Colt 1911 38 special

Ha to all
I need some advice on what a pre 70s colt 1911 national match in 38 special might be worth
I have seen them in the blue book but finally found one at a pawn shop.
Thye are asking 2000.00 for it and according to the Blue book this is a bit high.
Has anyone else ever seen one for sale and if so approximately how much were tehy asking for it.

The gun is 85% to 90% NRA specs, Blue,
1 Magazine and no box or papers.
Thanks Jerry

hi wallace,
that does seem a bit high, i think you mean 38 super, gunbroker has a couple for 1200 with other places 1500 - 1650.
JMHO
Kim

I thought it was a 38 super also but its not its a 38 special just like the revolvers take its definately a different breed for an auto

hi wallace,
it definatly is. check out this site for more info, also they have a match in 38 super in their classified.
http://www.coltautos.com/default.asp

when you find out more info on your pistol please let me know, i've found absolutely nothing on a 1911 colt being produced in 38 special. thanks

Kim

Afternoon Wallace,
This could be a custom gun. I have looked around and can't find any production notes on a 1911 in .38 special.
only in the .38 super!

Sounds like a real interesting gun!

Kim 32321

I did some more research on the 38 special mid rage in 1911s
The particular gun that I have found has a low serial number it was built in 1962
Colt only made less then 7000 of the guns through 1968.
They were designed to compete with the revolvers in mid power range competition shooting. Thye only shoot 38 Special wad cutters.
They also made a 45 ACP low range for the same competitions in the same era but had problems with the cycling of the gun with such a low power range.
I just made a deal and bought the gun for 1500.00 it seems like a good deal at least for an investment.
They are quite rare.
Thanks for the help to all hope this help someone else in teh future.

wallace wrote:

Kim 32321

I did some more research on the 38 special mid rage in 1911s
The particular gun that I have found has a low serial number it was built in 1962
Colt only made less then 7000 of the guns through 1968.
They were designed to compete with the revolvers in mid power range competition shooting. Thye only shoot 38 Special wad cutters.
...I just made a deal and bought the gun for 1500.00 it seems like a good deal at least for an investment.
They are quite rare.
Thanks for the help to all hope this help someone else in teh future.

My apologies for entering this discussion so late, but I just stumbled across this while googling the other day for info on this very gun.

I have one of the last of these made. All that Wallace mentions above is correct.
Genuine Colt magazines for this pistol, which only hold 5 rounds, are very scarce. Recently have sold for $150 or more.
Triple K makes one but they have had very bad reviews for reliability. Clark's makes a duplicate of the Colt magazine which is reputed to be reliable. They are about $70.
The price Wallace paid seems a little high to me, but these are scarce and very desirable.
I have been considering advertising mine which is in 99% condition with the original box. Deciding to sell any gun I own has become an agonizing decision.

Forgot to add a bit of trivia reference this pistol. It is basically blowback in function. There is no lock-up between slide and barrel as there is in the traditional 1911.

nice find but a little high priced unless it's one of the AMU (Army Marksmanship Unit)in which case it would make it a decent deal,,my books say for the gold cup national match pre series 70 in 38 mid range caliber values are between 400-1100,,if it's a original AMU version values are between 400-2700,,but you'd have to have documentation supporting the AMU to reach those values,,still an intresting colt model and they shoot excellent with the midrange ammo!! made from 1961-1974
bigcurt

bigcurt wrote:

nice find but a little high priced unless it's one of the AMU (Army Marksmanship Unit)in which case it would make it a decent deal,,my books say for the gold cup national match pre series 70 in 38 mid range caliber values are between 400-1100,,if it's a original AMU version values are between 400-2700,,but you'd have to have documentation supporting the AMU to reach those values,,still an intresting colt model and they shoot excellent with the midrange ammo!! made from 1961-1974
bigcurt

The most recent Blue Book I have is three years old and showed 100% at ca. $1100.
A couple of weeks ago I had a dealer offer me that sum.

They are kinda a white elephant. The only ones interested are either collectors or Bullseye shooters. Factory magazines at $150 are another deterrent. However, I see Clark's is making a duplicate for ca. $70.

Jerry:

I have one and came to this site to find the value.

Greg

I had a dealer offer me $1,200

1200 is definately a cheap price the new blue book shows them at 1500 to 1800 if its clean ill give you 1500 for it

Jerry wrote:

1200 is definately a cheap price the new blue book shows them at 1500 to 1800 if its clean ill give you 1500 for it

I'd call it 99% and have the box but no papers.

Tempting offer, Jerry. A couple of months ago I was considering selling it, but then I asked myself: "Why?" So, I'll just keep it.

I have a Colt .38 AMU and know something about them. They fired a rimless .38 Special wadcutter and were built for Ft. Benning's Army Marksmanship Unit. Mine has the correct slide with Elliason rear sight and electric-penciled number that Benning put on them. However, mine is on an Essex slide of the correct type, with the textured front on the front of the grip. It came with (1) .38 Super mag. and (4) marked .38 Special, all marked "Colt". I also have a full, unopened box of .38 AMU ammo. Anybody interested in it?

Mikey - Littleton, CO

Jerry,
See my post below. I have a Colt .38 AMU, plus (4) correct magazines, and a full unopened box of ammo., and I am willing to sell it. I plan on taking it to the Colorado Gun Collector's show this weekend. Any interest?

Mikey - Littleton, CO

Your post says that yours has the correct slide but then it says it has the essex slide the correct slide is colt not essex im just a bit confussed either way it sounds like a nice piece what would you want for it

Oops. I meant to say Essex frame. I'll give some thought to a price. I assume you are interested in the magazines and ammo too? I have a cute story about the ammo that I'll write later. Anyway, I'm new to this site. How do I post pictures for you to "inspect" the gun? Does all correspondence have to go through the site, or can we just e-mail each other directly? I don't want to break any of the rules. Mikey - Littleton, CO

Mikey
I am not sure of the rules for the site rather new to the site and havent done it before myself

We can go through personal Email if you would like if thats how its done just let me know
And yes I am interested in the whole setup.

Great, if that's OK with the site rules.
What's your e-mail address, so I can send you photos.

Mikey - Littleton, CO

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I just picked up a Slide and all the upper goodies and 1 factory magazine and 3 aftermarket for $1000. I was going to just buy an essex frame to put under it but OOS(out of stock) The Les Baur Frame is only one I can find for around $300. Essex frames won't be in stock until march of 2010. I was really wanting a period correct frame so I could put this gun in a shadow box on the wall. I am thinking now I should resell this and look around for a complete gun even at a little higher price that putting it together.