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COLT 1911 Commercial Question

trsmith5
I have an oppurtunity to acquire a COLT 1911 commercial model.
It has a 5 digit serial number preceeded by the letter "C" which indicates a manufacture year of 1914. The gun almost looks too good to be true. It has some visable wear but not much and is extremely tight. My concern is that there is a letter "R" stamped on the trigger guard on the left side of gun and bottom right side of trigger guard. Is this an indication that the gun has been refinished or altered in some way? Other than this, the gun looks appropriate for its age.
Thanks for any information you can provide
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Comments

5 comments

Date Votes
  • nmyers
    The letter "C" stands for "commercial", & indicates that you are looking at a Colt Government Model, not a Colt 1911. A 5 digit SN gun was made in the 1914-1918 range. Why would you ask a question about a gun you are considering buying without giving us the exact SN?

    Rather than having us play "20 Questions" about this gun (on a forum where we are limited to 10 responses), it would be best for you to post photos of the gun, showing all markings, including all markings on the barrel.

    Unless, of course, the asking price is no more than $500, in which case you may just want to take your chances.

    Neal
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  • trsmith5
    Ok, I know its a commercial, I know it was made in 1914,the serial# 119xx. The only Question was what does the R stand for. I was hoping someone would know off the top of their head. All the markings on the gun and barrel coincide with a 1914 colt other than the "R".

    nmyers, your post triggers another question. Why is the gun listed in the blue book as a model 1911 commercial variation if it isn't?
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  • Hawk Carse
    quote:Why is the gun listed in the blue book as a model 1911 commercial variation if it isn't?

    Because Neal knows that the only true 1911 is military issue and the
    Blue Book is writing for the typical gun store clerk and customer who call everything anywhere like the GI sidearm a "1911".
    I doubt you will EVER find a Colt catalog or advertisement for a commercial Government Model calling it a 1911, not one in the period that gun was made, at least.

    The letter R on or near the trigger guard is one of several single letter or number stamps applied by Colt factory inspectors. As I usually say, a mark made by a man long dead for records long lost.
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  • perry shooter
    Hello The R is most likely the mark of one member of the workers at colt that had a hand in putting some of the parts together or polisher. In My opinion you have a valid [?] If the pistol seems to good to be true . There are a number of people that do a very good job of restoring Firearms. My rule of thumb is if the asking price is less then the cost of a pistol that needs restoring and the price of the restoration then it is most likely original and a very good deal. if the asking price is Equal to average condition gun + restoration then it is a toss-up but if truly like Brand new and the price is big bucks then I don't want to sound RUDE but. In my opinion you need to train yourself on what to look for " You would already know about each and every mark and what they stand for. " The best way to learn is by looking at hundreds of guns and buying good reference books Like the ones on Colt Government models as well as Military model 1911 and 1911A1 both books by Charles Clawson. However these books are pricey. I found a 1916 model Government model yesterday that was 99.9 % on one side but where it had laid in it's factory Box for 95 years it had removed about 5% of finish and thinned the other 95%. . Cut the value by at least 50%. But I would bet ever dime I have that this pistol is original. . The other thing you might try the next time you post a question is . Post some well lit in focus pictures from about 6 inches away of all roll marks etc . Then we could give you our OPINION on if the gun was refinished. some stamped areas will be flat. but others where the die displaces metal it will form a very small RIM that projects outward. No matter how good a restorer is it will not have this rim.
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  • trsmith5
    Thank you Gentlemen. You've all been a great help.
    My mainline of existence is Gold and Silver, but now and then I have people wanting to trade guns for precious metals. I just like to be sure and that's why I "Ask the Experts"
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