Hi all, I had never owned a 1911 of any make, but got interested in military handguns and I let an eager table worker at a 1999 gun show talk me into buying a Sistema Colt for $239.95 plus tax (total $255.55). The barrel and mag appeared to be original but with no S/N on either. The barrel has some proof markings on it and the mag has the letter F in an oval stamped into the base plate. The frame and slide with matching S/Ns had normal holster wear. One grip panel had a pretty big nick in it. The barrel was pretty shot out and part of the sales pitch was that I could just put in a new GI barrel. Since there was a vendor selling new GI barrels for $40 and another vendor who worked on 1911s at the show, I made the deal. So by the time I left the show I had a Sistema Colt with a new barrel and AERONAUTICA ARGENTINA markings all for less than $300. At the range the mag would not work, so at the next show I bought some GI surplus mags and they worked fine. I found out later that my pistol was manufactured in 1952 (S/N 700XX 24XX) and was imported by JLD in Unionville, CT. I can't find any import markings on the gun. I now have a Ciener .22 conversion unit for it, but have not had the opportunity to shoot it. I didn't know whether it was a good deal at the time, but I really like it and enjoy shooting it, and it has some collector value so I will keep it. It may be the only 1911 that I will ever own. poppy
Argentine 1911s
- Thread starter Reddog1
- Start date
- Status
I have no idea. I wouldn't call it false hope, though. I've never heard that JLD, et. al., bought every Sistema Argentina had, and if they have more (which they probably do) they'll eventually dispose of them.
Three years ago, who would have suspected we'd see $70 K-31s?
Mike
Mad Magyar
Member
Poppy, your pistol interests me, and perhaps others. How about a picture when you get a chance? I'm particularly interested in your markings....
Quentin
Member
I bought an old Ballester Molina in the mid 1970s from a guy at work. It was really beat up but he only wanted $35 since it jammed all the time. The recoil spring and magazine looked terrible so I put in those standard 1911 parts and the gun functioned flawlessly. Glad those were the parts it needed because not much else was standard on that gun.
It rattled and slopped around and had awful sights and an awful trigger but shot 2.5" groups at 25 yards. Good enough, couldn't argue with that.
A friend has it now and it still works fine though it looked worn out thirty years ago! I know the gun has a lot of rounds through it but it keeps on working. A reliable but rough looking piece.
It rattled and slopped around and had awful sights and an awful trigger but shot 2.5" groups at 25 yards. Good enough, couldn't argue with that.
A friend has it now and it still works fine though it looked worn out thirty years ago! I know the gun has a lot of rounds through it but it keeps on working. A reliable but rough looking piece.
I picked up my Sistema on Gunbroker for just shy of $400. The POI is 4 inches up and 2 inches left of POA at 15 yards, and is perfectly repeatable. Other than that small foible, I absolutely love it. It's more comfortable to shoot than my wife's Kimber, and looks great. It's a commercial model made in '55 (or '57, I looked it up once but don't recall exactly), and it's identical to the one posted by FPrice.
I'm always on the lookout for another one, too! Great pistols.
S/F
Farnham
PS: Ballerina Molesters...that's funny right there.
I'm always on the lookout for another one, too! Great pistols.
S/F
Farnham
PS: Ballerina Molesters...that's funny right there.
Mad Magyar
Member
Farnham, is the facing of your breech completely flat? Mine was appearing to be concave (d.o.b./1947 & soft steel rumor again) and the Tripps did a nice job filing it flat before the CobraChrome finish. Did not hamper the shooting performance and mine finally shot JHP's w/o failure due to ramp polishing & minor throating, Wilson Combat mags, etc. How about a picture?
Mad Magyar, you mean the bolt face? That doesn't sound right, now that I say it. Whaddya call that part on a 1911? You know, the part what hits the back of the bullet? If that's what you mean, no, I haven't noticed that.
Here's a picture.
S/F
Farnham
If that's what you mean, no, I haven't noticed that. Here's a picture.
S/F
Farnham
Mad Magyar
Member
Nice looking pistol...The finish is far better than the one I purchased. BTW, have you tried JHP's? If not, perhaps you might try some next time on the range. Let us know if you have a problem with ammo other than FMJ.
I've tried the Winchester 230gr SXT JHPs, and they don't feed. Period. Not-at-all. This thing was built for hardball, so I'm not gonna complain. See the Kimber grip in the top left of the picture? That one LOVES the SXT ammo, and it's easier to conceal anyway.
S/F
Farnham
S/F
Farnham
XavierBreath
Member
My carry 1911 is a Sistema. I did the work on it myself. they are fantastic guns. If you can find one for <400, snap it up. If not, get a Springfield GI45 instead.
jonnyc
Member
Hey Jim, the Rover world misses you! I've run into more guys who are into 1911s, HiPowers, P32s, and Land Rovers than I can shake a bunch of sticks at! I'm very itchy to find a nice Sistema and I found your Project article just the other day. Very nice.
Best to you,
JCSer3
Best to you,
JCSer3
Adventurer_96
Member
I came into mine through a bit of luck. Two 1911s came out of pawn at the local shop a while back when I lived in a free state. I picked up a real beater USGI framed gun w/Norinco slide, and the barrel had a 5-digit S/N that started w/a 7.
