Colt .45 Argentine model of 1927

[painter777]

First time poster on this forum, better known on the Carbine forum.

I have a Colt made for the Argentines model of 1927.
'Ejercito Argentino'...
From what I've been able to find out.... Colt made 10,000 of these for the Agentines at their Colt plant, here in the USA. Under the supervision of Lt. Col Raul Andreas Ara.
I've taken plenty of pics while I have it torn down, trying to document any markings I can find. This was passed on to me from my Father, who owned it for as long as I can remember. I believe the frt sight is not original, but other than that....
Can anyone give me any more info and a possible value. I'm a novice when it comes to the .45's.
I'll post some of the pictures and a link to my pic file.
I appreciate your time.

TIA
Charlie-painter777

Link to photo file,Colt-Argentine model of 1927 pictures by Painter8439 - Photobucket (http://s40.photobucket.com/albums/e227/Painter8439/Colt-Argentine%20model%20of%201927/)

Markings,
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e227/Painter8439/Colt-Argentine%20model%20of%201927/DSC02942.jpg
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e227/Painter8439/Colt-Argentine%20model%20of%201927/DSC02937.jpg
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e227/Painter8439/Colt-Argentine%20model%20of%201927/DSC02938.jpg
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e227/Painter8439/Colt-Argentine%20model%20of%201927/DSC02969.jpg
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e227/Painter8439/Colt-Argentine%20model%20of%201927/DSC02964.jpg
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e227/Painter8439/Colt-Argentine%20model%20of%201927/DSC02945.jpg
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e227/Painter8439/Colt-Argentine%20model%20of%201927/DSC02932.jpg
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e227/Painter8439/Colt-Argentine%20model%20of%201927/DSC02983.jpg
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e227/Painter8439/Colt-Argentine%20model%20of%201927/DSC02980.jpg
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e227/Painter8439/Colt-Argentine%20model%20of%201927/DSC02976.jpg
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e227/Painter8439/Colt-Argentine%20model%20of%201927/DSC02969.jpg
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e227/Painter8439/Colt-Argentine%20model%20of%201927/DSC02995.jpg
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e227/Painter8439/Colt-Argentine%20model%20of%201927/DSC02917.jpg

[painter777]

Guys,
I just realized I didn't get a picture of the top/rear part of the frame, it is also stamped with a circled RA and a G.
I know the circled RA stands for Lt Col Raul Adreas Ara.
A few parts are stamped with a circled R.
What might the circled R stand for?
What about the G ?
In one of the pics you can see a C or G stamped inside the left groove of the slide.
Also the picture showing the upper left grip screw hole. It has the number 20 at about the 9 'o' clock position, also a number 3 at the 3 'o' clock position.
Any idea what these may stand for?
I'm guessing the V with the small P inside it at the 6 'o' clock would be a Colt proof (?)
Any thoughts are appreciated.

Regards
Charlie-painter777

[painter777]

Here's a picture of the G and circled RA.
Also pictures of it put back together and the link to Photobucket,
Colt-Argentine model of 1927 pictures by Painter8439 - Photobucket (http://s40.photobucket.com/albums/e227/Painter8439/Colt-Argentine%20model%20of%201927/)

Thanks for any help
Regards
Charlie-painter777
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e227/Painter8439/Colt-Argentine%20model%20of%201927/DSC03026.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e227/Painter8439/Colt-Argentine%20model%20of%201927/DSC03034.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e227/Painter8439/Colt-Argentine%20model%20of%201927/DSC03068.jpg
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e227/Painter8439/Colt-Argentine%20model%20of%201927/DSC03071.jpg

[Bruce Koligian]

Xavier Thoughts: The Colt Sistema (http://xavierthoughts.blogspot.com/2009/03/colt-sistema.html)

Here's a starting point for your research. I have a more definative reference somewhere but I can't remember what I ate for dinner let alone find that site.
Good luck, B.

[Johnny Peppers]

As to the G, Colt made it the practice to stamp military contract pistol frames, slides, and to some extent barrels, with a G (Government), and commercial sales pistols with an S at times when both contract and sales pistols were in production.
Military contract pistols may be found with an S, and commercial sales pistols with a G, as Colt never threw anything away and routinely transferred parts between contracts. In 1924 Colt had a contract for 10,000 of the improved version of the Model 1911, but receivers marked with a G are found up into the early 1930's on commercial sales pistols. During WWII Colt transferred a large quantity of completed commercial .45's to the military contract, along with a lot of parts already stamped with the S. While the commercial pistols had the blue finish sandblasted off, and were renumbered in the military serial number range, the parts mentioned still carried the S.

[badabing]

In view of the condition and the replaced front sight, collector value would not be much. I own a couple of these and the condition isn't much better than yours. I paid shooter grade prices for them. Interesting piece of history but most have seen hard use. I'm pretty certain the circled R is also an Argentine stamp, Clawson has a more info in his Government Models book, I'll look it up tonight.

[painter777]

Appreciate your help....

Charlie-painter777

[badabing]

The circled R and RA are both Argentine inspector's stamps. The inspectors were present at the Colt factory when the guns were made according to Clawson. Major Juan Carlos Bassi was in charge of the inspection team. Lt.Col Ara was Director F.M.A.P. in Argentina, they made the Sistemas in Rosario, Argentina.

[Jim K]

Looks like a previous post was lost when the power here went off.

Anyway, that pistol is a bit unusual in having the Argentine serial number on the right side of the frame in script. They normally had no serial number at all in that position, and the true frame serial was under the mainspring housing. When the guns were brought back, the importer was required to number the frame, so the slide number was used, but the number stamp was in a different font. Snce the Argentines apparently used only the slide number for inventory and control, they placed little emphasis on keeping parts together and it is rare for the original frame number, under the MSH, to match the slide or added frame number.

Painter777, could you look under the MSH and see if there is a number there and if it matches the slide number?

Jim

[painter777]

First I'd like to Thank You All for the help.....

To JimK,
Here's a picture of the Serial Number under the MSH.....
Every Number on it matches...

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e227/Painter8439/Colt-Argentine%20model%20of%201927/DSC02899.jpg

Here's a link to my Photo's of it,
Colt-Argentine model of 1927 pictures by Painter8439 - Photobucket (http://s40.photobucket.com/albums/e227/Painter8439/Colt-Argentine%20model%20of%201927/?start=40)

Thanks Again,

Charlie-painter777

[Jim K]

That is a rather rare gun in that it appears to be all matching from the factory, uncommon with the Argentine Colts. I don't know what that means in dollars, but it would have to be something more than the unmatching ones in the same condition.

Jim

[painter777]

Jim,
I took the pictures to document the markings while I had it torn down.
I was really surprised how well it cleaned up.
The action is tight. I have about 6 mags for it, that have always been stored with it.
I'll have to pull them out and try to ID those also.

My Father swapped a pocket watch for it years ago.

Thanks Again

Charlie Holland
painter777

[cafdfw]

WOW! It's outstanding that all the numbers matched Charlie.

I know it's worth more than any monetary value because it was your dad's 1911, but what a bonus!