[Harvey]

Historians:

I have a 1911, SN 448XXX (1918), purchased MISURP in 1945 (for $14.75), that was apparently 'arsenal refinished' (parkerized) for durability during the Second War. From what I can tell, the pistol is in otherwise excellent condition, showing minimal holster wear on the finish.

Can this parkerizing be removed and the gun reblued? And if so, how? and is it advisable? I have less interest in historical value than returning it to original blued condition.

Thanks for your advice.

[Jim Watson]

That gun was made in 1918 and was originally finished in a dull, unpolished blue that gave late WW I guns the name of "Black Army" because of their lack of gloss. Soon after WW I the Army went to Parkerizing for arsenal overhauls. The metal was sandblasted before Parkerizing to remove old blue, rust, and dirt, losing some detail of contour and markings. There might have been parts replacement that a specialist would recognize as out of period.

It is a bona fide USGI pistol, even though no longer as originally issued. It has some value and appeal that way. Largely because the speculators have driven the prices of pristine examples out of sight.

A proper restoration would take a lot of expensive handwork to get back to the 1918 appearance and would be identifiable by a knowledgeable collector. Spend $2000 to turn an $800 gun into an $1100 gun.

An ordinary gunsmith polish and blue would not preserve and restore contours, flats, and markings; and would not bring back the original color. Spend $200 to turn an $800 gun into a $500 gun.

I'd leave it alone.

[kanook]

For the amount that it would cost to have it redone to close to original, you could almost buy a 1918 Black Army reproduction.

Since you state you want to return it to original configuration, if you think about it, it is in original configuration now as it came from the milsurp.

I also would leave it the way it is. Kinda like I did with my 1913

[Harvey]

Thanks, Gents.

This is exactly what I wanted to know. I will leave as is, knowing that the original MILSURP box is probably worth more than the gun.