• Need to buy or sell a collectible pistol? I am a collector seeking to purchase. I often upgrade, and sometimes sell from my collection.
• Need help determining the authenticity of a pistol? I will personally inspect and authenticate your pistols.
• Need someone to inspections or make recommendations at an upcoming auction or gun show? I advise many top buyers and winning bidders with inspection reports.
• Need someone to provide opinions of value, detailed written descriptions, data sheets and high quality images to document the condition and status for pistols in your collection? Click on M1911 Solutions in the site menu for services we provide.
• Need individual one-on-one training on how to determine the originality of a firearm? I have more than 35 years of experience with M1911 and M1911A1 pistols and many other collectible handguns.

What do you want from this hobby?

We offer Solutions. 

 

• Need to buy or sell a collectible pistol? I am a collector seeking to purchase. I often upgrade, and sometimes sell from my collection.
• Need help determining the authenticity of a pistol? I will personally inspect and authenticate your pistols.
• Need someone to inspections or make recommendations at an upcoming auction or gun show? I advise many top buyers and winning bidders with inspection reports.
• Need someone to provide opinions of value, detailed written descriptions, data sheets and high quality images to document the condition and status for pistols in your collection? Click on M1911 Solutions in the site menu for services we provide.
• Need individual one-on-one training on how to determine the originality of a firearm? I have more than 35 years of experience with M1911 and M1911A1 pistols and many other collectible handguns.

What do you want from this hobby?

We offer Solutions. 

Click on Gallery Preview to see an .flv Flash demonstration of the Gallery and how efficiently it filters and sorts your search results customized to your entries. You may also see full screen demonstrations of the Gallery on YouTube by searching M1911info.com.

Now is the time to level the playing field. Get the help you need from an experienced collector. To receive your keys to the Gallery, register as a member and Subscribe. A 12-month subscription is only $30.

When you subscribe to the site, you will enjoy all the benefits of the detailed information and more than 4000 photos currently in the Gallery to help you learn.  There are roughly 400 collector grade items, most of which are M1911 and M1911A1 handguns.

As a Subscriber, you also have the ability to order any of the various M1911 Solutions we provide to help you achieve your specific goals. You may submit a Wish List to let me know what you wish to acquire. That information is listed on the Wanted page and is visible to anyone who visits the site without revealing your identity. So don't delay...Subscribe Today!

Visit the Gallery to see examples from each year M1911 and M1911A1 manufactured by Colt, Springfield Armory, Remington Arms-UMC, Singer Mfg. Co., Remington Rand, Ithaca and Union Switch & Signal.

While there, see many other collectible military and commercial pistols and revolvers made by Colt, Smith & Wesson, High Standard, GM Guide Lamp, as well as foreign manufactured licensed copies of the Colt M1911 and M1911A1 pistols. Also see foreign pistols captured by U.S. troops during WWI and WWII and various collectible parts, accoutrements and militaria.

Compare the differences in finish, markings and components on M1911, M1911A1 and other items.

Quickly filter Sort your search results by Year, Manufacturer, Model, Serial Number, Finish, Final Inspection, Barrel Markings, Branch or Service, Caliber, Arsenal Markings and Action.

Visit the Classifieds category in the Gallery to view items for sale.

Every item Featured in the Gallery has a description which details attibutes and includes  valuable collector information to provide Subscribers an advantage normally enjoyed by owners of such items.

Discover what makes each variation so interesting, unique, and desirable.

For more details, please Contact Scott Gahimer.

Click on Gallery Preview to see an .flv Flash demonstration of the Gallery and how efficiently it filters and sorts your search results customized to your entries. You may also see full screen demonstrations of the Gallery on YouTube by searching M1911info.com.

Now is the time to level the playing field. Get the help you need from an experienced collector. To receive your keys to the Gallery, register as a member and Subscribe. A 12-month subscription is only $30.

When you subscribe to the site, you will enjoy all the benefits of the detailed information and more than 4000 photos currently in the Gallery to help you learn.  There are roughly 400 collector grade items, most of which are M1911 and M1911A1 handguns.

