Cwnavy1 Posted June 30, 2020 Share #1 Posted June 30, 2020 I inhereited this back in the 70's and have had it since. As I recall reading the original owner's will, he purchased this from the NRA because he was a competitive schooter and it was a match grade pistol. He did make some mods to the weapon, though I'm not sure what they were other than the rear site. What can you all tell me about this piece? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Costa Posted June 30, 2020 Share #2 Posted June 30, 2020 from what I see it looks to be ww1 for most part, black army. looks like the stamp on the frame is that of Gilbert H. Stewart which makes it 1918. if the top of the barrel has a P H on top then youre lucky for it is a ww1 barrel. from the pictures it seems to be a decent ww1 colt. without seeing the rear or top its a tough call to say all original. still nice---------I LIKE IT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZPhil Posted June 30, 2020 Share #3 Posted June 30, 2020 Maybe one of the mod's was addition of the arched mainspring housing ? Because a 1911 does not have that type of MS housing. That came around in 1926. Semper Fi Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Costa Posted June 30, 2020 Share #4 Posted June 30, 2020 that is why I mentioned the back and top. that 45 can be restored back to its original state with the barrel (if not correct) being kind of tough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kwill Posted June 30, 2020 Share #5 Posted June 30, 2020 Your pistol was made in 1915 (not a Black Army, which was late 1918). The MSH has been changed, as noted, which may imply that other parts have been changed as well, the barrel being the most likely candidate. How is it marked? Below is a snip from Arms and the Man, which was the first publication from the NRA. I have kept a database on these pistols for many years. The NRA marked Colts are about half as frequently encountered as examples made by Springfield Armory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cwnavy1 Posted June 30, 2020 Author Share #6 Posted June 30, 2020 I am attaching photos of the barrel to see if this matches the period of the weapon. Please let me know. I'd like to take it back to all original if possible. Take a look at the barrel and let me know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Costa Posted June 30, 2020 Share #7 Posted June 30, 2020 barrel marking is wrong. it is to a later production. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kwill Posted July 1, 2020 Share #8 Posted July 1, 2020 I agree with Costa on the barrel. Yours should have the H P but as separate letters. They could be oriented horizontally (early) or vertically (a little later). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cwnavy1 Posted July 1, 2020 Author Share #9 Posted July 1, 2020 So when does this barrel date from? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Costa Posted July 1, 2020 Share #10 Posted July 1, 2020 if I am right-- from late 1918 -- serial number 450,000 to 1919- serial number 710,000 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kwill Posted July 1, 2020 Share #11 Posted July 1, 2020 Correct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blacksmith Posted July 1, 2020 Share #12 Posted July 1, 2020 It also has a short milled WWII trigger, and a long tang grip safety - neither of which are correct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cwnavy1 Posted July 1, 2020 Author Share #13 Posted July 1, 2020 Is it possible, and reasonable, to find parts to take this back to a non “A1” pistol? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kwill Posted July 1, 2020 Share #14 Posted July 1, 2020 Sure. The trigger is easy but the barrel and MSH will to hard to find and expensive. Watch the auction sites and be patient. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Costa Posted July 1, 2020 Share #15 Posted July 1, 2020 the barrel with the proper P-H is tough and costly if a nice 1 is found. main spring housing, trigger and other small parts are out there and pop up on ebay from time to time and gun broker. if you can do it --- the thing that hurts it is the NRA stamp but, still worth over 1000.00. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kwill Posted July 1, 2020 Share #16 Posted July 1, 2020 IMHO, the market for authentic NRA marked guns is much stronger than the equivalent gun without the marking--2x to 3X in fact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cwnavy1 Posted July 1, 2020 Author Share #17 Posted July 1, 2020 Unfortunately, I do not have positive proof of ownership and origin of this pistol. It belonged to a retired navy captain in L A from whom I received a bunch of WWI material including his Navy Cross. I’ve mentioned this grouping in this forum before. I remember reading Capt. Smith’s will years ago and he explained in great detail about all his stuff, but I think that copy of the will was disposed of years ago in my Dads stuff. I do have some other NRA stuff from Smith, but it’s mostly membership signup literature, or shooting range info etc. would be great if the NR A had purchase records from the 1930s, but I doubt they allow access to them even if they have them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blacksmith Posted July 2, 2020 Share #18 Posted July 2, 2020 Long triggers in original finish are hardly “easy” to find. Especially ones that didn’t have trigger shoes screwed onto them during the “bullseye” craze in the 70s. Flat MSHs are easier to find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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