Who would do such a thing,to a 1911

[curley]

I am another nubee around here,I'm sure a lot of nubees come through,But thats because this is such a great site,I have a problem I nee a little help on,I have a Colt 1911 WW11,Just over the the Seriel number on the right side someone filled or ground of the words,United States Military Property.This is on the frame over the ser.#.on up in front of the trigger guard on frame,They ground off the words.United States Army.I think thats what it suposed to say anyway.would they have done this if it went back to get rebuilt for any reason,Or maybe someone stole this gun from there buddy and wanted to get the military marking off it.IT's a 1913 patented dated,Nothing else on it has been heart.wonder why or who could do this,Thanks ahead,Jim :dead_hors

[Hunter]

It very well could be someone was wanting to hide that 1911 was property of the US Government because they were in possession of it.

[Hawkmoon]

It was common practice for soldiers who brought their 1911s back home from Europe (or the far east) to grind off the US PROPERTY markings, because they had essentially stolen Government proprty and didn't want to go around advertising the fact.

I find it rather ironic that, back then, people went to great lengths to remove the US PROPERTY markings, while today we spend good money to buy a reproduction pistol from Colt or a reproduction M1911 frame from Caspian that say US PROPERTY even though they have never been US property.

[TriumphGT6]

That's a shame. I've got a 1917 revolver with the same problem. :butthead: However in your case, there is a solution of sorts, at http://www.turnbullrestoration.com. Since your pistol has no collector value in its present condition, there's no reason not to go ahead with this, as long as you have enough money. Which, as a normal human, you probably don't. :D

[exitwounds]

....I have a Colt 1911 WW11,Just over the the Serial number on the right side someone filled or ground of the words,United States Military Property.This is on the frame over the ser.#.on up in front of the trigger guard on frame,They ground off the words.United States Army.I think thats what it supposed to say anyway.would they have done this if it went back to get rebuilt for any reason,Or maybe someone stole this gun from there buddy and wanted to get the military marking off it.It's a 1913 patented dated,Nothing else on it has been heart.wonder why or who could do this,Thanks ahead,Jim :dead_hors

Jim,the 1913 final patent date was applied to all Colt slides beginning in 1914 shortly after serial number 83856, the serial number of your pistol will determine the actual year it was made. Your pistol is of mid 1918 vintage or older. There where many doughboys who lifted their sidearm when they left the military and scrubbed the USP mark as Hawkmoon said. A good restoration gunsmith such as Bill Adair can restore the markings and at a reasonable price. You can contact him at www.restoration-gunsmith.com .

[John Holbrook]

Here is a sad example of a 1911 frame that has been defaced!!! :nono:

http://www.fototime.com/%7BF85C1F8E-3BDE-4E82-84DC-005B7ED3E119%7D/picture.JPG

http://www.fototime.com/%7B89EFCFB3-EE37-46C7-9C3D-EAAB757CDC05%7D/picture.JPG

http://www.fototime.com/%7B0325AEC7-BD98-43C6-A80D-37BBA10C14CD%7D/picture.JPG

[John Holbrook]

OK sports fans, what was the original number???? :confused:

I can just make the acceptance stamp on the left side as JMG, which would be correct for a Colt in the 230000 range...

I saw 23887? If it is 238873, it went to Nicaragua with the Marines!!!

238773 - - 071530 - USMC - NICARAGUA -


http://www.fototime.com/%7B5112D28B-64A7-401E-8E5A-96DF04C2D08B%7D/picture.JPG

[curley]

That hurts to see those dimples in the serial number.Well I really hadn't thought about maybe someone keeping it during or after the war.Looks like whoever did it ,did a pretty good job on mine,they blued over it and really covered it up good.I may check out the Restoration sight now and at least I can make a pretty out of it.It sure shoots good.Thanks for the help men.Jim

[exitwounds]

I saw 23887? If it is 238873, it went to Nicaragua with the Marines!!!

238773 - - 071530 - USMC - NICARAGUA -



Mr. Holbrook, If you posted the correct info: 238773 - - 071530 - USMC - NICARAGUA your off by at least 100 pistols anyway. ;)

[gottripletsNC]

Looks more like 2388 or 23887, the last 7 doesn't look like a match to the original stamp, and the last dimples don't appear to have anything under them. Almost like it was an added number to make the serial number appear to be way out of time frame.

[7790314]

JMO, but I think a fitting colloquil for someone who would want a gun marked United States Property that never actually was United States Property would be "Idjut!". :lh:

[curley]

I agree ,Looks like someone was really trying to through people off by adding more dimples tolook like another dated number

[curley]

I think you are saying ,It may not really be a Goverment marked gun and they did the damage to make it look like it was?It did have the markings at one time you can still see a little of the lettering ,If you look real close,I'll try to post a pix of it,I have never flew that high yet,But I'll try,Jim

[A.B.]

Think there is a # after the "bold" 7, probably a 4. You can see the left middle edge of the 4. So, 238874, would be a guess. It is odd that the 7 matches the N...'course, its easy to find out, but it would cost $$!
Bit of a geek about these things, I guess.

[David Rose]

Maybe I am missing something... but aren't altered serial numbers "sort of" serious to uncle? For average owners, maybe there is no threat, but I am concerned about the wisdom of flashing them around the net.

David