As a Subscriber, you also have the ability to order any of the various M1911 Solutions we provide to help you achieve your specific goals. You may submit a Wish List to let me know what you wish to acquire. That information is listed on the Wanted page and is visible to anyone who visits the site without revealing your identity. So don't delay...Subscribe Today!

Visit the Gallery to see examples from each year M1911 and M1911A1 manufactured by Colt, Springfield Armory, Remington Arms-UMC, Singer Mfg. Co., Remington Rand, Ithaca and Union Switch & Signal.

While there, see many other collectible military and commercial pistols and revolvers made by Colt, Smith & Wesson, High Standard, GM Guide Lamp, as well as foreign manufactured licensed copies of the Colt M1911 and M1911A1 pistols. Also see foreign pistols captured by U.S. troops during WWI and WWII and various collectible parts, accoutrements and militaria.

Compare the differences in finish, markings and components on M1911, M1911A1 and other items.

Quickly filter Sort your search results by Year, Manufacturer, Model, Serial Number, Finish, Final Inspection, Barrel Markings, Branch or Service, Caliber, Arsenal Markings and Action.

Visit the Classifieds category in the Gallery to view items for sale.

Every item Featured in the Gallery has a description which details attibutes and includes  valuable collector information to provide Subscribers an advantage normally enjoyed by owners of such items.

Discover what makes each variation so interesting, unique, and desirable.

For more details, please Contact Scott Gahimer.

The market for collectible .45's has become a fast track since 1991. We seek to provide an inside lane with accurate information and inspection services to those seeking help. Elevated recent sales prices seem to indicate a strong market for collectibles. Many recognize the potential nice pistols have to quickly appreciate in value in the current economic climate.

What's Hot!

See the new Featured Pistols in the Gallery. Included are some rarely seen examples with high condition, including one of (20) Colt unfinished sample pistols shipped to Spriingfield Armory 1 June 1912, and later assembled, finished and numbered by Springfield Armory 8 October 1915.

Also in the Featured Pistols section, are about (50) images of a beautiful original WWII Singer M1911A1 pistol grouping. Here are just a few of the images shown for this outstanding historical grouping. The grouping includes the pistol with 2 original magazines, the Army Air Force pilot's identified 1942 pistol rig, including the pistol belt, holster, magazine pocker and 1st aid kit, numerous photos, his identified A-2 and B-3 jackets, his goggles, skull cap and other pieces of headgear, several pieces of identification, his dog tags,  full dress uniform shown in the photos, and numerous other issued items and personal effects that were provided by the son (a Viet Nam pilot, himself) after the pistol rig was purchased.

This is perhaps the most documented and outstanding WWII Army Air Force pilot's Singer M1911A1 grouping known to exist. There is even a 9-page typed letter by the WWII pilot depicting the details of the pistol being issued to him and his WWII combat service history. Also included in this grouping is a Silver Certificate dollar bill "short snorter", dated 12/26/1942, with the signatures of all the pilots in his Air Group (60th Transport Group) before they deployed overseas to pilot C-47 aircraft and drop paratroopers into Europe and North Africa. 

 Start your Subscription today!

So what are you looking for? Check out our Classifieds and submit your Wishlist!

What's Not!

Finding out you've overpaid.

What should a "basket case" zero percent original finish "abused" and mismatched M1911 or M1911 sell for? Not too much; normally less than $1000. Some rarer variations are slightly more.

What should a good quality refinish/restoration job cost? Prices vary. Many excellent skilled gunsmiths do such work for $125-400. It would depend on the extent of work done, and the gunsmith you select.

To determine the value of a restored pistol, simply add the cost of a 0% original finish pistol, make deductions for non-original parts and markings, poor condition, rounded edges, etc.  Then, add the actual cost of refinishing. There is no reason to pay a seller's mark-up for the restoration when you could have the pistol restored. Restoration gunsmiths will generally do work for anyone, not just dealers. Once a piece has been refinished, you cannot see what the gunsmith started with. If considering the purchase of a restoration:

Selling at a price well below fair market value.

