1915 Argentine Army Contract Colt Government Model
The first .45 ACPs for the Argentine Army were shiped in mid-1915. A block of 1000 pistols with sequential serial numbers, starting with 20000. (Or 20001, I forget!) This very worn and generally tired example was marked as issue number 109 on the top of the slide, which corresponds to the last three digits of the Colt serial number.
As it sits now it has had the grip safety and slide stop replaced with slightly later ("A1" style) Colt commercial parts, probably by the Argentines. The muzzle end of the slide is damaged, resulting in the replacement of the front sight as well. It appears to be a later type of Colt sight as well, but it was filed down slightly on the sides, probably to keep it from over filling the rear sight notch. Bushing and barrel are both newer appearing than the rest of the pistol.
But the real dramas lie underneath. I'm guessing this pistol was shot until the recoil spring failed entirely! The slide is so badly peened at the real of the dust cover that the current barrel needed to have the sides of the lower lug filed down to pass through the slide. In addition, there's an odd bit of damage on the outer rear edge of the dust cover- possibly where a piece of broken recoil spring impacted?
Regardless, the pistol still functions and escaped refinish. Which are the two most likely reasons it's being presented here. Basically it's an example of how tough this design really is. :bash: :)
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...d26f9f1f-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...bb429adc-1.jpg
The wear and general finish of the frame and slide look fairly different, but the numbers match and conditions internally are consistant.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...c5b9890b-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...9ebf7b33-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...8427e34f-1.jpg
Ow!
For "high grade" examples of little used Colts, you've come to the wrong guy's thread! But a range report will hopefully be soon forthcoming.
Good News and Minor Annoyance
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...8fa85e48-1.jpg
The minor annoyance? The rather pitiful replacement front sight disappeared after eight rounds.
That and it rained off and on all morning.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...1e998d76-1.jpg
Yes, this is after sunrise!
The good news? The pistol shoots! And losing the front sight wasn't all that big a hinderance as far as combat effectiveness goes at 25 yards. If anything, the good shots were rather more centered.
The trigger is heavy but crisp. Control may be actually better than the '80 series stainless that was shot immediately previously. First rounds at 25 were a little low right, but then hits got lower...Oops! But the last two of the first string were fired without the front sight and went high and center.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...f5f9223f-1.jpg
So why not run some more?
Second string at 25yds with no front sight:
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...8ca3e55e-1.jpg
Looked for the sight for about an hour, but it never turned up. Thought I had seen it bounce off the slide in recoil, but lost track of it thereafter.
Not that the hole is much worse than that little bit of mangledness which is now not there to be pitiful!
So...anybody have a lead on an early type replacement sight? :rolleyes:
