1944 Colt 1911A1 Quesrtions

[rickytz7111]

Hello All,

This is my first post on here. I just purchased this gun and was wanting to know if everything looks right to you guys. My concern is the main spring housing. I thought 1944 guns had the serrated housings. I believe this is a early 1944 gun due to the serial #. I wasn't sure if they kept using the same main spring housing as in 1943 or not. Thanks for any help


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[Duane Hansen]

You are OK on the msh as they were still checkered at this serial number. You are very close to the change over to the serrated version though.

[rickytz7111]

Did the rest of the gun look ok to you? Is the V at the back of the slide correct? What do you feel this gun is worth? I would rate it 97%-98%. Wouild you happen to know around what serial # they started makng 1944 guns? Thanks

[Jr.]

This pistol has been refinished. I hope you already knew that.

[KeithNyst]

Colt 1944 shipments started at around SN 1155000

[Jr.]

QUESTION How can you tell if this pistol has been refinished:

If you have Johnny Peppers, Karl Karash, Scott Gahimer or John Holbrook take a look, they would probably tell you that this pistol has been refinished. If not I would be surprised.
One key is in photos is to look at the slide roll stamping in the photo. It is very weak on the lower line, Sometimes that is normal when the roll stamps begin to wear out, but they are soon replaced.

The parkerizing finish is not of the 1944 Colt era. The finish is of the newer type which has the sparkle spotting glitter in the photos. I have taken many photos of re-parkerized pistols along side the original finish pistols and NOTICED a big difference by a long shot between the two. You should take a look at the photos posted on M1911A1 coolgunsite for a 1944 Colt. Or check out Karl Karash's CD with all the original photos posted for M1911 & M1911A1 pistols? Also Karl himself could tell you about the finish on this pistol. The fellas that I have mentioned in my post here are some of the best expert M1911 & M1911A1 collectors around. They can smell a reparked pistol a mile away.

[rickytz7111]

Would you mind telling me if this gun has ben re-finished. What do you feel the value of the re-finished gun is worth? Thanks

[Scott Gahimer]

I won't tell him his pistol is refinished, based on the photos provided.

I do in-hand inspections and literally look and hundreds, or perhaps thousands of M1911 and M1911A1 pistols each year. I know they do not always look like the photos do. There are a lot of things that determine originality. These photos are not good enough, and others would be necessary to even have an idea of originality IMO.

Most of the markings look distinctly different, as though they are struck after finish. However, maybe they just were not buffed, if refinished.

I would want to inspect the pistol thoroughly before saying one way or the other on this one. Value?

The value would be significantly different, based on whether the pistol is original and correct.

[rickytz7111]

Thanks Mr. Gahimer. I took some diffrent photos with diffrent lighting. They look quit a bit diffrent. The second batch i took is how the gun looks in person. The ones with the red rag make it look way darker then it is. I will try and post some new photos and see if you can see anything that would tell you it has been refinished or not. I have been told that it's not but you know how that goes. Thanks

[rickytz7111]

Here are some diffrrent pics of the gun. Thanks



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[Harlan]

That just shows how much things can change when using digital cameras.

Can you get a photo of the feed ramp and some photos with the stocks removed?