1911 question

[hounddog]

Came across a colt 1911 I am looking for some info/guidance on. Family heirloom looking to be passed on through the family, but.....

Marked "Model of 1911 US Army" bottom Left frame. Left slide PT.F.A. MFG CO. Hartford CT. U.S.A.

Last patent date on it is Aug 13, 1913.

Story goes bought from government in 1950's. However, on frame just above and behind the trigger, there are ALOT of scratches. This makes me a little nervous. Thanks for any comments or info, but please be nice.

 

[2RCO]

What about the scratches makes you nervous? They may just be what we refer to as idiot marks caused by the slide stop from disassembly.

Post some pics.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Do the scratches have an arc shape to them, concentrated in one area? It is very easy to put such a scratch on the frame when reassembling the slide stop on 1911s. That gun may well have been field stripped hundreds or even thousands of times by people of varying skill. Assuming that is the problem, it will not hurt anything but a few hundred bucks in collector value.

 

[hounddog]

Ok, thank you for your replies, but if you knew what you were talking about, you wouldn't be asking. It is not an idiot mark, but was idiotic to do. I believe it is a 1918 from what I can tell. Full checkered grips. Left rear of slide has a horse on it. Rear top of slide above firing pin has an "H" on it.

 

[Frank Ettin]

Are the scratches on the right side of the gun, where the serial number ought to be? And does it have a serial number there?

I the first answer is "yes", and the second is "no", I'd say the scratches were from someone removing the serial number. In that case, someone could have some very big problems with ATF. It was not uncommon for folks bringing home their service pistol to obliterate the serial number as the gun was technically stolen government property. But it is now a federal felony to possess a gun from which the serial number has been removed.

There are ways to apply to ATF for a new serial number, but I don't know the details of the process.

 

[hounddog]

a removed serial number would make me far to nervous to posess such a gun, and I would never do such a thing due to it being illegal. However, a serial number would allow me to look it up and not go digging here. However, the story of being bought from the gov would not explain the scratches. From what I can tell right now, it looks like a 1918 or 1919 production. That is what I am leaning towards now.

 

[weisse52]

a couple of pictures would help

 

[doubs43]

Your description is poor at best. Post clear, close-up pictures of both sides of the pistol. Then someone knowledgeable can give an opinion. Otherwise, no one - even the best informed collector - can give you a proper answer.

FWIW, I have a good idea of what you have but I won't say until I see pictures.

 

[Jim Watson]

In the absense of pictures, minute description and illustration of the offending scratches, and a serial number, there is not much I can say to help. Everybody else is saying the same or is guessing.

I can say that it was possible to buy pistols "from the government" in the 1950s. The Director of Civilian Marksmanship handled such sales. You could buy a gun at the Nationals at Camp Perry or through the NRA. Cost for a service model was $17.50.

 

[hounddog]

Ok, Like I said, I do not have the gun. But have narrowed it down to 1915-1918 production. Has the "raging colt" on the left rear of the slide, not circled. Inspector mark GHS. That puts it about where I thought.

 

[AirForceShooter]

It was $17.50 and they mailed it to your front door.

Ahh the good old days.

AFS

 

[hounddog]

the "rampant colt" on the rear of the slide, without a circle around it, coupled with an inspection mark "GHS" puts it in the 1915-1918 era. Amazing gun if not for its faults.

 

[Frank Ettin]

...a removed serial number would make me far to nervous to posess such a gun, and I would never do such a thing due to it being illegal. However, a serial number would allow me to look it up and not go digging here....

Does that mean that it has a serial number? Or does it mean that it doesn't which is why you're digging here? Of course, with the serial number, you could determine the exact year of manufacture.

 

[wilkersk]

Was the pistol re parkerized over the "scratches"?

If so, what you may be seeing is an early M1911 that was reworked at Army Depot and refinished.

I have a '64 G.I. National Match that started life as a much older pistol. I can see the roll stamping that was originally on the frame in that location, although it is no longer legible.

There is also a "T" that was roughly tapped into the frame by an armorer during one of the reworks. It looks very amateurish. But, I've been assured that it is a legitimate marking.

One of the best sources on the web for old 1911's is: http://www.sightm1911.com/