Need help in identifying Colt M1911A1

[PCW]

I purchased this Colt several years back and I don't know if the barrel and slide is original. I believe this pistol is one of the handguns that has the restamped serial #. The slide does not have any marking on either side. The slide has a flat rib on top.

The barrel appears to be chrome platted and has .45 AUTO NM 7791414 on the exposed area.

Here are some of the facts that I know

S: located after finish by the disconnector on top of the frame indicates field service.

Left Side

Verified proof, Colt inspectors Stamp G.H.D
Produced in 1942 or 1943 and inspected by Army Brig. General Guy H. Drewry. "G.H.D." inspector’s mark

P next to Mag Release


Right Side

Trigger guard has 69 on it
US cannon ordnance stamp (forward of hammer)
Duplicate serial # United States Property M1911A1 US ARMY Serial No 864619

I have several pictures at the links below with the first 2 being blowup's of the parts.

Any help would be appreciated.

http://ddmoore.freeyellow.com/Guns//1911_Pitures/1911_1.gif
http://ddmoore.freeyellow.com/Guns//1911_Pitures/1911_2.gif
http://ddmoore.freeyellow.com/Guns//1911_Pitures/1911_3.gif
http://ddmoore.freeyellow.com/Guns//1911_Pitures/1911_4.gif
http://ddmoore.freeyellow.com/Guns//1911_Pitures/1911_5.gif
http://ddmoore.freeyellow.com/Guns//1911_Pitures/1911_6.gif
http://ddmoore.freeyellow.com/Guns//1911_Pitures/1911_7.gif
http://ddmoore.freeyellow.com/Guns//1911_Pitures/1911_8.gif
http://ddmoore.freeyellow.com/Guns//1911_Pitures/1911_9.gif
http://ddmoore.freeyellow.com/Guns//1911_Pitures/1911_10.gif
http://ddmoore.freeyellow.com/Guns//1911_Pitures/1911_11.gif
http://ddmoore.freeyellow.com/Guns//1911_Pitures/1911_12.gif

[Doran]

S indicates commercial Sales. You have 1/2 of a very desirable commercial/military conversion pistol.

[PCW]

Hi

Thanks for the reply. Any comments on the upper half and small parts. I am just trying to figure out what it would need to be original.

[RickB]

It's a "parts gun". The slide appears to be one of the cheap cast slides that can be found in Shotgun News and other sources. The barrel is a G.I. National Match, made by Kart; that's a "K" surrounding the "ART". The bushing also appears to be a USGI National Match part. The grip safety appears to be from a WWI-vintage gun. I'd suspect the internals to also be a mish-mash of military and modern commercial parts, but no way to know without seeing them.

[Doran]

I agree with RickB's assessment. The slide stop appears ca. 1949+ and the magazine late USGI contract Checkmate. The original commercial marked slide carried the frame serial number under the firing pin stop. It would be worth the effort to possibly obtain the original slide if you know the previous owner. The frame also exhibits the extra machining required for the Swartz safety although the parts were removed for military issue.

Likely impossible to return the pistol to quasi-original configuration without renumbering a period commercial slide. The slide plus a correct barrel, grip safety, grips, slide stop, magazines, etc would cost many hundreds of dollars as would a remark/refinish by someone like Bill Adair. I believe this pistol best left a shooter and enjoyed as is.

[Scott Gahimer]

The slide plus a correct barrel, grip safety, grips, slide stop, magazines, etc would cost many hundreds of dollars as would a remark/refinish by someone like Bill Adair. I believe this pistol best left a shooter and enjoyed as is.

Agreed.
At a gun show recently, I did see a C/M slide only for sale, but I don't remember it's condition or if it was original finish. I didn't even pick it up or ask the price.
Here's a C/M renumber to give you an idea of what the pistol looked like when it was original.
[IMG]http://i21.tinypic.com/1ihgkp.jpg[/IMG (http://i21.tinypic.com/1ihgkp.jpg%5b/IMG)]

[IMG]http://i24.tinypic.com/9vcabt.jpg[/IMG (http://i24.tinypic.com/9vcabt.jpg%5b/IMG)]

[PCW]

Thanks to all of you for your contribution to my question. Best of luck to all.