Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

Colt 1911 Two-Toned Magazines - Why?? OK!!

northstar
Hello. I'm seeking authoritative information on the meaning of the two-tone finish on (presumed) early Colt magazines for the 1911. They appear to be a desirable collectible because of this condition. Was this finish the result of a particular manufacturing process? Was is deliberate? Did it denote something arcane? Thanks for your serious response. Roger.

Followup:
Thank you, Neal and p3skyking. I value highly your responses, which are lucid and concise, and which shine the light of understanding where darkness once prevailed. You folks undoubtedly could qualify to play on the NRA Technical Staff team!
0

Comments

2 comments

Date Votes
  • nmyers
    The earliest 1911 mags were completely blue. To increase durability of the feed lips & magazine catch slot, it was decided to temper the top half. Since tempering (immersion of a heated part in an oil bath) discolors metal, it was decided to only blue the bottom half of the mag.

    Neal
    0
  • p3skyking
    It is correct about the durability of the feed lips and magazine catch.

    The magazines were tempered prior to bluing. It was found that the magazines lost temper due to the high heat of the bluing process and this allowed the lips to deform easily.

    To retemper the feed lips, and later the mag slot, the blued magazines were dipped in a cyanide solution at 1450* to 1475*F for three minutes. They were then flushed with a lye rinse.

    This removed the bluing on the upper third of the magazine. This was done at Colt's Hartford plant.
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity