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A friend's father passed away. She is going through all his stuff. One item is a Colt 1911 Russian contract with a Colt letter authenticating. I told her I believe it's a $10k gun with the letter. I wish I could get it but it's way beyond my fun budget. Any thoughts on value will be passed along to her.

Blue Book sez:

COLT 1911 RUSSIAN CONTRACT
approx. 51,000 mfg. in U.S. as commerical guns with random serial numbers approx. C23000-C89000, blue finish, identified by cyrillic inscription on left side of frame (translates to English Order). Mfg. 1916-17.

View Historic Prices

Grading 100% 98% 95% 90% 80% 70% 60%
N/A $8,750 $4,500 $4,000 $3,250 $2,500 $2,000


Mint original specimens have been selling in the $12,500 - $15,000 range.
This contract is seldom encountered - beware of fakes.

Yup, the "letter of authenticity" is what tips it off that it might be a fake, UNLESS it is a letter from an auction firm that is still in business and they are willing to vouch that the letter (and thus the gun) is legit. If they look in their records and see no record of ever authenticating your gun, then it is a fake.

The forger's best tool to fool marks is the "letter of authenticity". Dummies look at that and say, "Oh, it must be real then." LOL.

My family owned an antique art business. 9 times out of 10, when we see a "letter of authenticity," the item is a fake. It doesn't matter that it's been in the family for years, it could've been a fake when the family acquired it may years ago.

It is a Colt factory letter, sent off for and obtained from Colt. I'm not sure how that could be faked since the owner obtained it via a direct request to Colt.

LDB415 wrote:It is a Colt factory letter, sent off for and obtained from Colt. I'm not sure how that could be faked since the owner obtained it via a direct request to Colt.

The blue book text provides a serial number range, does this item fall within the range listed?

Also, as mentioned above, you can always call Colt and ask them about it. They should have records of the letter the sent to you about this item.

Yes, the s/n of her gun falls in the range and is confirmed on the Colt letter and indicates shipped to 'Russian Government'.

can believe you havent posted pics already --

We need a Smilie that says: Didn't happen without pictures...

Yeah, she and it are in NJ and I have no photos. I hope to get some at some point. I will post them when I do.

PBratton wrote:We need a Smilie that says: Didn't happen without pictures...

Looking forward to pics when available.

New Jersey? Too bad...
I think if you acid wash it, you can get the cooties off.

RoyGBiv wrote:

PBratton wrote:We need a Smilie that says: Didn't happen without pictures...

[ Image ]



Looking forward to pics when available.

New Jersey? Too bad...
I think if you acid wash it, you can get the cooties off.

I thought cooties added collector value. Is that no so?

New Jersey? I'm amazed no one has been arrested yet, charged and convicted of some heinous-sounding crime, and had to beg Chris Christie for a pardon.

Seriously, sounds like an incredibly cool heirloom. Congrats to the owner.

I just got one not so good photo of the pistol and one of the Colt letter but they are too large to attach.