1945 colt sistema

[savage23]

Hey guys,thought i'd throw up some pics of my 1911A1,made in Argentina in 1945 and was the 123 third one made. Serial # started at 24001. Someone worked it over with a pinned Millet front sight,flared ejection port and beveled mag well. Shoots great! Enjoy

 

[Birdmang]

I have one just like it, is it all matching numbers, barrel to frame to slide? You have the numbered magazine?

 

[2ifbyC]

I have one of the original 10,000 units that were built by Colt in Argentina from 1927 to 1933, known as the Harford Argentine Army models. Little did I know it would become a collector’s item to many. I used steel wool to remove the bluing; I planned to have it re-blued. If I left it alone, it would have been worth much more.

 

[savage23]

Yes all numbers match. WISH i had the numbered mag!!

 

[Baba Louie]

1st Sistema I've seen with CAL .45 v CAL 11.25 MM on the slide.

 

[savage23]

I wondered about the absence of SISTEMA on the pistol,so i asked that question on some other forums and got a few different answers. The first was that the slide MIGHT be one the Hartford slides. The other was that the first 500 pistols produced had Colt .45 and that there are 4 different slide markings. I don't know who's right but it really doesn't matter as the pistol is a joy to shoot. Wish i could find another one for what i paid for this one.

Thanks,Mike

 

[Drail]

I have worked on a few of those guns and I have to say they were very well made pieces and the steel they used was better than anything Colt has ever thought about using. Those slides are almost harder than most files. There are a number of rumors around concerning where they got that steel. Whatever it was it was some very nice stuff.

 

[az_imuth]

Savage23-nice (and interesting) pistol!

Here's my plain jane Sistema from 1957. While the barrel, frame and slide all match, it did come with a non-matching numbered magazine and a light phosphate finish. Although this is the least expensive 1911 I own, it is one of my favorites. It fills the GI style role since I can't afford a real USGI pistol. One advantage is that I can shoot the devil out of this one without worrying about breaking any irreplaceable parts.

 

[2ifbyC]

I am attaching a picture of the Hartford model to show the difference of the slide; the slide is the same on the right as the Op's post except there is no serial numbers stamped as his shows on the slide and frame. My model has the serial number stamped on the top of the slide and on the inside of the receiver; the serial number is in the 7600 range of 10,000 produced by Colt in Argentina. It does not have the word Sestima either. The original walnut grips I have but are well worn; the picture shows a replacement as well as a poor cold blue finish job.