1941 Colt Govt. Model s/n C200768 with Swartz safety

[Johnny Peppers]

Not too many people that buy a Swartz Safety Colt worry about whether it will be too complicated to make a shooter.

[browningautorifle]

My apologies Johnny. I forgot for a moment.

[jmoore]

I prefer them not so pretty just so I don't feel bad about shooting them sometimes:


Pre- and just Post-WWII .38 Supers

The pre-WWII pistol is a much better performing pistol all the way around- even with the Swartz safety.

BTW, I've always found it odd how the grip safety and some other odd parts seem to retain finish better than the frame.

[Johnny Peppers]

Like preferring tough steak so you get to chew it longer?

The small parts are tempered, and since they don't wear as fast hold their blue better.

[jmoore]

Like preferring tough steak so you get to chew it longer?

Well, I do prefer deer steaks to beef, so- yes!

I'd be guessing your fine museum pieces don't get much range time. That's fine. I applaud your presevation efforts.

But these hunks of deoxidized iron ore were not built to remain static, and I have found my favorite Colt is a 1924 Argentine naval contract. Not really pretty, bore's somewhat rough, but it's a delightful shooter that locks up like a bank vault. Won a couple of IDPA matches with it at Ft. Benning some time back, too...

[browningautorifle]

I can't afford what either of you have. I have to settle on a present day AO which now performs admirably. It was fiddled with by an expert and didn't work so well for a bit. I put in original parts and now it's OK.

[Scott Gahimer]

I can't afford what either of you have. I have to settle on a present day AO which now performs admirably. It was fiddled with by an expert and didn't work so well for a bit. I put in original parts and now it's OK.

That just goes to show, most pistols are better before they're fiddled with...unless you find a master fiddler. I still prefer original pistols the vast majority of the time.

[Johnny Peppers]

If I pay for a nice pistol it will remain nice, and will never make a trip to the range. I do have pistols that I shoot, and among them don't feel that I have any vintage pistol that will shoot as good as my Series 70 GCNM. I shoot for fun and not to just say I shot something.

[browningautorifle]

I still prefer original pistols the vast majority of the time.

I have to agree with you there...