remove finish

[bigredc]

I was reading through some old threads. A guy talked about removing cold blueing with a lot of rubbing and oil. Is this gun a candidate for that ?
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q36/bigredc222/leftside314xxxresize.jpg

[mayagrafix]

It depends on what you intend to do with the piece. If you modify an M1911 from its original condition then it looses it's collector value, no matter how beat up the pistol might be. Thus if what you want is a shooter grade pistol, I recommend trading it for something newer that you can modify with no penalties involved. Now if this particular pistol has many memories and you want to restore it because you will never part from her, give her a new face lift and show her proudly.

[John]

Good Lord, that's a fine 1911, why do you want to remove its bluing?

[bigredc]

In another thread I was told that it is not the original bluing. I was wondering if the original bluing might be underneath, and I could reveal it. I don't plan on selling it or modifying it. I won't say I'll never shoot it, but I wouldn't call it a shooter either. If it's not the original bluing and this bluing can't be removed, (by me)at some point I may have it restored properly. More than likely, I'll leave it be.

[bigwagon]

I wouldn't take someone's evaluation of photos posted on the internet as authoritative. Better you get a qualified opinion of the pistol from someone who is able to actually see it firsthand before you made any irreversible moves.

[bigredc]

I wouldn't take someone's evaluation of photos posted on the internet as authoritative. Better you get a qualified opinion of the pistol from someone who is able to actually see it firsthand before you made any irreversible moves. Definitely. I went to the local gun shop to talk about the gun and having it gone over. The guy said I wouldn't waste your money just shoot it. So I obviously need to find a qualified gunsmith in my area.

[clughog]

That's a fine looking pistol, bigredc. I'd probably not refinish it even if it was a re-blue unless it looks a whole lot worse in person. Sure would like to see more photos!

[bigredc]

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q36/bigredc222/314xxxleftsidecloseupUSPresize.jpg

[bigredc]

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q36/bigredc222/314xxxleftsidecloseupresizepatten.jpg

[bigredc]

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q36/bigredc222/rightside314xxxresize.jpg

[exitwounds]

The finish appears that it could be the old arsenal black finish used between the wars and resembles "stove black" in appearance. I believe if it were mine the only change I'd make would be the grip screws.

[clughog]

The finish appears that it could be the old arsenal black finish used between the wars and resembles "stove black" in appearance. I believe if it were mine the only change I'd make would be the grip screws.Sounds like a great plan, exitwounds!

Sure enjoyed the pictures, bigredc...like I said before, that's a fine looking pistol!

[Scott Gahimer]

I'd leave the pistol just like it is. Changing anything won't make it anymore original than it already is.

Grip screws look okay to me. Since the time that pistol was refinished, I'm confident there could be some signs of wear and use to the grip screws. I personally wouldn't attempt to un-do that.

If you think there's a chance the grip screws have been changed... well I suppose changing them now will remove all doubt. :nono:

Looks like a nice post-WWI rebuild. What are the barrel markings? And what magazine is in it?

Thanks.

[bigredc]

It sounds like I won't be doing anything with this gun except Take it apart, clean, oil, shoot a few times repeat the clean, oil, lock it up. If the interest is there. I'll post pictures of it field stripped. You guys are great, I have a new love in my the life. THE GUN not you guys LOL http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q36/bigredc222/45Clipsrezise.jpg

[Scott Gahimer]

I'm always interested in seeing more photos and hearing more about someone's old 1911.

The barrel markings I'm interested in would be on either side of the barrel lugs, on top of the chamber and on the bottom of the barrel in front of the lugs. You might also look on the back side of the lugs and the back side of the barrel hood extension. Sometimes there are markings there, too.

Are those the magazines that came with your pistol? You can look on the top of the toe of the baseplate for markings there. The two tone mags are often not marked, and therefore would be Colt's. If there is a letter marking, such as A, B, L, etc., that means it was a contracted mag made by someone else. If you've got an R on the bottom of the baseplate, be sure to show it to us.

I can't tell if the one magazine is full blued, or has the same finish as the pistol. If it's the same finish as the pistol, chances are it wil be pinned base and was originally a two tone mag that was re-done during rebuild. If it is an arsenal refinished mag, and all those mags came with the pistol, that's probably the one that left the arsenal with the gun. The others would have been picked up sometime afterwards. Any way you look at it...you've got a nice bunch of mags there...worth a little $$ all on their own.