WWII Commercial/Military transfer pistols

[Scott Gahimer]

Here are a few photos...just for fun. They show some of the pistols Colt's reworked and transferred over to the military contract when they suspended their commercial production in 1942.

The first (5) are all renumbered pistols. Then in the photos with (10) pistols, nine are renumbered and one simply has a commercial to military transferred slide. That pistol is in the 930xxx range, and is one of about 8-10 known.
One of the renumbered pistols is 860819, and is W.B. final inspected. That pistol is one of 2 known.

There were about 6575+/- renumbered commercial pistols that were transferred and reworked to military standards. Mr. Clawson says they started at 860003 and ran (mostly consecutively) through about 866600.

Other pistols in a broader 1942 serial range had commercial parts transferred as well. The identifiable parts are normally the Colt S marked and "P" proved barrels, S marked receivers and the marked and unmarked pinned base C/M magazines.

I personally only know of two C/M pistols outside the 860xxx-866xxx range that have S marked recievers that are cut for the Swartz safety, but were not far enough along in production to require rework or renumbering. I have one of those pistols in the 872xxx range. The other one is Brit proved and in the early 90x,xxx serial range.
http://i44.tinypic.com/rba05z.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/2sacbpf.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/2gub0yb.jpg
http://i40.tinypic.com/fax64y.jpg

One of my nicer C/M pistols:
http://i40.tinypic.com/2mn57wx.jpg
http://i43.tinypic.com/mrtxuh.jpg

[lenb]

My goodness, Scott, what an amazing display of beautiful pistols! I'm growing more and more interested in the commercial to military conversion pistols. Looks like another variant I'll have to add to my wish list. Thanks for sharing and for the great examples.

Len

[lboos]

WOW! Scott how long did it take you to collect that many C/M colt's?
I had no idea one person could have that many.
I only have one C/M and thought i was lucky.
What a great collection:beerchug:.

[Scott Gahimer]

Well...I'm not exactly sure how long it took. And I've owned others as well, but did not retain all of them. I've passed on others. Sad to say, but I'm still always looking for more of them, too.

About 7-8 years ago I decided I wanted a "run" of C/M pistols, to include pistols in all the serial ranges...860xxx, 861xxx, 862xxx...up through the 866xxx range. I had 2 or 3 at the time.

Then it started getting a little more complicated to find pistols I needed in specific ranges. To further frustrate things, I found and bought some great pistols in the same serial range. 860147 is a nice early C/M. 860703 came from a 92 yr-old retired Army flight surgeon. 860819 is one of only 2 known W.B. final inspected C/M pistols and the highest known W.B. inspected pistol in general.

So I got attached to them and ended up with some "duplicates'.
But I decided years ago, if I was going to have duplicates, they might as well be something desirable. I finally completed the "run" last year.

After examining enough of the C/M pistols one can see the slightly different methods the Colt craftsmen used to convert the commercial pistols into military pieces. Peening, grinding, sanding, etc. Some of the pistols have surfaces that were beautifully converted with little signs of buffing or peening. Others are rough as a cob. Some are peened so badly you can barely read the new markings. Most show remnants of the old markings. Most have relatively smooth, dark finishes. A few have a slightly rougher surface, indicating more sandblasting.

Colt G and S barrels that are "P" proved were both used in these pistols.
They are just neat to look at. It's fun to have something to look for. I regret passing on some of the C/M pistols I've looked at in the past.

[Steelsmith]

Gosh Scott, what a beautiful collection! I only have one and, like Iboos, thought I was lucky to have it. Mine is #864157 and is GHD inspected. Very smooth, soft finish. It also belonged to a medical officer in the CBI Theatre.
Thanks for showing them.
steelsmith

[Scott Gahimer]

Thanks. I'd like to see you post your C/M transferred pistols here in this thread, too. I'm just hoping to get the ball rolling.

[lboos]

Scott, When i got it several years ago it had these keys grips on it. This year i replaced them with the correct grips. sorry about the pic., cheap camara.http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh4/lboos1/HPIM0024.jpg

[Scott Gahimer]

Looks like a nice pistol. I remember speaking with you about it a few years ago when you posted asking for some information on it. Thanks for sharing the photo. Got one of the other side, too?

[dbarn]

Scott, thanks for sharing your beautiful pistols. They are unique pieces of history at a time when our country needed all of their resources to fight a world war.

