[Jamofly]

I have a 1911A1 with a Remington Rand upper, Colt lower. Circa 1943. Very nice rack grade from the CMP. Would a complete restoration improve the value? Would it hurt the collectability? Your thoughts please.(i don’t need any trolls, thank you.)
Jamo

 

[bradsvette]

A complete restoration wouldn't add to the pistol's value, in my opinion. It probably wouldn't hurt it's value either because it's an arsenal rebuild. Others may disagree.

I had a Colt 1918 Black Army that was an arsenal rebuild (1914 Colt slide on a 1918 Colt frame). It was a rusted up POS. I couldn't live with it in that rusted condition and so I sent it to Turnbull Restoration. It came back looking like a new gun. I ended up selling it a few years later for about what I paid for the original gun plus the cost of the restoration.

If your gun is a "very nice rack grade" as you describe it, why not just leave it alone?

 

[bradsvette]

One other thing. Because it's a Colt frame, Turnbull restoration manufactures Colt-looking slides that are heat treated and look period correct. The markings are all period correct too. If you wanted a 100% Colt-looking arsenal rebuild that was fully restored and essentially a new gun, you could send it to Turnbull, sell the Remington Rand slide to them to defer some of the restoration cost, and have them put a new Colt-looking slide on it.

Then you'd have a 1943 serial numbered gun, that was basically brand new, and thus you could shoot the crap out of it with no worries. The WW2 slides were heat treated on the ends, but not in the middle. I don't know if that makes any measurable difference in the strength of the slide or not. I'm not anything close to an expert. They'll chime in soon enough.

 

[SFC Rick]

Do what you want. It's been "restored" more times than you know already. You can buy another 1911A1 that's been restored by the arsenals for what a Turnbull will run you. Here is my Service Grade as "restored" to service issue by the Army depot folks years before it was handed off to the CMP folks.

 

[Faulkner]

I have a 1911A1 with a Remington Rand upper, Colt lower. Circa 1943. Very nice rack grade from the CMP. Would a complete restoration improve the value? Would it hurt the collectability? Your thoughts please.(i don’t need any trolls, thank you.)
Jamo

What does a restoration mean to you? Are you talking about restoring your RR/Colt mixed 1911, or are you talking about restoring your Colt lower into a complete restored Colt with a Colt upper?

Lastly, restore it to what condition? Back to it's original USGI issue configuration in 1943?

 

[dsk]

Serious 1911 collectors are only interested in original-condition pistols. Restorations rarely ever rise above the level of a shooter-grade example. Exceptions are the rare guns like an early Colt Navy or a Singer. Having said that, it's your pistol so do whatever you want to it if it will improve the pride of ownership.

 

[Jim Watson]

Even Turnbull will admit that there is a narrow range where the value add of a full restoration equals its cost.

I think that CMP certificate is all it needs.

 

[mkk41]

They're only original once!

Since you bought it thru the CMP, there is most likely FOIA traceability, and the CMP would show it as R-R/Colt hybrid. And if the Colt frame is in the ser.no. range that also numbered slides, you would need to match the original slide. Otherwise, it would not add any value, and in fact, lower it if poorly done.

 

[bradsvette]

Even Turnbull will admit that there is a narrow range where the value add of a full restoration equals its cost.

I think that CMP certificate is all it needs.

I totally agree with that too. I'd say do whatever makes you happiest.

 

[Michael W Cuber]

It’s original USGI now, but as soon as you “restore” it, it becomes a Horse of an Entirely Different Color as far as Military USGI Collectors are concerned—I’d leave it as is!

 

[1saxman]

Leaving it in government-issued condition is the best thing you can do for it.

 

[Retired AF CE]

Serious 1911 collectors are only interested in original-condition pistols. Restorations rarely ever rise above the level of a shooter-grade example. Exceptions are the rare guns like an early Colt Navy or a Singer. Having said that, it's your pistol so do whatever you want to it if it will improve the pride of ownership.

I was thinking about getting a second slide that was fully hardened so I can safely shoot it. I wouldn’t think that would be a problem.
What do you think?

 

[mkk41]

I was thinking about getting a second slide that was fully hardened so I can safely shoot it. I wouldn’t think that would be a problem.
What do you think?

If you use a fresh 16.5lb recoil spring, and perhaps a quality shok-buffer (Wilson), I wouldn't worry about shooting or breakage. I have a Rem-Rand slide on a Springfield Inc. frame with the items I mentioned, and have no qualms about shooting it. I've even used it in a few service pistol matches.

 

[Jamofly]

Thank you all so much! Great group. I’m going to leave my baby alone. MKK41; you mentioned FOIA traceability. Thank you! I have sent for the Colt documents.
Jamo

 

[FDM1]

Did you buy a CMP pistol with the idea it was an investment? You got some good advice and suggestions above.

 

[Jamofly]

Did you buy a CMP pistol with the idea it was an investment? You got some good advice and suggestions above.

No. I bought it because I love the history of it. I was just wondering if it would help or hurt for a resto. Not gonna happen - thanks!
J

 

[dsk]

I was thinking about getting a second slide that was fully hardened so I can safely shoot it. I wouldn’t think that would be a problem.
What do you think?

How much do you intend to shoot it? If only a box or two on occasion you're worrying about nothing. If you intend to put thousands of rounds a year through it then yes a hardened slide will be better, but you should keep the current slide just to preserve its current condition.

 

[Jamofly]

How much do you intend to shoot it? If only a box or two on occasion you're worrying about nothing. If you intend to put thousands of rounds a year through it then yes a hardened slide will be better, but you should keep the current slide just to preserve its current condition.

Thanks DSK. I was only curious about the value of restoration vs. the sentimental value. I’m going to keep the pistol as is.

 

[FDM1]

Nothing wrong with shooting it with a different slide as suggested. Best of both worlds… right?