Passed on WWI repro

[theseadog]

I have been watching for a WWI repro to examine in person to purchase. I have not been inclined to order from the internet because some have noted that some of the pistols have exhibited a few problems. I have a friend who ordered one and his is flawless. But I had ordered a Colt 38 super a couple of years ago and received one with a barrel that left the factory with very badly damaged rifling from some sort of machine scoring that deeply cut across the lands and grooves. Colt made it right, and the pistol is now a favorite and a keeper, but I do not like to get involved with warranty projects.

One of the local shops got a WWI repro in and I passed because the slide stop bluing was splotchy. The rest of the blueing was ok. I'm not willing to pay, what with tax, would be a 1k unless it is right from the start. The grips are also, in my opinion, of less quality than what you get with the NRM pistols too. They look like the checking cuts were deeply cut only in one direction and the other cross "cut" looks like it was barely rolled on. My experience with the NRM production guns in .45 on the other hand has been very good. You would think it would think that more attention to detail would be given to the custom gun. Just my 2 cents (and not my 1k).

[elijdub]

I just bought a WWI repro from gunsamerica, but alot of the success IMHO was attributed to the fact that it was from a store a large inventory (i.e. trustworthy, reputalbe, etc., and more than willing to go over the gun in detail/send pics). It's a beauty!
In your case, it definitely seems like the right move to pass on one if the blueing isn't right. Especially with the fine finish on these repro's! The grips on mine look "OK", but i kinda' expected them to be "replicated" from the original, and nothing fancy. Now that i've had a chance to look at 'em, they were checkered correctly (they do seem to be missing a finish though, which gives them a matte look..?).
anyhow...

[theseadog]

To me the absence of plastic/varnish finishing and real checkering are as it should be. I'd consider myself lucky. I would not even go so far as to say the grips I saw were replicated because the deep cut in one direction and the cross cut appearing slight. I also noticed that the grips on a NRM .45 yesterday that did not have any of the plastic/varnish, they looked good and were cut evenly in both directions.

I just bought a WWI repro from gunsamerica, but alot of the success IMHO was attributed to the fact that it was from a store a large inventory (i.e. trustworthy, reputalbe, etc., and more than willing to go over the gun in detail/send pics). It's a beauty!
In your case, it definitely seems like the right move to pass on one if the blueing isn't right. Especially with the fine finish on these repro's! The grips on mine look "OK", but i kinda' expected them to be "replicated" from the original, and nothing fancy. Now that i've had a chance to look at 'em, they were checkered correctly (they do seem to be missing a finish though, which gives them a matte look..?).
anyhow...