After I'd had it a day or two, I remembered that the other 1911 there had a 5-digit S/N as well, and sure enough the barrel in the mixmaster was the barrel from the Sistema, which I promptly snagged. I put the barrel on the right gun and bought a beat up USGI slide to put on the USGI frame, and off we go for a screamin' good deal.
It shoots 230gr hardball reliably, and since I'll never find a good deal on a true USGI 1911, this will have to do.
After I'd had it a day or two, I remembered that the other 1911 there had a 5-digit S/N as well, and sure enough the barrel in the mixmaster was the barrel from the Sistema, which I promptly snagged. I put the barrel on the right gun and bought a beat up USGI slide to put on the USGI frame, and off we go for a screamin' good deal.
It shoots 230gr hardball reliably, and since I'll never find a good deal on a true USGI 1911, this will have to do.
Mad Magyar
Member
Adventurer, sounds like you hit the jackpot. Like I stated in my post, it was just being at the right time & place to find some unusual deals. It's hard for me not to stop a pawn or gun shop while driving through towns even if the "better-half" starts to roll her eyes of "not again".
XavierB, nice pistol. From the picture, has the barrel & bushing been worked on or changed out?
XavierB, nice pistol. From the picture, has the barrel & bushing been worked on or changed out?
jonnyc
Member
Magyar, hit the link to Xavier's Sistema Project, it's a good read.
XavierBreath
Member
Thanks MM. I occasionally get responses that I ruined a historic gun, but what the heck.The barrel and bushing are Wilson Combat. The original Sistema barrel had no rifling left. Here's a link to my page on the build.
JCSer3,
Good to see ya! The Rovers are still chugging along, I need to get back to the G&R forum!
Adventurer_96,
You got the deal of the month! Good going!
Mad Magyar
Member
Thanks JonnyC, need to start looking at the links.
Xavier, nice website...Your Sistema project was very informative, and I did a few of the same things to mine, prior to the chrome job. Great project! Do you know if the early d.o.b.'s have a little more value than the later ones? Just curious...
Looking at your gallery, felt disappointed you left out my precious Llama IXA.
Xavier, nice website...Your Sistema project was very informative, and I did a few of the same things to mine, prior to the chrome job. Great project! Do you know if the early d.o.b.'s have a little more value than the later ones? Just curious...
Looking at your gallery, felt disappointed you left out my precious Llama IXA.
Walt Sherrill
Member
Just tell the folks who say you've ruined an historic gun that you've done your bit to increase the value of the remaining ones.
(I've been a C&R collector, off and on, for a number of years. I hear this all the time. Its an historic gun, alright, but its also a pretty good .45. I've seen some beautiful street rods that are arguably of greater value after the work than before, and a lot more driveable.)
(I've been a C&R collector, off and on, for a number of years. I hear this all the time. Its an historic gun, alright, but its also a pretty good .45. I've seen some beautiful street rods that are arguably of greater value after the work than before, and a lot more driveable.)
noogaguns
Member
i have an aeronautica sistema and have serial #'s on the slide and frame, but not on the barrel, it's blued but no serial on it, did all sistemas have a serial # on the barrel or might there be some that didnt have a # on the barrel?
Adventurer_96
Member
Thanks, I know I really won the lottery on those two guns, plus the Delta Elite I picked up the week prior. God, I miss living in a state where 1 handgun a month isn't an issue!!!
You guys inspired me to take it out and take a look at it again the other night, I'd forgotten how well made it was and how good it feels in the hand. I suspect it's not all original (can't post a pic since the cable for the digicam is in the away place) but it's close enough. The handgrips are the brown wood, which is a bit weird, but I've really come to like the arched mainspring housing.
You guys inspired me to take it out and take a look at it again the other night, I'd forgotten how well made it was and how good it feels in the hand. I suspect it's not all original (can't post a pic since the cable for the digicam is in the away place) but it's close enough. The handgrips are the brown wood, which is a bit weird, but I've really come to like the arched mainspring housing.
Gonzoinc
Member
Here's mine.
dob 1957
I turned it into my IPSC L10 gun
dob 1957
I turned it into my IPSC L10 gun
Mad Magyar
Member
Gonzoinc, nice Sistema. I notice a few modifications..How about a reverse picture? I love to see pictures of Sistemas..
jonnyc
Member
A little help...
I saw one this weekend that was a bit rough. I was still going to get it, but noticed a small indent at the muzzle end of the slide. Looking closer, I saw a hole in the "punch" mark. The hole went all the way through to the groove where the bushing locks. Any idea on what the hole is from? Would that effect the shootablility of the pistol?
I saw one this weekend that was a bit rough. I was still going to get it, but noticed a small indent at the muzzle end of the slide. Looking closer, I saw a hole in the "punch" mark. The hole went all the way through to the groove where the bushing locks. Any idea on what the hole is from? Would that effect the shootablility of the pistol?
Last edited:
Gonzoinc
Member
reverse side
I think the only thing orignal are the slide and frame
I think the only thing orignal are the slide and frame
- Status
