Bubba is at it again.....

[bgiven]

Check out the fake slide on this 1912 first year production Navy.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=86490036

Bubba is getting good. I can't figure out how the LH rollmarks and circled Rampant Colt seem to look original, on a much later mf'd slide. Of course the 'NAVY' marking is a dead giveaway....

[rondawg]

I wish I could see what you guys can see, looks fine to me. Just goes to show you that I'd probably get taken.

[bgiven]

I wish I could see what you guys can see, looks fine to me. Just goes to show you that I'd probably get taken.

Shape of the recoil spring housing tells me the slide is late 1918 - 1919.

[Hill]

Looks to me as if the "S" in U.S. NAVY" is canted forward slightly, and the spacing of the "Y" from the "V" is too wide.

Odd that he can give a sharp photo of the rollmark but blurs most of the other detail photos.

Very high level of skill involved.....nice catch.

[Hawkmoon]

Shape of the recoil spring housing tells me the slide is late 1918 - 1919.
Okay, please clue me in, because this is something well beyond my limited knowledge of historical martial Colts. What's the deal with the shape of the recoil spring housing? When did it change and how did it change? What should be correct on a pistol of supposed 1912 vintage, and what should be correct on a pistol of supposed 1918 vintage (such as the WW1 reproductions)?

Time to get myself edjamicated.

[OD*]

What should be correct on a pistol of supposed 1912 vintage, and what should be correct on a pistol of supposed 1918 vintage (such as the WW1 reproductions)?

No. 1

1918 could be 3 or 4, depending on serial number.

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb274/OD1911/Slides.jpg

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb274/OD1911/RecoilSpringHousing.jpg


(Charles Clawson pictures)

[Scott Gahimer]

I think 1918 could be #2, 3 or 4...depending on serial number.

[Hawkmoon]

Thank you, gentlemen.

Wow! You guys are GOOD!

[TonyW]

Thank you, gentlemen.

Wow! You guys are GOOD!

That's for sure! Remind me never to buy an historical pistol - I'd get taken every time!

[gfavaron]

That's two of us Tony . . . . .

[DGW]

Bob and Scott are experts. Good catch Bob.