New to me GM

[road toad]

Hello, I just replaced my Austrian wonder plastic with a 1911 that I got a good deal on, I've really missed my old gov't model that I used to carry before the Glock. This Colt is now my only carry pistol and I have a few questions. Best I can tell the MFG date is 1917 and it is a commercial model in amazingly good condition, however it has been professionally refinished and I suspect the grips have been replaced too. First question is, should I save up for another carry pistol and turn this Colt into a safe queen or shoot and carry it since it no longer has it's original finish anyways? Second, what did the original grips look like? right now it has double diamond checkered rosewood. Lastly, would it be worth it to have it papered by Colt historical dept.? Thanks for all your help.

[mayagrafix]

A Government Model pistol is a good candidate for Colts Certificate of Authenticity since there are not many marks (apart from the VP - "verified proof" and a few others by assemblers or inspectors) and interesting info can be obtained from the Colt letter (where it was originally sold and what appearance it came with).

There is no more reliable firearm than a .45 ACP and you should have no problems with your 1917 GM with the proper maintenance. That said, remember that it is almost 100 years old and if and when the day comes that u need to use it for defense, well, u just might want to have something newer in your hands.

Mine is from 1920 and I shoot it at least once a month. Something about a firearm with all those years that adds to your shooting skills...

[OD*]

Sounds nice.

WHERE'S THE PICTURES!?! :D

[paul45]

Sounds nice.....but do you really want to spend 100 bucks on a letter? I think lettering a un-restored example enhances value....but a re-finish and new stocks makes it a very nice shooter, not worth the extra 100 (my opinion only!).

[road toad]

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to get some range time with it this afternoon, so I'll be able to see how it does. OD*, I'm really not good with this computer stuff but I'd be happy to e-mail some photos to someone if they can post em. Thanks.

[road toad]

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q56/roadtoad2/colt1917.jpg
Thanks for the assist mayagrafix, lets see if I got it right.

[OD*]

Looks great Road toad. http://forum.m1911.org/images/icons/icon14.gif

Thanks for helping Mayagrafix.

[mayagrafix]

No problema guys, glad to be able to be usefull once in a while.

The pistol in the pix looks good, as a matter of fact it looks just like the one in Clawson's book for that year! Only thing missing is the lanyard loop for the mag. What does it say on the bottom of the mag? (exactly as it appears with dots and everything).

The grips are correct for this Model O ;) Colt switched from double diamond walnut about 1942 to plain pattern for the GM.

[OD*]

Mayagrafix,

I think the double diamond stocks were eliminated from the Commercial Models around C132000 +.

[mayagrafix]

According to Clawson in the GM book:
"Diamond pattern from serial # C1 through about C125xxx" and "Plain pattern from about serial # C112xxx through C215xxx..."

the mismatch in numbers probably due to Colts brilliant bean counters numbering system :)

[OD*]

Mayagrafix,

You are of course correct sir, my apologies. For what ever reason, my little brain registered 1927 instead of the 1917 as it is written in a couple posts. :o

[road toad]

Mayagrafix, the magazine is completely unmarked, it is two tone with the bluing starting about the middle of the tube and has two pins holding the floor plate on. I can try and post a pic of it but there really isn't any kind of markings. By the way the serial is C932XX. I'm certain the finish has been redone because there is mild pitting in the bore, but yet it has nice shiny bluing in there also. Good to hear the grip pattern is right but they're rosewood instead of walnut. I'm guessing most everything else on it is correct for 1917.

[road toad]

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q56/roadtoad2/000_0519.jpg Pics are good, right?

[road toad]

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q56/roadtoad2/000_0520.jpg OK, one more.

[OD*]

Pics are good, right?
Pics are VERY good! ;)

[mayagrafix]

It is a judgment call on the mags. Lanyard loop mags ran thru about C950xx and mags without the lanyard loop began at C850xx. Colt had a funny way of producing pistols inconsequentially, so your mag could be correct for the year. The two tone is correct for that year though (with or without LL) and the unmarked base also good for a 1917 pistol. Colt began marking the base of mags in 1933 (the practice which originally began with the Super .38 mags in 1929). So your pistol is right on the edge of the two production runs.

Have you taken off the grips yet? it should have the heart cut out.

[mayagrafix]

Mayagrafix,

You are of course correct sir, my apologies. For what ever reason, my little brain registered 1927 instead of the 1917 as it is written in a couple posts. :o

No need to apologize. I make my share of boo-boos all the time.

[OD*]

Thank you.

Now a question, the heart-shaped cut out on a Commercial? When did they do that? The cut-outs on the USGI begin around serial 375000.

[road toad]

What exactly is the heart cut out? I've had the grips off but I don't recall seeing anything out of the ordinary. I can take them back off in a second or two if you tell me what to look for.

[OD*]

What exactly is the heart cut out? I've had the grips off but I don't recall seeing anything out of the ordinary. I can take them back off in a second or two if you tell me what to look for.
http://mysite.verizon.net/od45/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/heartcutout.jpg

[road toad]

No, it definately does'nt look like that.

[OD*]

I don't think the Commercials had the heart-shaped cut-out, unless it was a military receiver that was transferred to be used on a Commercial. Only 60-70% percent of the USGIs had the cut out and they didn't start on the USGIs until 1918.

[mayagrafix]

Hmmm, I thought it was the other way round; that all pre-war colts had the heart cut and lost it during the WW2 as a cost cutting measure. I'll have to look it up but not today...

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!

[jmikesteen]

My 1138xx has orginal Diamonds