Robert A. Sadowski - Gun traders guide: a comprehensive, fully-illustrated guide to modern collectible firearms with current market values

Copyright 2018 by Skyhorse Publishing All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018. Skyhorse Publishing books may be purchased in bulk at special discounts for sales promotion, corporate gifts, fund-raising, or educational purposes. Special editions can also be created to specifications. For details, contact the Special Sales Department, Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018 or .

Skyhorse and Skyhorse Publishing are registered trademarks of Skyhorse Publishing, Inc., a Delaware corporation. Visit our website at www.skyhorsepublishing.com. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file. Cover design by Brian Peterson Print ISBN: 978-1-5107-3837-9 Ebook ISBN: 978-1-5107-3839-3 Printed in Canada Contents Introduction This is the 40th edition of Gun Traders Guide (GTG) and it could be a big year for collectors of 1911 handguns. As you might have heard, last year Congress approved the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act which had a section authorizing the stockpiles of Army surplus 1911 pistols to be sold to civilians through the Civilian Marksman Programs (CMP). What this means for you and me is we could be the owner of a vintage 1911 pistol.

These 1911s have been in storage since the Military replaced it with the Beretta M9 in 1985. Reports released in 2015 say the cost to the Department of Defense to keep some 100,000 pistols in inventory is about $2 million dollars. These 1911 pistols have been around since WWII and earlier. The last contract for 1911 was filled in 1945. According to some sources the 1911s that will be released to the public will include everything from museum quality pistols to well usedmeaning well wornspecimens. My guess is there could be some true gems in the pistols like those manufactured by the Singer Mfg Co.

Tooling, Remington Rand, and Ithaca to name a few manufacturers that were contracted by the government to produce M1911A1 pistols prior to and during WWII. To purchase one of these 1911s you will have to get in line with the rest of us plus you will have to be an adult member of a CMP affiliated shooting club. The details can be found at thecmrp.org. As we are going to press the CMP announced they have been authorized to receive 8,000 1911 type pistols from the United States Army. The 1911s have been received by the CMP and a complete inventory was conducted. The pistols will then be securely stored in an Army-approved 1911 building.

Once the CMP completes the 1911 armory inspection, grading, repair, and ultimately test firing of the pistols will begin. The CMP 1911 order packet will be posted ninety days prior to the order acceptance date and opening sales date. No orders will be accepted prior to that date. The CMP will keep everyone posted as they move through this process. For details on the value of these US Military 1911 pistols, go to . There you will find descriptions and values for the various grades of surplus pistols.

Remember, there is a reason GTG has been the standard reference for collectors, curators, dealers, shooters, hunters, and gun enthusiasts. GTG is the definitive source for making informed decisions on selling and purchasing used firearms, be they 1911s or anything else. This is why more than 2 million copies have been sold in the books lifetime. We at GTG take buying and selling firearms as serious business. Whether you are buying a used gun for duck hunting, trading in your old concealed carry pistol for something better, or trying to figure out the value of a wall hanger. CURRENT AND UP-TO-DATE GTG offers detailed firearms specifications as well as photographs so you can be confident when identifying a firearm and its value.

GTG is revised annually to ensure information is both current and detailed. In the past fifty years, GTG has grown to over six hundred pages and more than six thousand standard firearms and their variations, evolving into one of the most complete catalogs of modern smokeless-powder rifles, shotguns, and handguns manufactured from the late 19th century, through the 20th century, to the 21st century. Every effort is made to ensure the information is current and up-to-date. Not every gun ever manufactured can be listed in a catalog of this size, but every effort has been made to include the makes and models that are most popular with collectors. Please note GTG does not include antique or recently manufactured blackpowder firearms. EASY-TO-USE FORMAT GTG s reference guide format is simple and straightforward.

Three tabbed sectionshandguns, rifles, and shotgunsmake it fast and easy to find the model in question. Entries are alphabetized by manufacturer and model with specifications that include: Manufacturer Model Name Model Number Caliber or Gauge Barrel Length Overall Length Weight Distinguishing features Variations of different models Dates of manufacture (when they can be accurately determined) Date of discontinuation (if applicable) Current value for condition Photos (or illustrations) ACCURATE FIREARM VALUES Values shown are based on national averages obtained by conferring with knowledgeable gun dealers, traders, collectors, online auction sites, and auctioneers around the country, not by applying an arbitrary mathematical formula that could produce unrealistic figures. The listed values accurately reflect the nationwide average at the time of publication and are updated annually. Keep in mind that the stated values are averages based on a wide spectrum of variables. No price given in any such catalog should be considered the one and only value for a particular firearm. Value is ultimately determined by the buyer and seller.

Supply and demand also dictate price. In the case of rare or one-of-a-kind items, such as the Winchester Model 1873 One of One Thousand rifle or the Parker AA1 Special shotgun in 28 gauge, where little trading takes place, active gun collectors were consulted to obtain current market values. In researching data, some manufacturers records were unavailable and at times information was unobtainable. Some early firearms manufacturers production records have been destroyed in fires, lost, or were simply not maintained accurately. These circumstances resulted in some minor deviations in the presentation format of certain model listings. For example, production dates may not be listed when manufacturing records are unclear or unavailable.

As an alternative, approximate dates of manufacture may be listed to reflect the availability of guns from a manufacturer or distributor. These figures may represent disposition dates indicating when that particular model was shipped to a distributor or importer. Frequently, and especially with foreign manufacturers, production records are unavailable. Therefore, availability information is often based on importation records that reflect domestic distribution only. This is meant to explain the procedure and policy used regarding these published dates and to establish the distinction between production dates, which are based on manufacturers records, and availability dates, which are based on distribution records in the absence of recorded production data. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The publisher wishes to express special thanks to the many collectors, dealers, manufacturers, shooting editors, firearm companies and distributors public relations and production personnel, research personnel, and other industry professionals who provide us with updates throughout the year.