Colt 1911
Edit: got answer
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Ten years ago I still had my FFL 93-95, and had a parts .45 target auto set up on my table at a local Indianapolis show, an old gentleman said he was looking for a pistol like that and said he had something to trade. He opened a case to reveal a dark blued Colt 1911, with a two tone mag and instruction manual dated 1918. We swapped and this pistol is sitting in the bottom of my gun case forever, I dated it through the serial number to 1915 and colt said it was shipped to the US Army on the mexicam border. This part of the ol guys story checks out cause he said his Dad used it against Poncho Villas, forces in 1916. Now strange thing though three (3) small angle file notches are in the mag well bottom of the frame ^^ ^
Old guy said his Dad killed three men and notched the pistol each time. This is the story I wonder about. Anybody know how true this could be? The pistol is all original 1911 Colt, could someone just keep it from Uncle Sam all these years? For that matter could it have been used in WW II? Doesnt look re-blued or arsenal refinished to me. All parts and proofs match, bbl marking is correct. Each time I take it to a show, very rare these days, a so called expert looks at it, says something like "Yea an old Colt 1911" Wanna sell it? and thats it. I keep hoping the Antiques Road Show will stop by, but other than that I often wonder what I have and what its worth? Thanks for any info.0 -
Need quality photos, to help you. 0 -
quote:I recently came into possession of a Colt semi auto that has a commander frame with an officer's model barrel and slide. It came in a custom shop box. It seem's to be unfired. I can't find any information on this anywhere. Can anyone help me? Thank's. Oilslick
What kind of help do you want?0 -
quote:Originally posted by beantownshootah
quote:I recently came into possession of a Colt semi auto that has a commander frame with an officer's model barrel and slide. It came in a custom shop box. It seem's to be unfired. I can't find any information on this anywhere. Can anyone help me? Thank's. Oilslick
What kind of help do you want?0 -
At some point in the mid '90s I purchased a "used but in the box" Colt 1911 type 45 ACP that sounds like the one you have. It was called, on the box, but not so marked on the gun, a Commanding Officer and appeared to be a combination of a commander and officers model. I think, but don't know for sure, that it was early '90s manufacture. This one had a matte blue finish which showed scratches and wear easily. I did some research on it over several years but never did come up with much background information other than that supposedly only 500 were made. I chalked it up to that period when the marketing boys had taken over at Colt and all kinds of odd combinations were coming out of the factory as they tried to hold off bankruptcy. Wasn't very impressed with they way it shot so eventually traded it to someone who wanted it much worse than I did. 0 -
And the Question is[?][?][?] 0 -
Originally posted by perry shooter
And the Question is[?][?][?]
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/quote]I was wanting info about the gun. when it was made and how many thanks0 -
quote:Originally posted by oilslick Originally posted by perry shooter
And the Question is[?][?][?]
[
/quote]I was wanting info about the gun. when it was made and how many thanks
Going to be awfully hard to answer that question lacking a picture and serial number.
Have you considered contacting Colt?0 -
...Again...call Colt Customer Service, give the Serial number to ANY Colt...even ones manf. in the 1800's...and they will give you the year your Colt was born; the call and that info is free.
...If you want detailed info on the gun, ask about thier Colt letter. The Colt letter will tell you EXACTLY what configuration it left the factory, date it left the factory, in your case, how many were in that run, finish, the recieving individual etc; the last letter I got, was $100 bucks.
...I don't have the "info" books about Colts that detail almost all models and complete info etc, my Colt books deal with Colt smithing.
... IF I remember correctly, and IF this was the only configuration this limited run gun was manf. in (I doubt that), a lot of "IF's" [:D] I know. IF ([:D]) the gun is in the cond. you say, original as it left the factory, original to the gun box w/all paper work...I "think" it may be the Commanding Officer with a run of 3-500.
...The more you learn about Colt, the more you realize how much you don't know...especially the short run guns, as many models were short, one time runs. A lot of these were a colaboration between the Colt Custom Shop and Lew Horton...with some parts from other name Co's...to further add to the confusion on these guns.
The serial number is usually the number & name abreviation in the run THAT gun was, for instance...Colt McCormick Racer/run 500...serial MFR237...#237 of 500.
...McCormick Racer, Colt gun, Colt parts/Custom Shop w/Chip McCormick internal/external parts...built in part by Lew Horton in collaboration w/Colt Custom Shop...very little info on these guns; maybe covered in a Clawson Colt Book...the $600 to $1,000 dollar Clawson book [:0][:D]
...Bright hard chrome finish but my lack of pic skills makes it appear as matte finish.
...Your gun as mentioned in cond. above, will command a premium, and do show up here from time to time, w/prices all over the map from $1,000 to $2000 for one in condition I mentioned...[;)]
...EDIT:...[:0] Maybe I missed something, or could be wrong about it being a Commanding Officer...but didn't the Commanding Officers state such on the slide?
...If they did, and your gun does not have this or another name on the slide, Perry could be spot on!...[;)]0 -
Forgive me but IF I had a pistol from the COLT Custom Shop I would have all the paper work denoting the custom features as well as the serial number. You can buy colt custom shop boxes all day long . One could buy 2 pistols and swap the upper half and you would have 2 guns that are ONE-OF-A-KIND. You need to prove this is how the gun was shipped and this would take a FACTORY letter Clawson has somme great books but does not cover any thing this late in years 0 -
the gun youre asking about is a commanding officer or officers lightweight commander (both names were used but colt letters will use the latter).
it was a limited run of 500 in 1985.
some references state there was another run of 365 in 1988, but i can't verify that.
they also made a similar configuration in 9mm, 500 in 1990.
If its NIB youre looking at $1000- 1200 if youre willing to wait for a colt collector to come around.
most are sold in the $800 - 1000 range "used"
A rarer combination was an officer frame with a commander barrel! only 125 of these were "officially" made .
tom0
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