Military issue .45 ID?

Is that a US&S gun?

You really don't know the rarity and value?


Let's just say that it's too valuable to shoot.

Looks like on the slide it says US & S so i guess it is a Union Signal & Switch gun

I'll take it off your hands for $300, I need a beater range gun.

(just kidding, it looks like you've found yourself quite a rare gun, I'm jeleous)

It's either a Union Switch, or it's a Union Switch slide on a mismatched frame. A picture of the other side, and a serial number will help tell the story. I can't see an inspector's mark on the left side...and that may be due to lighting. There should be R.C.D in a circle on the frame behind the trigger guard.

A serial number will ID it. PM if you'd rather keep it on the QT.

If it's a Union Switch & Signal...and it's original or correct...to be determined after more investigation...it's pretty valuable and highly sought after. US&S Co. in Swissvale made only 55,000 pistols. Only the Singer is more rare.

Even if it is a mismatch...the slide alone is worth pretty serious bucks.

More likely a US&S replacement slide on a Colt commercial frame.
The P is there but no inspector stamp,,,
Looks like a pieces part gun made to dupe the gullible.

Onmilo...that's my suspicion. I've embiggened the photo and looked until I'm near blind, and I can't see the inspector's mark. Not even sure that it's a Colt commercial frame unless it was parkerized at some point, though there are some unscrupulous sellers who will go to elaborate lengths.

I came on a Union Switch at a gun show a few years back that was being represented as an original. It looked good, and I mean really good.

Well...except for the fact that it had Frank J. Atwood's mark on it.

When I announced in a voice that was...a little too loud to be a private conversation between me and the vendor over it being a mismatch...albeit a very good one...the guy got a little hostile as he raised his voice to announce to anyone within earshot that I should do a little research before I started trying to tell the experts their business.

Talk to Gary at rangfirearms.com he knows more about 1911's then anyone I know.

Can't add much info about the gun. But with the hammer back, shouldn't the safety be up? I don't recall ever seeing one displayed like that.