opinions on this colt 1911 black army

[ram5500]

Hi, i just purchased my first 1911 and it’s a “black army”. looking for opinions on originality and approximate value , thanks !

 

[jpm]

Nice pistol. Its been re-arsenaled at Anniston Arsenal. See the small AA on the left side near the trigger. Its been parkerized at that point since the finish was probably long gone which was typical of black army Colts. The stocks may be correct, you'd have to count the diamonds between the two large diamonds to find out. The magazine should be two-toned if its original.

Its worth somewhere between 1-2K depending upon the stocks being correct or not, the barrel markings, magazine, etc.

I have a black army Colt that was never re-arsenaled and love it. It looks like its been through a world war or two!

 

[jpm]

I found the rest of the pics. The magazine is not correct, that's a commercial mag. It is worth what you paid for it IMO.

 

[45collector]

Without knowing what you paid for it, you picked a nice 1911 to be your first! A fine reworked pistol. I would shoot it occasionally, with mild loads if possible. Prior to 1925, 1911 slides were not heat treated and could possibly crack in certain areas with wear and tear. Who knows how many rounds that gun has seen. I wouldn't stress about it though. I have a couple nineteen-teens 1911's that I am not afraid to shoot, but my reloads I put through them are so mild they don't meet IDPA power factor.

 

[jpm]

Without knowing what you paid for it, you picked a nice 1911 to be your first! A fine reworked pistol. I would shoot it occasionally, with mild loads if possible. Prior to 1925, 1911 slides were not heat treated and could possibly crack in certain areas with wear and tear. Who knows how many rounds that gun has seen. I wouldn't stress about it though. I have a couple nineteen-teens 1911's that I am not afraid to shoot, but my reloads I put through them are so mild they don't meet IDPA power factor.

That's what I did for mine. Worked up a nice mild load with plated 200gr bullets that's pretty accurate.

 

[radioman]

1st post—-Show me the money!

 

[greencobra]

Show me the money!

here ya go

 

[45collector]

That's what I did for mine. Worked up a nice mild load with plated 200gr bullets that's pretty accurate.

I'm using 230gr plated and Titegroup.

 

[67ray]

Nice pistol. Its been re-arsenaled at Anniston Arsenal. See the small AA on the left side near the trigger. Its been parkerized at that point since the finish was probably long gone which was typical of black army Colts. The stocks may be correct, you'd have to count the diamonds between the two large diamonds to find out. The magazine should be two-toned if its original.

Its worth somewhere between 1-2K depending upon the stocks being correct or not, the barrel markings, magazine, etc.

I have a black army Colt that was never re-arsenaled and love it. It looks like its been through a world war or two!

How many diamonds should there be? Did this change and if so in what year

 

[jpm]

There was a difference between the manufacturers of the grips back then, I think it changed around 1920. Clawson's book on page 86 states that Colt grips had 15 rows + or - 1 of checkering between the diamonds. Remington Arms-UMC had 13 rows + or - 1 and Springfield Armory had 11 rows + or - 1. Many have found Colt grips with 13 that seem to be from that timeframe and believed to be authentic. I go by 15 for Colt grips myself.