New Argie Sistema...

[bayonut]

Hi guys,
I was set up at a gunshow in West Palm Beach, Fl. when the dealer at the table behind me purchased a couple of hand guns and a bag of mags from a walk-in. He showed me the pistols one of which happened to be a nice un-refinished Sistema Colt , matching (except for the mag),beautiful bore and no import marks. When I asked him if it was for sale he said "Yes for $475". Well I figured I couldn't go wrong at that price and forked over the money. The pistol is real tight and the spring feels like it's from a '55 Buick. I don't think it's been fired much if at all since it left the factory. The barrel ,at the ejection port, is in the "white" the forward portion blued. Is this correct? Can't wait to take it to the range. Do those of you who shoot Sistemas find one brand of ammo preferable to others? Here are some pics.

Best regards,
Len

http://imagehost.vendio.com/a/6944204/aview/sistema_A_1a.jpg

http://imagehost.vendio.com/a/6944204/aview/sistema_B_1a.jpg

[clughog]

Sounds like a good buy, Len, for the condition that one's in, especially without import marks. Looks really nice! I'll have to let the experts speak to the barrel, but here's something I pickup up somewhere:
Barrels on pistols issued to the Army had blued chambers, but the chambers on Navy, police, and commercial barrels were milled after being blued, which resulted in a bright unfinished surface comparable to Colt commercial barrels. Serial numbers were stamped on the barrels prior to bluing, and therefore, bluing remained inside the numbers
Edit: For what it's worth, this is where I picked up that quote: http://www.cruffler.com/review-june-00.html

[bayonut]

Hi Creighton,
Thanks for the reference. Well, my barrel seems to match the description of the Navy types. Its serial number matches the slide and frame and there aren't any signs that it was renumbered. Another militaria mystery.

Best regards,
Len

[NORMSUTTON]

bayonut

good looking Sistema and nice price

NORM

[hognfrog1]

Excellent fine at a great price. Usually they are reparked.

Jim....aka......hognfrog on the forums

[MoneyTree]

It looks like a good find Len , Very interesting site Clughog .

[scipio]

I know it is written somewhere that the army models have blued chambers but I have found that not to be true. I have 4 army models in excellent original condition with no import marks. One has 3 matching mags and 2 have 1 matching mag. All have bright chambers with blueing in the numbers. Most of the refinished ones have blued or parked chambers.