figure out my 1911
Hello, I have a Colt 1911 I purchased from my neighbor. He is a WWII vet who tells me the gun was brought back from the pacific theater. He says he has never had the gun refinished.
What confuses me is this: The serial number indicates a 1918 build date (391344)but the finish appears to be parkerized. I know many of these later Colts were arsenel refinished before being issued for WWII, but this one does not have any markings the refinished pistols should have. Is it possible it was arsenel refinished for WWII and the marking was forgotten? Or is more likely my 90 year old neighbor just doesn't remeber getting it parkerized?
What confuses me is this: The serial number indicates a 1918 build date (391344)but the finish appears to be parkerized. I know many of these later Colts were arsenel refinished before being issued for WWII, but this one does not have any markings the refinished pistols should have. Is it possible it was arsenel refinished for WWII and the marking was forgotten? Or is more likely my 90 year old neighbor just doesn't remeber getting it parkerized?
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Parkerizing was first used by the US Military in 1918 to refinish small arms. Your pistol was refinished at some time between then & when it was issued to your neighbor in WW2. The only marking applied to Ordnance rebuilt pistols was the armory stamp, but this was often omitted. And, sometimes this stamp was applied before the pistol was refinished, sometimes after.
The odds are pretty good that your pistol has a replacement barrel & grips.
Neal0
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