1915 Springfield?

[Kodor]

Hi,

I'm new here. I have a few questions about this pistol that belonged to my Grandfather. I wish I would have asked him more about this before he passed away (but that's why I am here). He was a Seabee in WW2, but I don't know if someone gave it to him...or he obtained it via "moonlight procurement."

Here's what I do know (with pics below). This is a Springfield made in 1915 (S/N is 83790). It has several of the flaming ordinance bomb stamps. It has WW2 handles instead of the wooden ones. It has most of the blueing...only a streak along the top is rubbed. My grandfather also bought a .22 conversion kit for it.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c143/shannonsistrunk/Misc/0103090947.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c143/shannonsistrunk/Misc/downsized_0103090948.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c143/shannonsistrunk/Misc/0103090948a.jpg

What else can you tell me about this?
Is there supposed to be an American Eagle stamped on the right side of the slide?
If I take it apart, what markings are important to look for to know if it's all original (besides the handles)?

Thanks!

[Scott Gahimer]

Welcome to the board.

Your pistol has been heavily buffed and is refinished. Here are photos of an original 1915 Springfield Armory pistol that was sold to a life member of the N.R.A.

http://forum.m1911.org/showpost.php?p=601283&postcount=3

Take some time and search the site. Browse around and enjoy yourself. There is a lot of good information already posted for your use.

[Kodor]

Thanks Scott. I saw that picture when I did a forum search. I figured it was refinished, but I wasn't quite sure. The buffing also explains why the eagle is missing. I'm definitely going to keep it, but I now realize that its monetary value has dropped quite a bit (compared if it was all original). I'm not sure there's much use to getting a professional appraisal done on this pistol.

[Kodor]

One more question. I have heard about "arsenal rebuilding" pistols for WWII. Could this be a candidate? If so, where would I need to look for any special markings?

Thanks again!

[Scott Gahimer]

Military arsenals and those rebuilding pistols for the military never buffed a surface so heavily. Nor did they ever use a finish like that...a chemical blue.

Beginning in 1918 at Rock Island Arsenal and 1919 at Springfield Armory, Parkerizing was introduced as the standard finish that was used on nearly all military rebuilds/refinishes from that time forward.

The original rust blue finish that was on your pistol when manufactured at SA was a very durable finish, and would have lasted at least until the time Parkerizing was introduced and used post-WWI on rebuilds.

Your pistol was most likely buffed and refinished after it left military service.

[Tom]

Kodor, did you remove the pictures from Photobucket? All I'm seeing are white boxes where you pictures used to be.

Posted images are merely links back to the source, so you cannot alert the path or remove them.

[Kodor]

Sorry, my wife moved the pics to another album without telling me.