scored a Colt today

[stuart gildersleeve]

picked up a Colt in a craft box. here are some pics the seller stated that the pistol was a DCM pistol. what do you guys think. http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/1911a1/Picture109.jpg

[stuart gildersleeve]

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/1911a1/Picture108.jpg

[stuart gildersleeve]

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/1911a1/Picture110.jpg

[stuart gildersleeve]

here are a few shots of the markings on the barrel. this would be correct for the s.n.# range???http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/1911a1/Picture106.jpg

[stuart gildersleeve]

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/1911a1/Picture105.jpg

[bgiven]

Barrel is a Springfield Type 14 with a heat lot # stamped above the left lug. This would not be original to this Colt A1.

[AKsRule]

Barrel is a Springfield Type 14 with a heat lot # stamped above the left lug. This would not be original to this Colt A1.

Of course this is not unusual , as Most DCM pistols sold in the last years of the
program had been Rebuilt by U.S. Armorers.

[rondawg]

Nice! I'm thinkin' I shouldn't look at photos of guns like that.

[stuart gildersleeve]

thanks for the replys fellas, the fellow i got the pistol from is a collector he saw the thread and will get the right barrel out to me. he's a fair and squared away guy, top notch individual. the barrel kind of threw me and was at first thinking maybe was a different variant or something out left field not in Clawsons little book. thanks again Stu

[Scott Gahimer]

The box is a modern $3.00 repro, not a DCM box. I also question the tag on the pistol. The date on it at the bottom is 1982. There were no DCM sales of pistols since the early 1960s. The hand writing on the tag appears to be similar to the hand writing of the serial number on the box. I think the same guy may have done both. I'd value the box, the tag and the DCM story at $3.00.

The F on the bottom of the barrel has been added (engraved) by someone...probably in an attempt to replicate a Colt F-marked barrel. The F-marked Colt barrel is one of the most common WWII barrels used in pistols of that serial range.

The finish of the pistol does not look like a military refinish to me. If I were looking at it to purchase, I'd value it as a modern day, aftermarket refinish.
Then I'd add $3.00 for the extras.

[A.B.]

"The hand writing on the tag appears to be similar to the hand writing of the serial number of the box."That jumped out at me, at once. I'm too ignorant to normally do more than browse these threads, but I can speak to this: the numbers on the tag and the box are written in the same hand.


PS: I apologize for the unsupported argument from authority (I flinch at those, too), but it is easy to support. It is not so much the exact similarity of the numbers, it is also the spacing, the way the writer breaks the large number down into smaller numbers...

[stuart gildersleeve]

Thanks Scott for your reply and expertise, i got the pistol as it was one that i could afford, as Colts in much nicer condition are far and above what i could afford to pay for a pistol that i would like to shoot from time to time. i thought the the box may be a repro no big deal i had something to carry the pistol back too my car in. the hang tag was another thing the date seemed to be a bit late for a DCM pistol makes for a nice diplay piece. as for the barrel the seller is mailing the correct one to me. Stu

[Scott Gahimer]

Stu: My opinion is important...but only on the pieces I own.:)
All that's important about this pistol is whether or not you know what you got and whether or not you're happy with it. It sounds like you do know and are happy, and that you got what you paid for...which constitutes a good deal in most cases.
Thanks for showing it to us. I enjoyed seeing it.

[stuart gildersleeve]

thanks Scott, question for you. i noticed the feed ramp is in the white (not parked) on the pistol. does this mean something or nothing at all. the park on the pistol is well worn.

[Scott Gahimer]

Yes, it means someone buffed the finish back off the feed ramp after it was refinished...a sign someone knew what it was supposed to look like. Sounds like it may have been the same creative individual who did the box and hanging tag.

[rondawg]

Me, personally, I would be dang proud to own that one! Or any other like it. I love the looks and history of 'em, but I'm not really concerned about the correctness of every little detail. I certainly do understand the mindset of the collectors that insist on perfection though, but I'd be happy to have their rejects. I want guns I can shoot, not just look at. Maybe I'll find one myself someday. Until then, my Rocks make me happy!

[stuart gildersleeve]

thanks Rondawg, i like the pistol but the more i find out the more the more dissapointed i am with myself for not doing i bit more diggin. for example the barrel i got from the seller someone throated it NOT cool the dremal tool got into the chamber a bit to much for me to feel safe about it in the weapon and someone along the way had shot hot loads through it, it battered the slide back against the frame enough to bur the slide to where the barrel was a bear to get out of it, and who ever install the front sight didn't do it properly to the point the barrel bushing was hanging up on it from the inside. $100 later from my smith i got a Minty Colt F barrel and he deburred the slide, put a sight install tool inside the slide don't know exactly what he did but the bushing i can move with my fingers instead of with the tool now. all is as good as it's going to get with the pistol short of re-parking which i may or may not do just due to the fact i don't want to put any more $$$ into it than i have too. but i do have a Colt i can shoot and will be a keeper for sometime to come.