Another nickel 1911 from early century

[Can'tShootStraight]

I picked up this custom 1911 at a gun show today. It was unique enough that I had a hard time passing it up. Supposedly used by a Texas sherriff. Has a custom trigger guard and grips. Serial number dates it at 1918.

Need a little work on the finish here and there but nothing too bad.

Took it to the range and it jams a little when trying to eject the shells (new Wilson Combat magazines and the original clip). Any thoughts? I was thinking the recoil spring may all need replacing? Most of the parts inside the gun look original/worn, from the bushing to the spring guide. I will take it to a local gunsmith and have them look it over.

I think I'm a sucker for custom 1911's with a little bit of history.

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg1/CantShootStraight/DSC_0013.jpg

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg1/CantShootStraight/DSC_0018.jpg

[MSgt G]

Very interesting. I wonder what the owners thoughts were with that particular trigger guard? Maybe for use with oversized gloves? Nice piece with a little history!

[d90king]

Very interesting. I wonder what the owners thoughts were with that particular trigger guard?

Wouldn't that be a oxymoron? That might be the wildest USGI I have ever seen . Congrats on a interesting find.

[OD*]

Very interesting. I wonder what the owners thoughts were with that particular trigger guard? Maybe for use with oversized gloves? Nice piece with a little history!
They thought it would help with their speed. A number of Texas Rangers carried pistols with that particular modification, including Manuel Trazazas ("Lonewolf") Gonzaullas.

http://www.sightm1911.com/1911pix/historic/Texas_Ranger_1911.jpg

http://www.texasranger.org/halloffame/images/Gonzaul.jpg

[Jim Watson]

Yeah, that was what I thought of.
It is probably a pretty recent job, there haven't been allen head grip screws for all that long.

[Can'tShootStraight]

OD,

They thought it would help with their speed. A number of Texas Rangers carried pistols with that particular modification, including Manuel Trazazas ("Lonewolf") Gonzaullas.
This is how it was explained to me. Seemed to be a local thing, and for speed/gloves.

Jim,

It is probably a pretty recent job, there haven't been allen head grip screws for all that long.
Hope not. It's pretty worn, so if it was recent at all, it looks like someone drug it through the sand on a daily basis :) I have a letter with some info on the texas sherriff who owned it, and it was bought from his family a couple of years ago.

I may run it through Colt and see what comes up, just for fun.

[Can'tShootStraight]

BTW, anyone have any adivce on it jamming and failing to eject shells on a regular basis? (assume a 25%+ failure rate)

What's the most common causes of something like that?

[daveohno]

That is an interesting old Colt. A thumb break holster would be dangerous for that pistol. :scared:

[jeff1124]

It definitely would need new springs and perhaps extractor tuning. Magazines can also be the culprit, try others if you can. Good luck!

[Jim Watson]

I shudder to think about a sheriff that would
1. saw off his trigger guard
and
2. carry a gun that did not work.

[Can'tShootStraight]

Well I'm sure it worked 80 years ago, right? :)

[charlieb8]

"Fitz" Fitzgerald, a Colt gunsmith would do the same thing with revolvers. A "Fitz Special" revolver would have the front of the revolver cut off and the hammer bobbed. Can you imagine a company having one of their highly regarded employees doing such a thing today.

Another common thing for lawmen on the border to do was to put wet rawhide around the grip. When it dried it effectively disabled the grip safety.

This is one of my favorite "border" stories. Years ago a FBI agent was giving a class to a group of Texas Rangers. He spotted one of them carrying his 1911 cocked and locked in his waistband, "Mexican style". "Isn't that dangerous", he said pointing at the pistol. "Son, it better be", said the ranger!

[charlieb8]

OOOPS! I meant to write the "front of the trigger guard would be cut off"..

[Landman]

Being from Texas, if you don't mind me asking, I'm curious which Sheriff and what county?