wood and steel regardless of the markings stamped on it.

[Markis82]

I was recently given a bit of wisdom to chew on regarding old guns -- if there is no provenance, then it's just another piece of wood and steel regardless of the markings stamped on it.

I will have to ponder that. Occasionally, those markings have a sentimental value, no?

[Bawanna]

Good point on both counts.

[44 Deerslayer]

I've got one of those that I've had for many years. Back then they were so cheap that everyone modified them. I still have all the original parts and it's never been refinished so I could restore it.

The one you are looking at can't be restored because of the refinish. It's probably worth $650 as a shooter. With GI sights, still only a shooter. They don't wear as well as a modern steel one with todays heat treating.

I would get a modern one in the same price range. If you want a collector piece, you'll have to look someplace else and pay a lot more.

My 1945 Remington Rand:

[jg rider]

I will have to ponder that. Occasionally, those markings have a sentimental value, no?

Being older now, I did ponder over it, and if I had thought about the old markings on the wife's military Remington Rand I would never have done what I did to it. I would have left it stock. I knew for a fact it had seen combat in the European theater of WW II. I now wonder what history it had.

But back when I was young and viral (viral?) and anxious to show off what I could do, did I mention dumb, the history and markings meant nothing to me.

[jg rider]

I've got one of those that I've had for many years. Back then they were so cheap that everyone modified them. I still have all the original parts and it's never been refinished so I could restore it.

The one you are looking at can't be restored because of the refinish. It's probably worth $650 as a shooter. With GI sights, still only a shooter. They don't wear as well as a modern steel one with todays heat treating.

I would get a modern one in the same price range. If you want a collector piece, you'll have to look someplace else and pay a lot more.

My 1945 Remington Rand:

Bawanna,
Do you remember once calling me a murderer?
We're a cult!

[dkmatthews]

I will have to ponder that. Occasionally, those markings have a sentimental value, no?

Sentiment is purely subjective and should be considered carefully in that light before deciding upon how sentiment affects real value. For example, following the extreme of the provenance logic, no matter how much a rifle or pistol might have been butchered at the hands of an owner (military or civilian), provenance applies to the serial number and not to the aethestics. The rifle or pistol could be battered beyond belief but the value is in the documented historical record associated with that firearm.

If that Remington Rand that caught your eye has no provenance, then the value is purely sentimental and mostly subjective. Don't expect to find anyone else to whom the firearm will be as dear as it is to you.

Especially for a firearm model (1911) that is still being produced today, a particular item without provenance is just another 1911. You might as well buy a new one and wait until you can find one with a documented historical record.

I am fond of the old Model 1903 variants and the M1 Garand rifles. I am, though, only chasing after those with provenance. If there's no documented history, then I just own it to shoot it and I'm careful to not get caught up in the enthusiasm of chasing sentimental guns.