Colt Service Model Conversion Unit question
Since I am handgun illiterate, I would appreciate it if someone can tell me if this kit was manufactured to convert a 1911A1 .45 ACP to a .22 caliber or is it to convert the .22 Ace Service Model to a .45 ACP. The print leads me to think it's the latter, but I need to know because I understand the values differ alot.
The barrel is the only part that has any marks on it and it just reads "COLT 45 AUTO". The slide and ejector are missing. Are these the parts that would have been in this box or would this box have contained .22 parts when it was new?
Thanks for any help.[:)]
Dan.
The barrel is the only part that has any marks on it and it just reads "COLT 45 AUTO". The slide and ejector are missing. Are these the parts that would have been in this box or would this box have contained .22 parts when it was new?
Thanks for any help.[:)]
Dan.
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It looks like someone put the 45 parts in the 22 kit box.
The box is for a 22 conversion kit.0 -
The inside of the box notes "Floating Chamber". The very rare .45 conversion for the .22 Service Ace., wouldn't have a barrel with a Floating Chamber. 0 -
I got this from another forum. quote:The Service Model Ace has a floating chamber and its frame does have the .45 ejector, making it possible to convert it to .45 by replacing the slide, barrel and spring.
What u think? I'm confused.0 -
You are misinterpreting the "print." Note the reference to the "Floating Chamber," which was intended to boost the recoil impulse of the .22 rimfire cartridge enough to cycle the heavy full-size slide. The printed description of the box contents is a ".22 Conversion Unit," not a ".45 Conversion Unit." There were only 112 of the Conversion Units designed to convert the .22 rimfire Service Model Ace to .45 ACP, and those boxes are marked ".45-.22 Government Model Conversion Unit" and state on the box that they are "For Use With The Service Model Ace Only."
This box once held a Conversion Unit designed to convert a commercial Government Model .45 to .22 rimfire. (Of course, the Conversion Unit will convert a military Model of 1911 or 1911A1 to .22 rimfire as well, but the Units were originally sold to convert commercial Government Models, not military models.) The box apparently got separated from the .22 Conversion Unit, probably when the Conversion Unit was installed on the .45 frame, and the resulting converted gun was transferred as a .22 rimfire gun without its original centerfire .45 parts. The .45 parts remained in the box, resulting in what you see now.
The box is of the type used beginning in about 1946 until 1948 or so. (Earlier Conversion Unit boxes referenced eight parts inside the lid instead of the seven listed inside this lid. The Units shipped in the earlier boxes were serial-numbered, and the number was written inside the left side of the lid in pencil.) The parts have little value, but the box has significant value.0 -
You have a box for a 22 Conversion unit all the parts that came in this box are most likely installed on a 1911 Type frame that also most likely was a 45ACP frame. the parts that are in your box are incomplete to return a pistol with a 22 conversion installed BACK to a 45 . Biggest problem you don't have the 45 Slide to go with this barrel. Hope this helps. The box alone is worth $50.00 or more. barrel value is anywhere from $50.00 to $1500.00 depending one vintage and markings. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by rekurv
I got this from another forum. quote:The Service Model Ace has a floating chamber and its frame does have the .45 ejector, making it possible to convert it to .45 by replacing the slide, barrel and spring.
What u think? I'm confused.
I began drafting my response when no one else had replied, but got a phone call that delayed completing my response until after others had replied.
I do not see what is confusing about the quoted statement. It is true. All that is needed to convert a .22 Service Model Ace to .45 ACP are the necessary .45 parts. If they are in the form of an original .45-.22 Conversion Unit, plan on spending quite a few thousand dollars to make the conversion, if you can find one for sale.0 -
quote:There were only 112 of the Conversion Units designed to convert the .22 rimfire Service Model Ace to .45 ACP, and those boxes are marked ".45-.22 Government Model Conversion Unit" and state on the box that they are "For Use With The Service Model Ace Only."
This is exactly what I needed to know. :2beers:
To the uninformed like me, the print on my box is not enough to know, without knowing how the other conversion unit box was labeled.
These parts must be from my Colt .45 that has the Colt .22 conversion on it right now. That's what I wanted to verify.
You guys are very kind and patient to help me. Thanks![:)]
Dan0 -
I see from an earlier post, now locked, that you apparently DO have the original Conversion Unit parts. That is fortunate since early Post-War Conversion Units are desirable, although the poor pitted condition of this Unit reduces the value greatly. How does the reference to the Colt company read on the Conversion Unit slide? Does it say "Colt's Manufacturing Company" or "Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company?" (Both names will be abbreviated as stamped on the slide.) Is the ejector milled or stamped?
I am going to edit my reply so as to not use up another post on the road to being locked.
I checked back to the earlier post and see that the Conversion Unit is a later one with the Coltmaster rear sight. Such a Conversion Unit would NOT have been shipped in the black box pictured in this thread. My simple mind relying on my weak memory was confusing the genuine Service Model Ace pistol pictured in the other thread with the pistol with the Conversion Unit mounted on it. Sorry to add to the confusion. The pictured later Conversion Unit will be a Colt's Manufacturing Company unit and will have a stamped ejector.0
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