Colt DA 38: I don't know WHY I ALWAYS do it

[usabaker]

Every couple of weeks, I wander into a local gun store that gets a fair amount of consignment firearms. I know the manager of the store and often am in his office chatting. Last Tuesday was no different. He asked me if I had ever used WD-40 Specialist Rust Remover. My answer was no but I was curious to know what he was planning on using it on. He pointed at a box on his desk. When I opened it I saw a Colt DA 38 totally disassembled and with a LOT of rust. He told me that their gunsmith had a couple of years back taken it apart and was planning to use the WD-40 rust remover on it, but he left before he got around to it, which was why he asked because he was going to try it himself.

I told him that wouldn't be the best way to handle the rust removal unless he planned on processing all the parts and re-bluing them (which he was not). I suggested he boil and carding it. I ended up explaining the process to him.

Then I asked the deadly question, "How much do you want for it?" yes.. I couldn't keep my mouth closed.... Well, he saw me the last three times I was in looking at a Sear Roebuck Model 41 DLA (Marlin Model 122) .22 single shot, I hadn't bought it because it had some surface rust as well and just really didn't want another project rifle. He offered a package deal. Take the handgun and the rifle for $140.00 ... well... you know, "The Rest of the Story" as Paul Harvey would say.

So I'm in the 10-day waiting period on the Colt and Rifle so I'm not really sure yet what Colt I bought, running the serial number at the Colt site comes back with three possibilities;

• 1919 Model - MODEL 1911 MILITARY
• 1937 Model OFFICIAL POLICE MODEL
  or a
• 1951 Model POLICE POSITIVE SPECIAL & DETECTIVE SPECIAL

As soo as I have the Colt in hand, I'll post pictures. This one I will need to process quickly as I don't want to to deteriorate further.

[browningautorifle]

OK then, we'll be looking forward to this one too...

[USGI]

Will you be getting the grips with it? Some of the DA's changed to wood grips around 1923 or 1924. I had a Police Positive 38 Special - wish I would've kept it! Still have an Army Special 32 WCF (32-20) though. I don't know a lot about old Colts, but the 1st on your s/n list - you should be able to rule out. Unless I'm missing something, it must be the Military 45 ACP pistol. - Bob

[usabaker]

Bob, Yup... that was the first thing I saw when I opened the box, the Colt wood grips with the Colt medallion on them. From what I could tell, pretty much everything was there. the interior of the barrel and rifling didn't look too bad, dirty so I will need to clean it out to get a better idea. I don't think it is the first one either LOL would be a funny looking 1911. when I got home that night, I ordered a used version of Colt: An American Legend by Sid Latham in hopes it would help me identify the handgun

[Fushigi Ojisan]

Coltwood grips were used from WWII to 1954

It's probably the 1951

[mrclark303]

Every couple of weeks, I wander into a local gun store that gets a fair amount of consignment firearms. I know the manager of the store and often am in his office chatting. Last Tuesday was no different. He asked me if I had ever used WD-40 Specialist Rust Remover. My answer was no but I was curious to know what he was planning on using it on. He pointed at a box on his desk. When I opened it I saw a Colt DA 38 totally disassembled and with a LOT of rust. He told me that their gunsmith had a couple of years back taken it apart and was planning to use the WD-40 rust remover on it, but he left before he got around to it, which was why he asked because he was going to try it himself.

I told him that wouldn't be the best way to handle the rust removal unless he planned on processing all the parts and re-bluing them (which he was not). I suggested he boil and carding it. I ended up explaining the process to him.

Then I asked the deadly question, "How much do you want for it?" yes.. I couldn't keep my mouth closed.... Well, he saw me the last three times I was in looking at a Sear Roebuck Model 41 DLA (Marlin Model 122) .22 single shot, I hadn't bought it because it had some surface rust as well and just really didn't want another project rifle. He offered a package deal. Take the handgun and the rifle for $140.00 ... well... you know, "The Rest of the Story" as Paul Harvey would say.

So I'm in the 10-day waiting period on the Colt and Rifle so I'm not really sure yet what Colt I bought, running the serial number at the Colt site comes back with three possibilities;

• 1919 Model - MODEL 1911 MILITARY
• 1937 Model OFFICIAL POLICE MODEL
  or a
• 1951 Model POLICE POSITIVE SPECIAL & DETECTIVE SPECIAL

As soo as I have the Colt in hand, I'll post pictures. This one I will need to process quickly as I don't want to to deteriorate further.

Looking forward to watching the project...

[usabaker]

Started a new job, so have been busy with that, and this is the first chance I have had to pull this out of the box. So here it is.. In all its rusted glory. I'll convert the rust, get it back together so see what works and then see where we are at from there. I haven't inventoried the parts yet.

[browningautorifle]

So, you're going to boil this then Bill? I'd give it a glass bead and blue if I had it, but that's just habit.

[usabaker]

So, you're going to boil this then Bill? I'd give it a glass bead and blue if I had it, but that's just habit.

Jim, Yeah I'm going to boil it first just to see where we are at. There are some flat surfaces that will need to be drawn.

[browningautorifle]

I'm going to boil it first just to see where we are at.

Looking forward...