inherited 45 #2

[45afflicted]

This is the second post conserning two 45's I inherited from my Father-in-law. I kept them seperated to avoid confusion.

This gun has me baffled. About all I can say is that it MAY be made by Colt prior to them then being made in Argentina. And I got that from a post on this site. Here's what I have:

Colt 45, Ejercito Argentino, serial 78XX, 100%, never fired, coated with some protectorant (cosmoline, I think) and looks brand new. Checkered grips sharp and clean. Front of trigger knurled.

Would appreciate any information any may have and also worth (for insurance).

As I said in the other post: THANKS for you all being here! I'm glad I found the site.

[Hawkmoon]

Can you post photos of both sides to show the markings (feel free to obscure the serial number if you wish, or write out exactly what is stamped/rollmarked into each side of the frame and slide? Colt did make an initial run for Argentina before selling them the machinery and setting them up to build their own, but I think the serial numbers from Colt would have been much higher by then. I'm not even especially knowledgeable on this, certainly not an expert, but I sort of think you have a Sistema rather than a Colt.

BTW -- Is your pistol an M1911 (straight mainspring housing and no "scallop" cuts behind the trigger) or an M1911A1 (arched mainspring housing and scallop cuts behind the trigger)?

[clughog]

Sure would like to see pictures, as Hawkmoon says. From the serial number you posted, it sounds like you might have one of the 10,000 pistols that were made by Colt for the Argentine Government around 1927. If so, it's sure a lot more valuable than the Sistema's and would be an awesome find in the condition you describe.

http://www.sightm1911.com/

M1911-A1 Modelo 1927

After adoption of the M1911A1 in the United States, the Argentine government purchased the pistol from Colt as the Model 1927. The order to Colt was for a run of 10,000 guns for the Argentine Army. These guns were serial numbered in their own range from 1 to 10000. The original finish of these guns was blued with a brush blue finish and they had checkered walnut grips. The way to recognize them is that on the right side of the slide it has the following markings:

EJERCITO ARGENTINO
Colt CAL. 45 MOD. 1927

[45afflicted]

Thank you both for the replies. Here are the links to the pics. They aren't the best, but it's all I can do.

http://s224.photobucket.com/albums/dd148/45afflicted/?action=view&current=IMGP2061.jpg

http://s224.photobucket.com/albums/dd148/45afflicted/?action=view&current=IMGP2060.jpg

To the left of Erjercito Argentino is a very faint stamp that looks like a crest with a vine on the right and left. On the left side of the slide, following the "Colt's PT.F.A. ......" is a faint rearing colt emblem.

Thanks again, and let me know what you think.

[45afflicted]

Clughog, your quote accurately describes the pistol.

Thanks again for you help.

[bgiven]

Looks to be refinished, grips have been replaced, someone has serial numbered the RH side of the frame since they were not stamped there by Colt......and trust me, it has been shot prior.

Looks to me like a $700.- shooter.

[bgiven]

ooops missed one, trigger should be milled, not stamped, so it has been replaced as well.

[45afflicted]

bgiven, Thanks for the reply.

However, I can guarantee unfired and not refinished. Coated in cosmoline, yes (and many years ago), unfinished, no.

[clughog]

Definitely looks refinished to me as well. The first 10,000 Colts have the serial number on the barrel, on the sight just forward of the rear sight, on the bottom of the magazine, and on the frame under the MSH. Do the serial numbers on yours match? Definitely agree with bgiven about the grips, but I'm not sure about the trigger (looks like the one on mine, best I can tell from the picture). And, it could have been coated and stored after being used a while. A nice pistol, though!

[bgiven]

I have had several of these in and out of my collection over the years.

It is refinished. The grips are replacements. The frame has been re-numbered. The Argentines shot everything they bought from Colt. Anything other than that is just wishful thinking.

Regarding the trigger, check Clawson page 146, you will find that the 10,000 A1 contract pistols had milled triggers very similar to US military A1s, which was prior to the stamped trigger first used in 1943. Since the 10,000 contract pistols were built in 1927 and 28, it would be pretty hard to have an original 1943 trigger that hadn't been introduced yet.

[45afflicted]

I guess I screwed up my last reply, but here's the gist of it:

Dad swears by this gun. Worth a mint. Never refinished, never fired. However, the opinions from this site are quoted on many other sites and I'll stand with you.

I certainly appreciate your help in this. I'm saddened that this isn't the collector item Dad thinks it is, but am also glad that I finally have a 45 to shoot!

[45afflicted]

Can you estimate worth on the gun and tell me a little more about it as it isn't what I thought it was?