3 problems with my early 1911 need advice.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Texwing,

You sound 'down in the dumps' -
Referring to a vintage gun as a 'shooter' is not meant as a put down.
As Scott said, you did very well! It's almost impossible to find an authentic 1911 in working condition for the price you paid. I would have paid $400 for it in a heartbeat.
Though it's not a $2500 'collector', you could turn around and easily sell it for much more than you paid for it. (I'd keep it though!)

You purchased a piece of very interesting History for a low price, AND you can have the joy of shooting it without the constant fear of breaking some original part and ruining it's value.

[Texwing]

Oh I am really happy about the whole deal, it was just one of those once in a life time (for me anyway) deals that I was in the right place at the right time with cash and was pretty much grabbing everything I could, under the theory that at the prices I was paying I could not go too wrong. Its just that what I thought was the best stuff (the 1911 and a luger) turned out to be decent deals with the noted flaws. The real prizes were the horrible looking trapdoor springfield that turned out to be a pretty good prize (early allin conversion), and a Military Model 12 Winchester, and that Argentina "Molina" 1911 I mentioned earlier, and on and on, and that stuff was way cheaper than the 1911. Sorry for the bragging, it was just a once in a lifetime deal. Wow. Thanks for all the help.

[jmoore]

The upside to that 1911 is the you can enjoy shooting the "dogsnot" out of it and not feel guilty whilst enjoying a fine bit of craftsmanship. My favorite is a 1924 commercial gov't model made for the Argentine Navy. Absolutely a fantastic original pistol, just not real pretty! I'll let others make safe queens out of 'em.

[Scott Gahimer]

...Sorry for the bragging, it was just a once in a lifetime deal. Wow. Thanks for all the help.

No apology necessary. It's always fun to hear about the findings of others and to explore what they got. It sounds like you did very well...not as good as the guy who paid $600 for a nice, original Singer rig...but you still did okay.

Had the pistol been a nice, original piece, it would have been worth more than all the other pieces combined. So perhaps you didn't win the lottery jackpot...just like millions of other people. You at least came on on top, far better than most playing the game without specific collector knowledge.

Normally we read where someone paid the price of a collectible to get something that floats in the commode. You are way ahead of that.

Some guys seem to think purist collectors look down on those who don't buy all original collectibles. That's not true. We only look down on those who buy nice collectibles and make shooters out of them or ruin them by nor preserving them.

[TDH]

Brag away young man. I would.
Shout it from the rooftops if you want to.
You may not have hit the big prize but a lot of lesser prizes still pays off.
Congrats

[Texwing]

Well I suppose should find out what I can, a post in this thread asked about the barrel, which does read "COLT .45 AUTO" on the top of the barrel visible in the chamber cut out. How can I tell if the barrel is original?

[jmoore]

That's not the barrel with which the pistol was originally assembled. It would have had no markings visible in the ejection port. Original military barrels proper to the time period aren't exactly common, esp. in good shape (unless they're in a pistol already).

[Scott Gahimer]

That's not the barrel with which the pistol was originally assembled. It would have had no markings visible in the ejection port. Original military barrels proper to the time period aren't exactly common, esp. in good shape (unless they're in a pistol already).

That is incorrect about the original Colt barrel in the OP's pistol. A 1914 pistol in that serial range would have had the letters H and P stamped on top of the chamber and visible through the ejection port, where it could be read left to right while holding the pistol the same way (not with the muzzle up in the air). That Colt barrel marking is commonly called the horizontal P H (or H P).

[jmoore]

Dang, mind's going! For some reason, I thought the "H" was on the END of the barrel shroud. (And I was just looking at some of mine yesterday...)

[218bee]

Texwing;

I have an all original Black Army in the lower 500,000 range...looks just like yours (minus the filing), and has the USP scratched off as well.....It was probably through 3 wars for all I know.....I looked into restoring the USP, as you can still see some of it, but decided to let the old timer rest.....it did it's duty and has the scars to prove it...


I think you did well for only $400