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Old Colt 1911 question

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11 comments

  • asop
    U.S. Army model, Patented.Apr. 20, 1897.Sept.9,1902
    Dec.19,1905.Feb.14,1911.Aug.19,1913
    The main spring housing piece on the gun is arched, serrated and appears was blued. It came with an extra one that is flat, smooth and with a nice patina. The whole gun has a nice patina finsish. Which is the orig.?
    Also the wood grips don't have the diamond shaped areas around the screws. Are these orig. or should they have the diamond shapes around the screws? Thanks
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  • bpost
    Pictures, Pictures and a few more pictures.
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  • 62fuelie
    You will need to supply more info and pictures, if possible. Are there small crescent shaped reliefs behind the trigger on each side of the frame? These are present in the 1911A1, but not the 1911. The arched mainspring housing was standard on the military 1911A1 the flat unit was standard on the 1911. Many have their own preferences on these and they are EASY to swap out. If yours is a 1911 and you want to make it box-stock then the flat unit would be correct.
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  • givette
    Just give us the SerNo. That will tell us all we need to know.

    Thanks, Joe
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  • asop
    There are no crescent markings. And this is the strange thing-No serial number. Appears maybe a single or at most a double digit serial# was there at one time. A strange scratch oblivated what was there? Looks like part of a 7 and that's all. Not ground out but deep scratch marks? The only other designaton on the right side is "Model of 1911.U.S.Army" Nothing else. Left side above mag. release is a G with an M inside it.
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  • rufe-snow
    quote:Originally posted by asop
    There are no crescent markings. And this is the strange thing-No serial number. Appears maybe a single or at most a double digit serial# was there at one time. A strange scratch oblivated what was there? Looks like part of a 7 and that's all. Not ground out but deep scratch marks? The only other designaton on the right side is "Model of 1911.U.S.Army" Nothing else. Left side above mag. release is a G with an M inside it.



    J.M. Gilbert was a military inspector of 1911's made during World War I.

    Your description of the serial number area on the frame seams to suggest that the original serial number has been deliberately defaced. The feds take a very dim view of folks who have these guns in their possession.

    jmg.jpg
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  • perry shooter
    Any and all attempts to deface or modify the serial number on any firearm is bad MO JO no matter if you did it or someone before you [:(]
    If ever found in your procession or in your home you will have BUBBA as a room mate and never be able to own any fire arm again . My suggestion
    is to strip the gun of ALL parts to sell and then throw the frame in the trash / river/

    EDIT I think everyone is trying to help BUT the fact you have what "looks like an inspector mark of a G inside and an M this is a known WW I 1911 mark the fact that The Pistol whole gun has a patina and there are Strange Scratching over the 2 numbers that are there all add up to a VERY SLIGHT CHANCEthat this is a HOME MADE FRAME & OK FOR YOU TO KEEP... I have The Clawson BIG book among MANY other 1911 /1911A1 books. If I Knew you and you were a good friend and you showed up at my door you would not be invited inside and when I saw the two numbers with scratches over them you would be asked to leave my property.If the barrel has an H.P. on the top of the chamber area and a good bore it is worth $200.00 - $600-00 depending on condition and how the two letters are pointed. dont. give these parts away.
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  • yoshmyster
    quote:Originally posted by perry shooter
    Any and all attempts to deface or modify the serial number on any firearm is bad MO JO no matter if you did it or someone before you [:(]
    If ever found in your procession or in your home you will have BUBBA as a room mate and never be able to own any fire arm again . My suggestion
    is to strip the gun of ALL parts to sell and then throw the frame in the trash / river/


    So what if you turned this serial number "modified" gun in for "Handguns for Ham"? Would they take the gun or you in?
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  • asop
    Good advise I guess-hate to do it but I guess I go off to the next gun show and piece meal it out[:(!] Thanks
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  • p3skyking
    There's lots of ways to determine who actually made the frame and the time period. The assembler's markings next to the disconnector, the shape of the cut-outs after removing the stocks are a couple.
    You only gave the slide markings since MODEL OF 1911 appears on them too, for all we know, the frame could be homemade so don't go rushing down to turn it in just yet.
    Find someone local if possible THAT REALLY KNOWS WHAT THE HELL HE IS TALKING ABOUT. If he has Clawson's big expensive book on the Service Model, he will be able to give you precise information.
    Without pictures, we just scratch our heads most of the time.
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  • rufe-snow
    quote:Originally posted by p3skyking
    There's lots of ways to determine who actually made the frame and the time period. The assembler's markings next to the disconnector, the shape of the cut-outs after removing the stocks are a couple.
    You only gave the slide markings since MODEL OF 1911 appears on them too, for all we know, the frame could be homemade so don't go rushing down to turn it in just yet.
    Find someone local if possible THAT REALLY KNOWS WHAT THE HELL HE IS TALKING ABOUT. If he has Clawson's big expensive book on the Service Model, he will be able to give you precise information.
    Without pictures, we just scratch our heads most of the time.




    HORSEPUCKY!

    Lt. Col. J.M.Gilbert was a U.S. Army military inspector at Colt during the First World War, 1917/18. The serial number range of Colt 1911's during this time frame ran 137,000-594,000. If ASOP has a Gilbert inspected frame it would be in that serial number range. Per his description somebody has made a attempt to remove/deface the serial number.
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