1945 find(Argentine)

Was at a couple of Gun shops thursday and just as I was leaving spotted this.https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...80ebdfd9-1.jpghttps://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...2f9843fe-1.jpgnumbers matched including the barrel no number on the mag. a $550 impulse buy.

I felt anytime you can get a working feels solid Colt 1911A1 or in this case a M1927 for around 500 its hard to say no and after all today is my birthday. This ones in the Ruff and Ready condition which is just the way I like them.

Can anyone tell me if its in original condition finish (or whats left of it) wise. I didn't know until I got home and looked it up that it was a 1945.

Dave, I think the finish is the original based on the sharp edges and crisp markings. It looks fantastic. This is the type of finish /patina that I really like. Congrats. You got to it before someone tried to refinish it! To think you got it for that price is amazing. Salt flat

I'll try and do some photos of a blued 1927 soon. They do tend to have sharper edges than Colts and usually have linear sanding marks, IIRC. It's been a while since I really scutinized one though.

But as an initial reaction, I'm thinking you did quite well!

The main thing that I don't like about 1927s is the long hammer spur with the sharp rear edge. Downright painful to shoot for me as the web of my hand gets pinched something awful.

(Which, BTW, is virtually the identical hammer used in the Colt WWI reproduction pistols they did a few years back. The pistols were so similar in certain areas that I suspect(ed) that Colt had the bulk of the work done building the pistols in Argentina!)

Picked it up today, and guess what? Looked under the grip panels and they are the Argentina ones that I've seen as original, and no there wasn't a import mark. Then I went to cleaning it and guess what? I found one(bummer:madsmile: to some but I still am very happy with the purchase)it's on the trigger guard facing the floor. Cal Sl ALB VI at least thats what it looks like. I'm sure someone will know what it is.

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Originally Posted by DaveN

Cal Sl ALB VI

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Same one and same location that's on the 1915 Colt Argentine Army Contract pictured in my recent thread. "Century Arms Inc., St. Albans, VT", I think. When searching for import marks on these pistols (and most have something), look also on the edge of the magazine well opening for teeny letters. Some supposedly snuck in with the marks under the grip panels, but can't verify that one. The small markings really don't hurt anything i think. Too bad folk abused the old rules to the point that the larger marking rules were implemented.

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Originally Posted by DaveN

Looked under the grip panels and they are the Argentin[e] ones...

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Solid (flat backed), USGI style, or hollow?

they are flat backed and have the argentine name and a 2 mold number that i saw confirmed on a thread stating original. cant remember if it was this site or the other one i saw it on. thanks for the importer verify and the lettering was so small I had to use my magnifier on the strongest setting so thats a plus.

I noticed that the CAI mark shows on at least one of the examples in Clawson's book.

He notes that the early production 1927s had grooved wood grips like the Ballister Molinas, but I don't know how long that lasted.

Remembering back when I picked through about 40 1927s, many had cheap cast commercial replacement parts installed here and there. Probably done by the importer, which wasn't CAI in this instance.

A blued 1927 with the importer's mark just behind the magazine release for reference:

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...2edefb28-1.jpg


It's a few years younger than the early example above, but the finish and edges should be similar. Will do more on this pistol after some cropping of the photos.

Yes that's what mine looks like but under the trigger guard where really not a place you normally notice on a 19911A1/M1927.
Think about it....when anyone Like me for example give a 1911A1 pistol a good look I can tell you i'm looking at finish on the sides, top of slide and front strap and back strap. I'm checking parts. And function test the slide. And I'm checking the markings.
Looking under the trigger guard is just not on the menu..... Until now of course.
I'm still learning but I will tell you I would have bought this one anyway cause I just liked it.

I really wouldn't sweat the import mark. If it wasn't on it you wouldn't have it! :)

(On the example above, it's easy to see how that some marks are hidden under the grips. So, most of the Argentines that supposedly don't have import marks actually probably do...)

As you might know from another thread my 43 colt has them under the grip and like you said if it didn't then chances are I wouldn't have it. So i count my self lucky they are out of sight out of mind.

Your looks to be in good nick to bad if they could have moved them a couple MM to the right they would be under the grip. Too much trouble 2 screws and all,must have been a busy day that day.

Hiding it is technically a violation of ATF rules, but that's the importers problem! The new rules no longer allow such tiny imprints, due such abuses, so...

I have been considering doing a re-blue on my M-1927 as lately I was given a couple of rusty 1960's 22 cal rifles the owner was going to throw away. I used them to literally practice something I would like to do as a hobby and apart from the time and materials it's been inexpensive and rewarding.
I saw somewhere where someone took a M-1927 and made it look like new. I would never do this to a Collectables WW 2 1911 A1 but would it be so bad to do it to this one.
Help me out here I have very mixed emotions!!

In case you where wondering
Rifles
1.Stevens Salvage Arms model 87H
2.Squires and Bingham model 20
3.Remington 512 from 1945 ( this one to refinish for a friend and why I needed to practice)

Dave, Just my opinion but I think it looks great as is. Why not buy another brand new Colt clone instead. Maybe its just me but I can see history in that patina. Once its gone you can never get it back. Salt Flat

Don't do it!

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Originally Posted by DaveN

I would never do this to a Collectables WW 2 1911 A1 but would it be so bad to do it to this one.

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Dave, I think your Argentine may not have the value of a WWII Colt but very collectilble just the same. They are the current bargain. I go back to when I bought a Norwegian 1914 in 1968 for $50. At the time they weren't considered "collectible". Unfortunately I sold it in a weak moment. Your Argentine will continue to rise in value. Don't refinish! Salt Flat

Keep it as is!

Thanks guys I will leave it as is as I do like it the way it is. As you said this was almost one of those weak moments. I suppose if I find one that's really really ruff with near zero finish to the point it looks almost like someone stripped it off then I'll show pictures here and have another discussion on whether it needs re-blued.
Thanks again for keeping me on the straight and narrow!

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Originally Posted by DaveN

I suppose if I find one that's really really ruff with near zero finish to the point it looks almost like someone stripped it off then I'll show pictures here and have another discussion on whether it needs re-blued.

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Last few pistols I've had with "zero" finish I shot a while then sold for almost twice what I had in 'em just because somebody else liked their "character"! Almost never do I consider a basic refinish any sort of enhancement. And a Doug Turnbull sort of restoration just seems mad.

I have the slide for an Argentinian Mod 1927 but was manufactured by Colt Hartford Connecticut, the caliber isn't marked in metric but CAL. 45.
The serial number on the slide is on the top No 7774. Were these the first ones sent to Argentina before they started production?

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Originally Posted by Albayo

I have the slide for an Argentinian Mod 1927 but was manufactured by Colt Hartford Connecticut, the caliber isn't marked in metric but CAL. 45.
The serial number on the slide is on the top No 7774. Were these the first ones sent to Argentina before they started production?

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Photos would help. Is it a "M1911" type commercial slide, an "M1911a1" type commercial slide, or is it an actual US military slide? Could be any of these!

I agree a photo is most certainly needed.