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Two 1911's 38 Super & Union Switch & Signal

MOONED
Well, I found a Colt 1911 in 38 super this morning. The serial range is in the 125,700 range, so I think that puts it as a 1957 production. The condition is a solid 90%, but the pistol has target sights on it. I??m not sure if they were available as ??original?" at the time or if they were added on by the owner. Also, the grips are?K.indescribable. They are very large & bulky target grips which do not say Colt on them anywhere. I have seen some older Colts that say ??Target Matched?" on the right side of the slide, and was not sure if this period production would have said this or not. This pistol does not say Target Matched. Also, there is no ??C?" in front of the serial number, so I??m curious what model it would have been?Kjust a 1911 in 38 Super? I know there was commercial models back then, but was not sure why the ??C?" was not present. The serial number is not on the slide by the firing pin, so I??m not sure if that was typical in 1957 or not. I know some of the 1911??s prior to that period had the serial number at the end of the slide behind the firing pin retainer (?).

The same gentleman has another 1911, which is a Union Switch & Signal. Unfortunately, it??s been blued ??. It is a correct frame and slide with wrong grips. The seller wants $1,000 each for these pistols. I think the 38 Super would be the better purchase of the two, but just want to make sure I am not buying a somewhat ??butchered?" variation.
I do not think the USS is worth the money, but if I can work a deal?K..who knows. It would be just another shooter I think.


EDIT:
No pictures are available. Sorry....

Aaron
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Comments

5 comments

Date Votes
  • perry shooter
    Hello The 38 super had serial numbers all to them-self and did NOT have a "C" as part of the serial. More on your pistols later got to go to work Cheers Karl.
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  • 22hipower
    Sheldon's Colt's Super .38 book The Production History agrees with the 1957 manufacture date. Pictures would be helpful but $1,000 for a modified 90% gun without original grips seems high to me. Target sights, assuming you mean an adjustable rear sight, I think only came on the Super Match version so the sights on the one you're looking at are likely not factory. If the front sight has been changed too, probably, you may find an extra hole (or two) in the slide to attach the sight to the slide. The 38 Supers from that time are really nice guns and I hope to acquire a few more too but this one sounds more like a shooter than a collector and IMO would be more reasonably priced in the $600 range.

    Would really like to see pictures of both guns if you could get them.
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  • Hawk Carse
    Are you sure the .38 Super is still .38 Super caliber?
    A lot of .38 Supers were converted to .38 Special (wadcutter ammunition only) for target shooting, which would explain the target sights.

    Colt did not keep making the .38 Super Match after WW II.
    Colt quit putting the serial number under the firing pin stop in 1943. I doubt they started back after the war.

    I never saw a gun marked Target Matched. There is the Woodsman .22 Match Target but that is about it.


    Too bad the US&S has been reblued, that would be a real nice gun if as army issued.

    There was a guy on another board who had a $400 gun fully restored t0 look like new. It cost him $1450 so he has spent $1850 to get a gun he could have bought for $1500. So be careful about altered guns.
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  • rufe-snow
    From your description, you don't want to go there. Both guns have been screwed with, and are way overpriced IMHO.

    HC has made a very valid point regarding the .38 Super though. If it was one of the .38 Supers converted to .38 Special by one of the noted "Bullseye" gunsmiths of that era. And if you could identify the gunsmith, it might have more value then just a Bubbaed .38 Super. Perry Shooter is very knowledgeable about Bullseye target guns of that era. If anybody can identify it, it would be him.
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  • MOONED
    Hawk,

    No doubt on being cautious. I was pretty sure the number would not be on the back of the slide, but thought I would include that in my description. Anyway, I think the USS is out of the ballpark wanting a grand with a blued finish. If it had been to an arsenal, and parkerized, different story. But it's blued....shiny.

    EDIT:Thanks Rufe-Snow for the information. I have already been in contact with Perry Shooter regarding these two.
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