1911 Colt

[tetgunner]

I just recently acquired a 1911 Colt ser# 222934. It is in great mechanical condition. It looks to me like years ago, someone steelwooled and sanded it, and did a cold blue job on it. My question is, since the damage has been done, is it alright now to get a professional reblue job, or would this further erode its value?

[OD*]

Are you a collector, or a shooter?

[Hunter]

It would seem to me that the damage has been done (like you said) and really the only fitting thing to do now is have a good gunsmith do a professional hot blue job on your Colt and get the 1911 looking like it should. Welcome to the forum and you did good with your Colt they are by far my favorite.

[tetgunner]

I guess you could say I am a shooter.I have owned several 1911 A-1's over the years, and traded them off like a fool. I plan to keep this 1911. As far as I can tell, all of the parts are correct on this pistol. I don't see any cracks or peen marks anywhere. By the serial# it is an 1918 year of production. My next question is if I have it reblued, why not shoot it?

[OD*]

My next question is if I have it reblued, why not shoot it?
Why not indeed sir, they were made to be shot. ;)
I had a rough 1913 restored by Bill Adair, more than happy with how it turned out. Of course, those of us who have had them restored, have been equated to child molesters by one collector on another board.

[Hunter]

I have one of the same year serial number 276XXX that was refinished long before I got it but I still shoot it from time to time. I can not see a good reason not to although I would not abuse it with high pressure .45 ACP rounds or try and wear it out.

[tetgunner]

I plan on shooting it some, however I have a Ballester Molina that I had some good sights put on, that I have most of my fun with. Hope it's OK to mention an offbrand like that. But like they say, "There's Nothing Like the Real Thing", and that's a GI 1911 or 1911 A-1.I also got 500 rds of WWII US GI Ball ammo in the deal for the 1911.Frankford Arsenal 1943.

[Johnny Peppers]

There aren't many gunsmiths equipped to put an original finish back on a Colt 1911. The original finish was done in a coal fired furnace, rather than in hot salt blue tanks. If the finish is still smooth, it would be a candidate for a proper restoration. Bill Adair would do a proper restoration.

[tetgunner]

How could I contact Bill Adair?

[OD*]

http://www.restoration-gunsmith.com/

[tetgunner]

Thanks for sending the url. I like what I see on Adairs website, and will most likely deal with him.He is expensive, but I'm sure it is well worth it.As I mentioned before, I'll send some before and after pix.

[OD*]

I have had two pistols done by Mr Adair, he is actually quite reasonable.

[Doran]

Sometimes cold blue will come off using one of the lead removal cloths which might tell you if any original finish is left. They caution the cloths can also remove original finish but I've not found that the few times I've tried it on pistols and magazines, however, do this at your own risk.

[tetgunner]

When I tried to send my 1911 Colt to have it restored, here is what I found. The easiest way to do it, is to disassemble the pistol, and send the frame in one box, the slide and all other parts in another box. This way, you are sending gun parts to the person doing the work. This is the only way UPS would accept my pistol.They will sell you two boxes for $4.10. I sent mine surface, and with $1000 insurance on each package, the total was $42.00. Expensive, Huh?

[lightnin]

this is exactly the sort of colt i'm after, one that is older but someone else rendered it maybe-not-as-valuable for collecting, making me not feel so bad about shooting it a lot. where on earth do you find such an animal?

[tetgunner]

Well I just sort of fell into mine. I made friends with an old WWII vet at a retirement center here where I live. He had this pistol plus other firearms, and he made me a really good deal on this one. I saw several on gunbroker yesterday in about the same shape as mine, (75%) going for $1200. You could get a 1911 A-1 for about a third less from what I see on Gunbroker. Good luck!!