1911 LUNCH BOX ?
I have come across a WEIRD 1911 This pistol has 1911 frame with the numbers 82 on the left front of trigger guard the letter G in 6:00 clock position to the disconnector hole and the number 3 beside the feed ramp all 1911 parts knurled slide stop with smooth rounded bottom "1920's ?" type 3 1918 style knureled safety and the letters goverment model on left side of frame behind the slide stop pin hole . The hole in the grip frame under the grips are HEART SHAPED top and bottom as shown on page 200 of clawson's book. The slide has the commerical 1920 type roll stamp both left and right side and a .058 wide front sight . now the weird part This pistol has no proof marks on the left side trigger guard or frame. It has and never had a SERIAL # on the frame or slide . it has not been ground off or welded over. The finsh is over 50 years old. However it is not high polish fire blue it is about 98% both inside and out. This came from an estate of person whose father worked for colt and was born in 1899. My question to the Experts is . Can you legaly own a pistol with no serial number . can you sell such pistol . I would like to advise the owner. What is it worth??? Thanks I am not bright enough to post pictures on this sight but may be able to get some to email an expert that needs pictures. Thanks in advance PERRY SHOOTER
0
-
Prior to 1968, many guns were made without serial numbers. This is not a problem when owning or selling a gun; you only need to worry if there is/was a serial number that has been altered or removed. Dealers/collectors write NSN (no serial number) in their records for these guns.
Without a manufacturers name, things get a little more difficult. Based on the information you provided, I guess that you could assume that it is a Colt; after all, many .45 pistols did not have the manufacturers name marked on the frame, & it certainly sounds like a commercial Colt. But, a gun with no name & no serial number may be troublesome for some dealers, so I wouldn't be surprised if some refused to handle it. BATFE has been known to examine unusual guns & issue decisions memos, & that may be worth looking into.
While documented Colt prototypes can bring big bucks, a gun without provenance would be difficult to sell. However, there may be 1 or 2 advanced collectors out there who HAVE such documentation for this particular gun, & may be willing to pay a premium for it.
Neal0 -
Since the original owner worked at Colt's, I'd bet dollars to donuts that this was a "Lunch Box Special" made of various bits and pieces that "followed the owner home" over a period of time.
We're originally from the Hartford area, and my dad worked at Colt's just before WWII.
Guns like this aren't all that uncommon in and around the Hartford area. I've seen some "in the white" with no markings at all, some with home blue jobs, some with partial markings.
Since your gun seems to be made up of mostly M1911 parts, that places it before 1924.....well before the Gun Control Act of 1968 required all guns to be serial numbered.0 -
Perry that sounds like ether a keeper or a money maker, and I own several firearms with no serial numbers, all purchased legal 
0 -
Thanks every one for you reply . Karl 0 -
some years ago i had a remington umc 1911 with all normal markings except no sn. i have heard stories of lunch pail specials and also of guns given (or taken) by execs at the factory. i KNOW that is was not a phony since the previous owner had a bill of sale from a pawnshop in indiana dated 1931! he carried it in his capacity of a security agent for more than 20 yrs. People were not counterfitting guns in 1931!
morty0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
5 comments