What can you tell me about this 45???

[ricky50]

Hi There Folks,

This is my first post here and i hope i get it right !

I bought this 45 years ago in a pawn shop and i would really love to know what the heck i have in my hands.

I found out it was made in 1943 but what is really odd about this gun is that the frame and slide have matching serial numbers.

Does anyone know if this gun was maybe not issued or did one guy really take care of his gun?

The curiosity is killing me on on this gun, i have not shot it although besides the parkerizing rubbed out by the slide stop there is nothing wrong with it.


http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff160/Ricky50/PB240148.jpg

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff160/Ricky50/PB240142.jpg

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff160/Ricky50/PB240141.jpg

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff160/Ricky50/PB240139.jpg

[wichaka]

Your pics have a blue tint to them.......

Looks like it may have been refinished.

[ricky50]

Your pics have a blue tint to them.......

Looks like it may have been refinished.

I adjusted the camera for indoor light and fixed it on the computer as well but it shows up blue.

I assure you it is a regular parkerized look not blue. :scared:

[Scott Gahimer]

The pistol is refinished. Some of the edges are rounded, some markings have been partially obliterated; others appear to be completely obliterated. The finish is a post-war phosphate (parkerized) finish. The slide stop has been changed. The original slide stop was checkered and had different contours.
That's about all I can see in your photos. The barrel appears to have markings on the top of the chamber? How about some photos of it and the rest of the pistol? Thanks.

[ricky50]

I took some more pics and managed to not get them bluish in color this time!!

My camera is not the latest so i did the best i could, let me know what else you would need or any explanations.

Thanks for the responses!!

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff160/Ricky50/PB240142-1.jpg
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff160/Ricky50/PB240139-1.jpg
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff160/Ricky50/PB240155.jpg
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff160/Ricky50/PB240141-1.jpg

[Scott Gahimer]

Your barrel has been changed. The correct barrel would have been marked COLT 45 AUTO on the left side of the chamber, P on the left lug and it would have also had another marking on the bottom of the barrel in front of the lugs. At that serial number...probably an F marking on the bottom.
The marking on the left side of the frame is an importer's mark, which appears to have been partially obliterated in the refinish, or not struck well in the first place.

[ricky50]

The only other thing to add to this topic is what would be the approximate value for this firearm and would i ruin any possible value by shooting it?

[rondawg]

You've had it 45 years and never shot it? :scared: I couldn't stand it! :D

[Doran]

I believe you could shoot that one without reducing its value.

[ricky50]

Why is it that the frame and slide have matching numbers though?

I thought slides and frames went in seperate piles and then cleaned and put together mixed up.

This the part that is strange to me unless it was given to an offiicer to carry and he took good care of it?

[Doran]

Perhaps refinished by the importer who segregated the slides and frames.