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1911 colt question

richbug
After reading several post regarding the 1911, I myself have one or two.
I own a U.S. Goverment Colt 1911, serial number 281787. I purchased it about 20 years ago from a co-worker who was getting rid of his deceased father's firearms. He told me it was a bring back from the Philippines, where his father was a horse calvary soldier before WWII. I was of the opinion it was correct, but now not sure. The blueing is about 10% to 20% with the slide and frame wear looking the same. All the makings, proofmarks, inspection marks are correct I believe. The question is the slide. It has the Colt stallion between the pat. dates and Colt mfg. Is this correct for the serial number? If correct but knowing the sad state of finish, would it be worth $400.00? Thanks is advance.
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  • richbug
    I came across a 1911 colt that was curious, but had some problems. first the serial number puts it at 1913, but it has a 1911a1 slide. Was it normal for the arsenals to piece together 2 different guns like this. the guy who has it claims he bought it off of a vet who brought it home from ww2 in the early 50's. all the proofs are there for the earlier gun, but I don't think that the a1 slide belongs. The fram has 60% finish, the slide 80%. It looks like a parts gun to me, but I am no expert. Any help would be appreciated.

    rich

    My border collie is smarter than your honor student.
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  • bobski
    in 1923, the majority of 1911's were upgraded to A1 status. what you have is a very common situation amongst 1911's. that was the beauty of the gun...they could be stripped and pieced together in the field during the war. happened all the time. still does.

    former air operations officer SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2. former navy skeet team, navy rifle/pistol team member. co-owner skeetmaster tubes inc.. owner/operator professional shooting instruction.
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  • kuhlewulf
    Not uncommon at all. The norm is a mis matched gun/aresenal rebuild, and not a bad thing. The only thing you should watch for is commercial production parts mixed with military. Are there any arsenal stamps on the weapon? Go to http://www.coolgunsite.com/pistols/arsenalrebuilds.htm then look and compare.

    James

    Whats next? A ban on automatic transmissions?
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  • nmyers
    If it has been through an arsenal rebuild, most likely everything will have been reparked, & the color of the finish on the slide & frame will match, & it will have a USGI barrel.

    Otherwise, it is a parts gun.

    Neal
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  • richbug
    The finish matches in color, a dark grey black park, but very smooth. the wear to the finish is what bothered me the most, especially on the frame in front of the trigger whereas the slide had very little wear. It had a circled P on the trigger guard, and another 3 letter proof, but I forget what it was. Any idea as to a value?

    My border collie is smarter than your honor student.
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  • MIKE WISKEY
    I WAS A SMALL ARMS REPAIRMAN IN GERMANY IN THE LATE 1960'S, A M.P. COMPANY BROUGHT IN A BUNCH OF .45'S TO BE INSPECTED. MOST WERE RUN OF THE MILL 1911A1'S BUT THERE WERE ABOUT 6 1911'S ALL STOCK. I TRIED TO FIND OUT IF WE SHOULD SEND THEM TO DEPOT FOR UPGRADING TO THE A1 FORM BUT WAS TOLD NO.
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  • nmyers
    It sounds like a commercially reparked parts gun. The arsenals used a manganese phosphate process that produced a dark gray finish, but which by now will have turned to a greenish tinge on many guns.

    Still, any decent USGI 1911 will sell in the $400-500 range.

    Neal
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