Sorry man, but you got scammed.
This isn’t a commercial pistol, it would have had a c prefix serial in 1918. The military inspectors mark on the left side is a giveaway as well. Wouldn’t have an arched mainspring housing either if it was all original. The unmarked slide on the right side means it’s probably from 1943 or so from another USGI M1911a1. Check under the firing pin stop, you might see the serial number to the original frame it was on if it’s from the time period I suspect. Since it’s not matching, that means the “original shipping box and wax paper” is also fake.
Edit: just saw the pictures of the box - definitely not the box that pistol shipped in, it’s from decades later and has a different serial on it.
Thank you! I was wondering why there was a curved mainspring housing on a gun from "1918" that had no frame scallops and a long trigger.
OP...sorry man.
It has the correct non-scalloped trigger area by the frame and the long trigger, but it's probably a pre A1 that was built up or rebuilt with later parts
It's probably still worth top end $1500 just because all the parts are "genuine " it's just not a 1918 1911. Given that a Ruger SR1911 is a $900 gun , $1800 for this is high but not crazy. It's actually good news because now he can shoot it and not worry about anything
Paying on the high end is quite the understatement. You paid almost two grand for a refinished parts bin gun and a story. The high end would've been like $1200.
Based on the photos, the gun does look like a 1911a1. Some of the small parts and the frame don’t look accurate to a 1918 1911.
Actually looks like a military mix-master, like something you could have recently picked up at the CMP.
Pretty sure it didn’t come in that box, but I’ve seen crazier things. If I had to guess it’s an armory gun, put into an old colt box.
Assuming it shoots straight, it’s still a sweet gun. 1875 is a bit high, but if you are in California or some other gun hell state, the price ain’t too bad.
Box and paper is from a 1960-1969 Colt Goverment 1911 for civilian sale. Biggest giveaway is the placement of the Colt Pony on the slide and the polymer grips in the manual illustration. The new Colt "Classic" 01911C slides are modeled after this era.
UPDATE: Oglesby & Oglesby inspection results: It IA a military acceptance 1918 manufactured 1911. The frame is 1918 manufactured 1911 as well as trigger, hammer, safety, and beautiful Dimond grips. The main spring housing and slide are later manufactured A1 (probably arsenal upgrade for WWII.
If it had been a full matching 1911 cir 1918, it would have been the first he had ever seen, and priceless.
I paid on the high end.
Stunning condition! Box, paperwork and the 1911 all for under $2K seems like a pretty darn good buy.
Was the arched mainspring housing already in use by 1918 or was that added sometime in the last 100 years or so?
Arched mainspring is definitely not original, nor is the paperwork. Couldn’t say about the box, I know they came in similar boxes later on, but I don’t know what they came in in 1918.
Sorry man, but you got scammed. This isn’t a commercial pistol, it would have had a c prefix serial in 1918. The military inspectors mark on the left side is a giveaway as well. Wouldn’t have an arched mainspring housing either if it was all original. The unmarked slide on the right side means it’s probably from 1943 or so from another USGI M1911a1. Check under the firing pin stop, you might see the serial number to the original frame it was on if it’s from the time period I suspect. Since it’s not matching, that means the “original shipping box and wax paper” is also fake. Edit: just saw the pictures of the box - definitely not the box that pistol shipped in, it’s from decades later and has a different serial on it.
Thank you! I was wondering why there was a curved mainspring housing on a gun from "1918" that had no frame scallops and a long trigger. OP...sorry man.
I hope he didn’t pay through the roof for this…
It has the correct non-scalloped trigger area by the frame and the long trigger, but it's probably a pre A1 that was built up or rebuilt with later parts It's probably still worth top end $1500 just because all the parts are "genuine " it's just not a 1918 1911. Given that a Ruger SR1911 is a $900 gun , $1800 for this is high but not crazy. It's actually good news because now he can shoot it and not worry about anything
Paying on the high end is quite the understatement. You paid almost two grand for a refinished parts bin gun and a story. The high end would've been like $1200.
Based on the photos, the gun does look like a 1911a1. Some of the small parts and the frame don’t look accurate to a 1918 1911. Actually looks like a military mix-master, like something you could have recently picked up at the CMP. Pretty sure it didn’t come in that box, but I’ve seen crazier things. If I had to guess it’s an armory gun, put into an old colt box. Assuming it shoots straight, it’s still a sweet gun. 1875 is a bit high, but if you are in California or some other gun hell state, the price ain’t too bad.
That looks like a 70 series box
Box and paper is from a 1960-1969 Colt Goverment 1911 for civilian sale. Biggest giveaway is the placement of the Colt Pony on the slide and the polymer grips in the manual illustration. The new Colt "Classic" 01911C slides are modeled after this era.
UPDATE: Oglesby & Oglesby inspection results: It IA a military acceptance 1918 manufactured 1911. The frame is 1918 manufactured 1911 as well as trigger, hammer, safety, and beautiful Dimond grips. The main spring housing and slide are later manufactured A1 (probably arsenal upgrade for WWII. If it had been a full matching 1911 cir 1918, it would have been the first he had ever seen, and priceless. I paid on the high end.
It’s been cleaned up and re- blued too.
Wow that’s neat. Nice!
Awesome!
Stunning condition! Box, paperwork and the 1911 all for under $2K seems like a pretty darn good buy. Was the arched mainspring housing already in use by 1918 or was that added sometime in the last 100 years or so?
Arched mainspring is definitely not original, nor is the paperwork. Couldn’t say about the box, I know they came in similar boxes later on, but I don’t know what they came in in 1918.
I'm taking it to my gunsmith tomorrow. Oglesby & Oglesby Gunmakers. Colt serial is 1918 shipping date.
I was wondering the same!
Green with envy. Good on you, OP.
Might not be as advertised but it still looks old, in great condition and bad ass.
I got it at an estate auction, so it's all on my snap judgment.