U.S. & S. CO. M1911 A1 with ??????????

[KIESEL]

I recently traded a Savage Arms 204 high power rifle that I paid $600.00 for, for a U.S. & S. CO. M1911 A1 it's holster and the story of the gun. I shot about a half box through it the other day. My plan is to put the gun away to give to my kids. I would like to know if any one knows if this gun was rare or worth any thing, or if I should just be happy i got it and shoot it. Any info would be great thank you.

http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk56/leseiK/IMG_0236-1.jpg
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk56/leseiK/IMG_0226.jpg
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk56/leseiK/IMG_0230.jpg
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk56/leseiK/IMG_0231a.jpg
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk56/leseiK/IMG_0232a.jpg
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk56/leseiK/IMG_0235.jpg
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk56/leseiK/IMG_0234.jpg

[John]

Nice, congrats!

[rhtwist]

Ditto!
rhtwist

[wichaka]

That's a beauty!

[Jim Watson]

I would like to know if any one knows if this gun was rare or worth any thing,

Are you just joking with us or do you not know that US&S is the second least common 1911A1 made? If that gun checks out as all original, it is worth several times the value of the Savage you traded for it. Don't get your hopes too high, one of the surplus collector experts might come along and find fault with it, but it sure looks nice.

[OD*]

Jim is quite correct, only 55,000 of those made, take good care of it.

[Hawkmoon]

And don't shoot it!

At least not unless the experts tell you it's a fake. If it's all original, shooting it would be a huge gamble.

[bgiven]

Pictures aren't the best, but it looks like a correct third variation to me. Is the barrel 'HS' and 'P' proofed ?????

[KIESEL]

Is the barrel 'HS' and 'P' proofed ?????
Yes the barrel has the 'P' marked in front center of the rear site where would I look for the 'HS' mark

[KIESEL]

Does any one know a site that could tell me where to go to get it certified or if you know of a place in my area I live in Indiana in the United States

[OD*]

Does any one know a site that could tell me where to go to get it certified or if you know of a place in my area I live in Indiana in the United States
Where abouts in Indiana? Charles Clawson lives in Fort Wayne, he is probably the leading authority on these pistols.

[KIESEL]

Where abouts in Indiana? Charles Clawson lives in Fort Wayne, he is probably the leading authority on these pistols.


the very southern tip in Evansville. would you know how to contact him?

[OD*]

I will PM the info to you, amigo.

[KIESEL]

thank you for the help

[OD*]

You're very welcome, Sir.

[lenb]

Wow, what luck to find a nice original US&S and be able to make the trade you did. That's a one in a million shot. Congratulations on your new pistol, and take good care of it, as mentioned earlier, these are pretty rare.

Len

[KIESEL]

yeah I was kinda worried about it at first because my rifle was 1,200 brand new & I bought it used from a guy for 600 & the guy I traded it to for the US & S said he thought it was a Browning and worth about 400 but after I checked into this site for some great info I took the deal but wasn't for sure if the gun was unaltered or not

[texagun]

You may have stumbled on to a very rare and valuable piece, if it checks out as original and genuine. As has been mentioned, only 55,000 of these were produced in 1943 by Union Switch and Signal. The latest (29th edition of the Blue Book of Gun Values) values these at:

98% $5,000
95% $4,250
90% $3,250
80% $2,600
70% $2,000
60% $1,200

Your serial number is blocked so I can't tell if the slide is correct, but the serial number range of these guns is 1,041,405-1,096,404. They came in sandblast and blue finish.

[KIESEL]

Yeah I called that Charles Clawson as mentioned earlier and he had me send an e-mail with some pictures and he called me back and said that every thing looked original and that the gun looked in good condition so I think I will lock it away for now any ways

[bgiven]

Yes the barrel has the 'P' marked in front center of the rear site where would I look for the 'HS' mark

You need to check the barrel.....not the slide. The LH lug of the barrel will be marked 'P' and the RH side should be 'HS' if it is correct. The 'P' you are referring to in front of the rear site is the firing proof on the slide top, that should match the 'P' on the frame above the mag release.

[OD*]

Yeah I called that Charles Clawson as mentioned earlier and he had me send an e-mail with some pictures and he called me back and said that every thing looked original and that the gun looked in good condition so I think I will lock it away for now any ways
Good, congratulations. http://forum.m1911.org/images/icons/icon14.gif

[Jim Watson]

Wow, the seal of approval by the guy who wrote The Book.
You are way, way ahead on that trade.

[1saxman]

I'm guessing that Kiesel doesn't know how to field strip the pistol. I would recommend he not try, rather let an experienced person check the internals. The gun should be very carefully cleaned and oiled for preservation. Do not keep it in the holster.

[KIESEL]

I'm guessing that Kiesel doesn't know how to field strip the pistol.

you are correct in that but my father is and I took it to him and he showed me how as well as when the gun was apart I checked the barrel for the "HS" & "P" marks and they are there now I am new to this and do not know what the piece that is stamped is called so refering to the post earlier I will asume that it is called "the lug"

[lenb]

The lug is the piece of metal with a pin and link in it that extends from the bottom rear of the barrel. The P is stamped on the left face and the HS is stamped on the right side (As the barrel is oriented in the gun when you shoot it.)

[KIESEL]

then it is correct

[Mark Hitchcock]

How close is your serial to 1088728? Colt duplicated 4,171 serial numbers assigned to US&S's production range. I have the serial above, only it is a Colt.
Just curious to see how close the numbers are. Thanks

[KIESEL]

they are about 900 apart

[KIESEL]

Well I hate to do it but I have decided not to hold on to this gun any more

[MCMXI]

[QUOTE=KIESEL]I recently traded a Savage Arms 204 high power rifle that I paid $600.00 for, for a U.S. & S. CO. M1911 A1 it's holster and the story of the gun. I shot about a half box through it the other day. My plan is to put the gun away to give to my kids. I would like to know if any one knows if this gun was rare or worth any thing, or if I should just be happy i got it and shoot it. Any info would be great thank you.

I hope you are joking. To me you can't simply put that gun away to give to your kids (?) It's a piece of history you can't throw it away like that! Congratulation anyway for the new aquisition, take care of it!

[rondawg]

Well I hate to do it but I have decided not to hold on to this gun any more
Sorry to hear that! Make sure she goes to a good home, willya?

[KIESEL]

Yeah if I can even find one home for it I will be happy

[smokey]

Kiesel, e-mail me at smokey@entercomp.com. Go through your regular server,as I have trouble receiving through this site. Nick

[KIESEL]

I sent you an e-mail did you get it was there some thing about the gun you wanted to know