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ID a Colt .45 ACP ? (Pics Added)

tapwater
...My BIL's brother asked me to try to ID a Colt from his father. He's 1500 miles away, and I don't have a pic. All I have so far is this:

Patented April 20, 1897...Sept 9, 1902...Dec 19, 1905...Feb 14, 1911...Aug 19, 1913.
Colts PT. F. A. MFG CO....Hartford, CT. USA
It has the little Colt horsey stamped at the back of the slide next to hammer.
Other side...GOVERNMENT MODEL C 8400
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Comments

8 comments

Date Votes
  • Hawk Carse
    OK, you know what a 1911 looks like, right?

    A Government Model is the commercial model for civilian sales equivalent to the 1911 service pistol. Serial number C 8400 was made in 1914.

    Collector interest and resale dollar value depend entirely on originality and condition. If unaltered and in say NRA excellent condition, it is quite valuable.

    Well, let us know if you get better information (or PICTURES!) from him. But if it is marked "Government Model" and not "United States Property" it is not military issue. Also there is no other meaning I know of for "C 8400" than a serial number in which the "C" prefix means "commercial."
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  • tapwater
    quote:Originally posted by Hawk Carse
    OK, you know what a 1911 looks like, right?

    A Government Model is the commercial model for civilian sales equivalent to the 1911 service pistol. Serial number C 8400 was made in 1914.

    Collector interest and resale dollar value depend entirely on originality and condition. If unaltered and in say NRA excellent condition, it is quite valuable.


    ...I'm still trying to get more info from him. I'm not clear if that "C 8400" is on the other side of the slide or on the frame. I don't have a 1911 at hand to examine. He thinks it's G.I. issue, but it should say "Property of_____" somewhere.
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  • perry shooter
    Both the 1911 and 1911A1 were made by Colt Commercial sales had serial numbers that started with the letter C from 1912 until the late 1960's They also had Government model on the frame . This denotes they were a full size 5 inch barrel model "not that they belonged to the GOVERNMENT" The Military guns would have inspector marks and the slide would have Script on the left side of the slide and UNITED STATES PROPERTY in front of the trigger guard on the left side of the frame.The right side of the slide will have "MODEL OF 1911 U.S.ARMY serial numbers will be all numbers on early guns infront of the trigger guard and later guns wil have No. and then all numbers behind the trigger guard. without pictures we can not tell if your gun is all original or made up of parts. Value at this point with your information pistol could be anywhere between $400.00 - $4000.00 value is in the DETAILS .
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  • tapwater
    ...OK, fellas, these are the pics he sent. I had a heck of a time getting them into photobucket, so if they are way over size, could a mod please shrink them down? Thanks.

    [img][/img]IMAG0010.jpg
    [img][/img]IMAG0009.jpg
    [img][/img]IMAG0008.jpg
    [img][/img]IMAG0007.jpg
    [img][/img]IMAG0006.jpg
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  • rufe-snow
    Lucky guy! It sure looks like the real Mccoy to me. The only thing that would be all questionable, would be what looks like pitting in the grasping groves in the slide. If it is pitted there, it shouldn't have blue in the pits, or it has been refinished.
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  • 1KYDSTR
    Should that mainspring housing be curved ?...the frame is correct in that it has no finger cutouts. Just thought the curved mainspring started in the 20's with the A1?
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  • perry shooter
    Too much glare from flash to be sure if refinished or not . See if you can get pictures out side with natural light no shadows, But it looks correct if I am reading the first number of the serial number as an 8 we also need to see pictures of all markings one the barrel it self . Very important marks on the breach face end of barrel hood . You might have hit a home run but still too early with out better pictures to tell. At least you are still up to bat and have not struck out. Mainspring housing should be flat not 1911A1 arched but that is easy to correct.
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  • tapwater
    ...Thanks guys. Though not a member, he's following this thread. He's wisely decided against taking it apart without better help than a downloaded video. I can relate....I've gone for help with a box of parts before...[:I]
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