Value/sale price

[boothdoc]

I am looking to sell my set of six matching serial number Commemorative engraved 1911s.

Where would I get th current value of them?

 

[Alphabrew]

In Philadelphia, $50

 

[eruby]

In Philadelphia, $50

Approves

 

[Magnumite]

Nice collection

1911forum.com
Click on USGI and collectible 1911’s subforum.

 

[somd_mustangs]

Do you have the boxes, cases and the book(s) that goes with it?
I can't remember if these also had a display "chest of drawers" (one of those series did).
<edit> the WW2 had an optional "chest" for each pistol see the 2nd LSB link </edit>
I've seen several sets hammer at Rock Island Auctions for ~$6k-$7k.
Here's one that sold on Legacy a while back:

SOLD - 6 Matching Serial Commemorative Colt 1911's - WWI & WWII

5/26/17 - This is a lot of six commemorative Colt 1911's, all in minty condition with nice presentation cases. Read more...

www.legacy-collectibles.com

Set of 6 Serial-Number Matching WWI and WWII Commemorative 1911 & 1911A1 Pistols, Cases, & Book, MFD 1967-1970 C&R | Lock, Stock & Barrel

Set of 6 Serial-Number Matching WWI and WWII Commemorative 1911 & 1911A1 Pistols, Cases, & Book, MFD 1967-1970 C&R

lsbauctions.com

This set sold for crazy money though:

Set of 6 Serial-Number Matching WWI & WWII Commemorative 1911 & 1911A1 C&R | Lock, Stock & Barrel

Set of 6 Serial-Number Matching WWI & WWII Commemorative 1911 & 1911A1 C&R

lsbauctions.com

I think a lot of people expect a "bulk discount" when you sell a set of them unless it's a collector that's looking for a set.
The sad truth is they typically sell for $1000 to $1250 each (with the display case) regardless of how many.
That's assuming mint unfired, too. Without the display cases probably knock at least a few hundred off per gun.

They are all C&R by name although I think they are also C&R by age.

It might be worth contacting Lock Stock and Barrel and selling outright or consigning to them, they'll probably get the best price for you. This is kind of a specialty niche

 

[python]

Commemoratives don't always have the value one might think. Many are marketing gimmicks, and have little or no enhanced value. If you had six ordinary, pre series 70, NIB guns, they would bring a lot more than that set.

 

[somd_mustangs]

^^^ Sad, but true.

 

[boothdoc]

These are unfired new pieces. I don’t know the year of manufacture yet.

 

[calicojack]

The sad truth is they typically sell for $1000 to $1250 each (with the display case) regardless of how many.

Wow. That is sad. A CMP 1911A1 is like $1K and isn't nearly as interesting.

 

[boothdoc]

The prices for these seem to be relevant to multiple factors but this is what a set of four matching serial number sold for-


Since I bought these for less then 3k I figure it was a wise purchase.

 

[The Saint]

My rules for commemorative firearms, as a retailer, is if it isn't 100% complete and in incredibly good shape; it is priced exactly the same as a non-commemorative example and sometimes even less. Incomplete, the gun is LESS desirable than a plain jane; and certainly not worth even the smallest premium to anyone but the smallest niche of collectors (AKA sits in the case and doesn't sell for years if you don't price them cheap). Without cases/papers, as mentioned above...I think you'd be lucky to see anything near $1000 a piece in your pocket after Auction fees or whatever else. Selling to a dealer, you will NOT be netting anything close to $1000 each guaranteed. Just my 2cents...commemoratives are an all or nothing thing for 99.9% of folks.

 

[boothdoc]

My rules for commemorative firearms, as a retailer, is if it isn't 100% complete and in incredibly good shape; it is priced exactly the same as a non-commemorative example and sometimes even less. Incomplete, the gun is LESS desirable than a plain jane; and certainly not worth even the smallest premium to anyone but the smallest niche of collectors (AKA sits in the case and doesn't sell for years if you don't price them cheap). Without cases/papers, as mentioned above...I think you'd be lucky to see anything near $1000 a piece in your pocket after Auction fees or whatever else. Selling to a dealer, you will NOT be netting anything close to $1000 each guaranteed. Just my 2cents...commemoratives are an all or nothing thing for 99.9% of folks.

I do understand the difference between selling to a dealer and public. You normally give up some cash to sell to a dealer.
I do think that having 6 matching serials numbers, all with no scratches, marks and unfired with display boxes make them worth more then 1k a piece.

I haven’t seen a six matching number set in a long long time for sale.

 

[The Saint]

I do understand the difference between selling to a dealer and public. You normally give up some cash to sell to a dealer.
I do think that having 6 matching serials numbers, all with no scratches, marks and unfired with display boxes make them worth more then 1k a piece.

I haven’t seen a six matching number set in a long long time for sale.

Outside of a big auction house (which is typically about a 20-23%+fees premium to buyer AND seller); I think selling them on Gunbroker would be your best bet. On a local level, I doubt you'll find someone willing to pay anything close to those auction prices...just IMO. Especially in this economy.

 

[boothdoc]

Outside of a big auction house (which is typically about a 20-23%+fees premium to buyer AND seller); I think selling them on Gunbroker would be your best bet. On a local level, I doubt you'll find someone willing to pay anything close to those auction prices...just IMO. Especially in this economy.

Agree 100%. I don’t think I will sell them but keep them and not touch them. I do have them removed from the display boxes and stored properly.

Thanks again everyone for all your input.
Stay safe and enjoy the day MDS folks!!!

 

[somd_mustangs]

If you paid less than $3k for the set than you're definitely not hurting on these. If you do decide to sell, then LSB is probably the way to go. Even with their 20% consign fee they'll get more for it in your pocket than I think anyone else would. Selling them on Gunbroker by yourself won't get anywhere near those $$ (aside from being a PITA) - LSB and a few other sellers just have the "it" factor and get crazy money.

It's reverse logic, the more guns in the group the less people want to pay per gun. They're very cool but as said above the commemoratives are typically not terribly collectible. But you're still in high cotton based on your original investment.

 

[boothdoc]

Good points again somd_mustangs