This beautiful and rare WWII Colt Commercial/Military transfer renumbered pistol was acquired at a gun show in a trade for a mere $1500 by Mike.

The dealer who traded this pistol away for a fraction of its value made an error in judgment. It is one of only a few known C/M Colts to have a W.B. Ordnance final inspection marking.

Mike knew condition and originality alone made this pistol worth far more than $1500. I was happy to acquire this pistol from Mike at a much higher price.

Whether buying or selling...verify originality of finish & parts and fully research values.

I provide various M1911 Solutions to help you buy or sell with confidence. Visit the Classifieds to view items I have inspected and described.

The market for collectible .45's has become a fast track since 1991. We seek to provide an inside lane with accurate information and inspection services to those seeking help. Elevated recent sales prices seem to indicate a strong market for collectibles. Many recognize the potential nice pistols have to quickly appreciate in value in the current economic climate.

What's Hot!

See the new Featured Pistols in the Gallery. Included are some rarely seen examples with high condition, including one of (20) Colt unfinished sample pistols shipped to Spriingfield Armory 1 June 1912, and later assembled, finished and numbered by Springfield Armory 8 October 1915.

Also in the Featured Pistols section, are about (50) images of a beautiful original WWII Singer M1911A1 pistol grouping. Here are just a few of the images shown for this outstanding historical grouping. The grouping includes the pistol with 2 original magazines, the Army Air Force pilot's identified 1942 pistol rig, including the pistol belt, holster, magazine pocker and 1st aid kit, numerous photos, his identified A-2 and B-3 jackets, his goggles, skull cap and other pieces of headgear, several pieces of identification, his dog tags,  full dress uniform shown in the photos, and numerous other issued items and personal effects that were provided by the son (a Viet Nam pilot, himself) after the pistol rig was purchased.

This is perhaps the most documented and outstanding WWII Army Air Force pilot's Singer M1911A1 grouping known to exist. There is even a 9-page typed letter by the WWII pilot depicting the details of the pistol being issued to him and his WWII combat service history. Also included in this grouping is a Silver Certificate dollar bill "short snorter", dated 12/26/1942, with the signatures of all the pilots in his Air Group (60th Transport Group) before they deployed overseas to pilot C-47 aircraft and drop paratroopers into Europe and North Africa. 

 Start your Subscription today!

So what are you looking for? Check out our Classifieds and submit your Wishlist!

What's Not!

Finding out you've overpaid.

What should a "basket case" zero percent original finish "abused" and mismatched M1911 or M1911 sell for? Not too much; normally less than $1000. Some rarer variations are slightly more.

What should a good quality refinish/restoration job cost? Prices vary. Many excellent skilled gunsmiths do such work for $125-400. It would depend on the extent of work done, and the gunsmith you select.

To determine the value of a restored pistol, simply add the cost of a 0% original finish pistol, make deductions for non-original parts and markings, poor condition, rounded edges, etc.  Then, add the actual cost of refinishing. There is no reason to pay a seller's mark-up for the restoration when you could have the pistol restored. Restoration gunsmiths will generally do work for anyone, not just dealers. Once a piece has been refinished, you cannot see what the gunsmith started with. If considering the purchase of a restoration:

Selling at a price well below fair market value.

This beautiful and rare WWII Colt Commercial/Military transfer renumbered pistol was acquired at a gun show in a trade for a mere $1500 by Mike.

The dealer who traded this pistol away for a fraction of its value made an error in judgment. It is one of only a few known C/M Colts to have a W.B. Ordnance final inspection marking.

Mike knew condition and originality alone made this pistol worth far more than $1500. I was happy to acquire this pistol from Mike at a much higher price.

Whether buying or selling...verify originality of finish & parts and fully research values.

I provide various M1911 Solutions to help you buy or sell with confidence. Visit the Classifieds to view items I have inspected and described.