Argentine Sistema

[hatchetbearer]

Thought I'd venture into the calibers that start with .4's I know these are made off Colt tooling leased to the Argentine government. The one I'm getting isnt a collector by any means, has a handful of replaced modern parts, hammer, Barrel bushing, Guide rod, etc. along with no finish left, and a heavy import mark on the slide.

But, it has matching Frame, Slide, Barrel and Magazine, so Its going to be a refinish project to make it a shooter. First time I've seen one for sale since I got my C&R a few years ago, and I like old time craftsmanship.


Anything I should know about these?

 

[rellascout]

You shoould double check if it is still C&R eligible due to the parts replacement. I am almost 100% sure that if the barrel has been replaced it is no longer a C&R gun.

If it is not a stock C&R gun with collectors value I have to ask why are looking at this one vs a NIB or LNIB 1911? If all those parts have been replaced it is not really old world anymore. LOL

 

[hatchetbearer]

It still has the original barrel. It's mostly little parts that have been replaced.

and $395 vs $650 for a SA GI is the biggest draw. I can get it cleaned up, re blued, and new grips for less than $250, and I have something with a bit of history.

 

[rellascout]

Look it over carefully. The steel on the older 1911s is sometimes soft. Look for wear on the frame/side. Look for cracks.

Check th barrel lock up and make sure the lugs are good.

If the price is right and you like it get it.

 

[Mad Magyar]

But, it has matching Frame, Slide, Barrel and Magazine

For those that don't know, you have up to a $100 premium for a matching magazine number...I've had Sistema's over the years and looked forever for the elusive matching #'s...I know of one collector that would give a $100 each to match his Sistemas....IIRC looking at an old gun magazine from the early 1960's, when sold they came with 2 matching mags...
Kudos on your find....There was a large lot of imported Sistema's that entered the U.S. market a few years back, really beat up...However, much of it was cosmetic and parts that needed replacement were easy to come by since they are Colt...
Couple of mine. The silver CobraChrome had basically no finish at all, but it's a shooter...

 

[Japle]

I've got three right now. One of them was really beat up. The s/n on the barrel was supposed to match the ones on the frame and slide. It had the right digits, but in the wrong order. That gun shot 15" groups at 20'.

I did some work on it, replacing most of the parts with Wilson stuff, plus BoMar sights and a new set of stocks.

Now it shoots a little better.

 

[Drail]

Dang, Japle, you could kill somebody with the front sight on that slide! (just teasing ya, that's a very nice Argentine.) And purty nice shooting there too. Did it seem to you that the steel in that gun ran kind of hard? I've worked on some that seemed to be just slightly harder than my file.

 

[hatchetbearer]

Japale,

That's almost exactly what I'd like the finished product to look like, Mine's at about 20% finish, and I'm thinking a good Park job or Duracoat would have it looking good as new, Do you really need a front sight that tall with a bomar? I might think about Novak Lo mounts for mine. Very Nice Groupings.

Mad Maygar,

Are those Grips made from some kind of animal hide? Looks like alligator skin or something. If so, wouldn't that get slimy after your hands sweat?

 

[Mad Magyar]

Mad Maygar,

Are those Grips made from some kind of animal hide? Looks like alligator skin or something. If so, wouldn't that get slimy after your hands sweat?
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No, not really. It was a "labor of love" to work and thin out these Ostrich skins...Actually, the hide acts as a dampener and the quill bumps gives you a vise-grip that is difficult to explain. Kind of like shooting with thin gloves.

 

[hatchetbearer]

Interesting. It's not really for me, but you see something new every day. All the same, nicely done.