[lboos]

Scott, I remember talking to you on the phone now, You walked me thru. taking it apart my 1st time, And im still about as slow as i was then. I have not fired it sence i talked to you. I've been having trouble with my cam. I try'ed to take some new pic's yesterday but they came ouy pretty bad. I'll try and take some more in a few day's.
Your display of your colt's is outstanding.

[Rob Greer]

You know, Scott... Every time I start thinking my collection is looking better and better, you post something that takes me down a few notches! That is an amazing display of rare guns! I am among the several others with 1 of these pistols... and thought I was lucky to have it! I also have a commercial slide numbered to a military frame that is in the 934,xxx range.

[Scott Gahimer]

Bob: I'm not sure I understand. Do you have just the slide, or a complete military pistol with the commercial slide in the 934xxx range? Please post some pictures of your renumber and the 934xxx. I am an attentive audience when it comes to those pistols.:cool:

[lboos]

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh4/lboos1/newcm45001.jpg

[lboos]

Scott,
Here is the other side, I can not get the lighting right inside or outside, The gun look's better then the pic. I see i did not wipe all the oil off under the slide, Agin just a cheap camera.
Scott, What brand of oil do you use to keep all your guns so great looking?

[Scott Gahimer]

I've used nothing but Clenzoil on my collection for a number of years. It's a CLP and I apply it with a sheepskin. Then I don't worry about them. When they're handled, I just wipe them down again with the same sheepskin that has traces of Clenzoil on it. I've never had a problem with it.

However, when I photograph a gun, I try to get it as bone dry as possible. I use alcohol or acetone to wipe away all the oil I can. A dry surface photographs well much easier.

The Clenzoil dries quickly the way I use it, and forms a barrier of protection. It's not sloppy to work with and lasts a long time. Many of my pistols have been treated for years.

[lboos]

Thank's Scott for the info. I've been using break free clp and an old tee shirt. There are so many product's out there that it is hard for a new-b like me to figure which one is the best. Can you buy the clenzoil and sheepskin at the local gun store? or do you have to order it special?
From the look's of your gun's, you've got the right product.

[Rob Greer]

Bob: I'm not sure I understand. Do you have just the slide, or a complete military pistol with the commercial slide in the 934xxx range? Please post some pictures of your renumber and the 934xxx. I am an attentive audience when it comes to those pistols.:cool:

The second gun I referred to is most definately a complete military pistol with a double marked commercial slide and is in very nice condition. It is also in the Rem. Rand duplication range. I do not have a good photo set up, so getting nice pics will take a little time for me... but I will certainly do so. I have a bunch of pieces I would love to share pics of.

[Rob Greer]

Ok... here goes. I finally took a few pictures, and started with 3 pistols... The first one is a 3 digit and that picture was posted on a different thread.

The first 2 pics here are of my Commercial to Military re-number. I apologize for the photos... this is about the best I can do until I can get a better lighting set-up.

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu86/Rob_Greer/IMG_4632.jpg
http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu86/Rob_Greer/IMG_4634.jpg

The next 2 pics are of my Colt Military with a Commercial (and Military) marked slide. This slide is numbered to the frame under the slide stop plate.

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu86/Rob_Greer/IMG_4631.jpg

Looks like I wil have to add the last photo a little later...

[Rob Greer]

Here is the last image... Sorry for the delay!

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu86/Rob_Greer/IMG_4630.jpg

[dbarn]

I think your photos are just fine. Very, very, nice. Thanks for sharing. :beerchug:

[Scott Gahimer]

Agreed. Very nice, Bob. Did I, by chance, see that pistol in Rockville, IL 2-3 years ago? If not, one on the same range.

[Rob Greer]

I have had 864352 since 2001. The other gun is new to me as of last October. Not sure how long the previous owner had it, or where that one came from.

[Wick]

I've used nothing but Clenzoil on my collection for a number of years. It's a CLP and I apply it with a sheepskin. Then I don't worry about them. When they're handled, I just wipe them down again with the same sheepskin that has traces of Clenzoil on it. I've never had a problem with it.
Scott,

Where is a good place to pick up some Clenzoil?

Thanks!

John Wickett
(Still Saving for 1911 #2!! :super: )

[Scott Gahimer]

It can be purchased online, if you can't find it locally or at the shows you attend.