Buy the gun..not the story? Colt 1911A1

OK...I am not going to turn down a functioning Colt .45 for $460 OTD. This one is supposedly a National Guard Armory build. Do not shoot the messenger! It has a Colt slide with the late roll mark and a P stamp on top. Slide is G stamped and rear of slide is #747598. The right side marks are; sn# 1654217 without prefix and M1911A1 U.S. Army followed by a hand struck D. This is all on right side frame. Also on right trigger guard inspector stamp 88. The left side frame has an N stamped just below slide about 3/4 inch in front of slide lock notch. Inspector [R.S.], Colt VP, P and inspector X all present on left side. The top of frame is stamped [RS] and G. MSH is round and checkered, slide latch and safety lever are grooved, hammer is fine checkered. The pistol is blued. The mag is CL on bottom and C on top of toe. Barrel is marked [C] on lug..other side marked M P...just in front of lug P stamp on barrel and also .45 AUTO 7791193 on top of barrel. The grips are plastic marked 6 on inside. There is no U.S. Property or ordnance wheel. The rails and slide show little wear. So that is what I know..now for the rest of the story....

The frame is a Colt, 1944 production, the slide (I'm assuming the number is under the firing pin stop) is a Colt 1941 production. Inspector stamp is for Col. Robert Sears.

I've never seen an M1911A1 without the left side of the frame stamped "Property of US. Government" but I'm a bit of a neophyte so my knowledge is somewhat limited. Some of the more experienced and knowledgeable I'm sure can help further.

Pictures if possible would sure help. The price if it's in good shape does not appear too out of line.

Thanks for the feedback. I know the barrel is postwar. I don't know about the grips but I think they might be the Coltrock grips..they are hollow backed with the mold number.. The slide and frame were Gov. Issue given the G stamp. The lack of a No. prefix on the SN# was a question mark as was the lack of US PROPERTY. I think this frame might have been re-numbered since [RS] Robert Sears inspected Colts #723,000-750,500. The number under the firing pin block would be correct for [RS] though. I used to post pics on the old forum but have not attempted it since the change.

Someone has removed the original serial number, which may very well have been No.747958 produced in 1941, as well as the USP marking. Slide stop and safety lever are late production serrated. Serial number 747958 would not have had the crossed cannon acceptance mark, and would have been finished in phosphate instead of blue.
The grips are possibly early Coltwood. Coltrock did not have the mold numbers.
There is no doubt that the serial number has been altered.

Thanks for the info. The [RS] was not familiar to me but now I know that whoever altered this serial number and removed the USP ruined one of the sought after pre-war Colts. The pistol is nothing more than a shooter now but I thought for the price it was fair.

maybe.. I have a difficult time at sizing these photos.Attachment 5814

Attachment 5815

Just FYI, I encountered an "original" 1911A1 at a gun show with no serial number prefix. The serial number font was wrong, and the USP and "M1911A1..." markings were pantographed. It had a fake handstamped "RS". The slide was Colt. (I think the frame was Brazilian, but could not be sure.) The price was $1800, but the seller would "work with me" on it. Sure.

Just to let folks know the fakes are out there even on once-common guns that now bring big bucks. That kind of fake can fool someone who has only books for guides.

Jim

Jim, I saw one as you described today at a show in Louisville...the pantographed roll marks were really bad....this one had a commercial pre 70 series slide. I also saw an original Colt made in 1916..thin on finish and priced at $1,550. There was an Ithaca in the box..it had no serial number and was a "lunch box special".

Coneten,

There's a couple of different ways to post photos here, but if you have a photo hosting site try this - (Easy)

Under the 'Reply' box there's a button on the right center that says 'Go Advanced'
Click on it and it brings up another reply box with a few more features.

There's a little yellow box just above the typing field, right center, that's has what looks like two mountains inside of it. Click on it and it will display a small field where you can paste a URL you copy from your photo hosting site.

Then under the typing field on the bottom right click on the 'Preview Post' button to see how your photo and post look.

If you like the way it looks click on the 'Submit Reply' button that's to the left of the 'Preview Post' button.

It's even easier than it sounds in writing and only takes a few 'clicks' -

I'd like to see a larger photo of your new 191A1!:)
~ Harlan

[IMG]http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...n/1941RS-2.jpg[/IMG]Thanks for the advice on posting pics.
[IMG]http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...n/1941RS-1.jpg[/IMG]

Thank you Coneten - Good photos.
It looks good and I think you made out like a bandit for the price.