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View Full Version : 98% 1917 1911 project completed

AirCommando
29th April 2008, 15:44
Back in Aug. of '07 I bought a 1917 98% original finish Colt frame with a 90% 1918 slide because the price was right, and I wanted to get a 98% slide to match. I finally got it done! Thanks to Bill Adair. I tried all this time to locate a proper slide with no luck. Finally I got the idea that I would send my slide to Bill Adair and have him make it into a 1917 slide. Well, that would not work because in May of 1918, Colt went to the longer radius on the recoil spring housing. But, Bill had a 1917 slide just by sheer luck! I had been looking for one for 9 months! So Bill restored it and I bought it. Here are the results...
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b397/AirCommando/th_1911044.jpg (http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b397/AirCommando/1911044.jpg)
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b397/AirCommando/th_1911039.jpg (http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b397/AirCommando/1911039.jpg)
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b397/AirCommando/th_1911036.jpg (http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b397/AirCommando/1911036.jpg)
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b397/AirCommando/th_1911034.jpg (http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b397/AirCommando/1911034.jpg)
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b397/AirCommando/th_1911032.jpg (http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b397/AirCommando/1911032.jpg)
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b397/AirCommando/th_1911031.jpg (http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b397/AirCommando/1911031.jpg)
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b397/AirCommando/th_1911030.jpg (http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b397/AirCommando/1911030.jpg)
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b397/AirCommando/th_1911029.jpg (http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b397/AirCommando/1911029.jpg)
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b397/AirCommando/th_1911028.jpg (http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b397/AirCommando/1911028.jpg)
I think the gun was stripped and parts were swapped in the field in 1918; it has Rem-UMC grips, a short hammer, and the 1918 brushed blue slide, parts that were readily available in 1918. Now I have two slides, a correct one and the one that was on it since 1918. I just did this for my own satisfaction, I do not intend to sell the gun.

AC
Scott Gahimer
29th April 2008, 17:38
Congratulations. I'm glad you got what you were looking for, and were able to keep the slide that came with the pistol when you bought it.

Bill Adair is the best restoration gunsmith I know of. His work is top drawer and his charges are reasonable. I, too, highly recommend him.

Thank you for showing us the new photos.
AirCommando
29th April 2008, 18:13
Yep Scott, he is good! His price for the slide and the work was probably less than I could have bought a 98% slide for. And, where are you going to find one? I looked everywhere. I'm going to get a M1916 holster rig for it. Maybe I could introduce the gun to it a bunch of times and get it back to 98%. I guess now I have a 99% gun!

AC
COWBOYKEITH
29th April 2008, 21:21
Yep Scott, he is good! His price for the slide and the work was probably less than I could have bought a 98% slide for. And, where are you going to find one? I looked everywhere. I'm going to get a M1916 holster rig for it. Maybe I could introduce the gun to it a bunch of times and get it back to 98%. I guess now I have a 99% gun!

AC
AC -- That's a good looking pistol ,congratulations on finding the right slide .I know it can get frustrating trying to find the right parts and not having any luck . The holster will make a nice set .

COWBOY KEITH
AirCommando
29th April 2008, 21:49
Thanks CowboyKeith. I artificially gave it a little wear at the muzzle and high points on the slide to take the newness off. I think with a little more work, it will look like it should. The slide is really tight on the rails, too. Feels like a new gun being so tight. I don't think I will try to wear it in though, I'm not going to shoot it.



http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b397/AirCommando/1911053.jpg
crjoe
3rd May 2008, 09:03
AirCommando
How did you put that wear on it? What method did you use? I have a refinish that I would like to give a more worn look. I was thinking of just sitting one night and holstering the gun over and over.
I was wondering how others do it.
AirCommando
3rd May 2008, 10:41
I just took a heavy leather belt and buffed the edges with it a little, kind of simulated a leather holster entry and withdrawal.

AC
AirCommando
14th May 2008, 15:53
Just got the holster/belt rig. Holster is a 1917 Warren Leather Goods.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b397/AirCommando/Colt45rig007.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b397/AirCommando/Colt45rig004.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b397/AirCommando/Colt45rig001.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b397/AirCommando/1912holster011.jpg