omegis13
21st February 2009, 03:44
Hey folks
So I am now the owner of a USGI m1911 Army with Colt markings. I was wondering if I could get some help finding out what year this pistol was manufactured.
While I wish we could go about this the easy way and me just give you the SN, the problem is, it's not there. At some point in this pistol's history, it was ground off of the frame. Will the SN be listed anywhere else? If not, here are the markings.
Left side of the slide:
On the barrel end of the slide:
PATENTED APR.20.1897
SEPT.9.1902. DEC.19.1905.FEB.14.1911
Above the slide catch:
COLT'S PT.F.A.MFG. CO
HARTFORD.CT.U.S.A.
19 slide serrations, with the prancing colt above the safety notch, one arrow in the mouth and one between the front legs.
UNITED STATES PROPERTY is marked on the frame below the leftmost section of text on the slide.
Above the mag release button is WGP in a circle.
On the right side of the slide, roughly centered between barrel end of the frame and the stub end of the slide catch:
MODEL OF 1911.U.S.ARMY
The SN was located just above the trigger, and doesn't appear to have been very long; maybe 5-7 characters. Not a one of them is visible.
Above the firing pin on the back of the slide is the letter H.
On the inside of the slide, on the firing pin housing are two markings. Towards the barrel end is a T and on the hammer end is a 2.
On the frame, just above the disconnector, is another H. To the right if it, is the letter R.
On the barrel itself, above the linkage, are the marks S on the left, and P on the right.
At one point, I had found a site that had pictures of just about every year the USGI was issued, and showed the variations in markings from year to year. Anyone know what page I'm talking about? Because I can't find it again.
Oh yeah, and here's some pics. Sorry about the quality, but the only digi cam I have access to right now is my phone. I'll try to get some better quality pics later.
http://img527.imageshack.us/my.php?image=m1911left.jpg
http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/1070/m1911right.jpg
http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/2922/m1911twins.jpg
*EDIT*
I am fully aware of the legal issues that this gun presents. If the SN is not located on this firearm anywhere else, I fully intend to have it legally re-serialized in full accordance with federal law.
So I am now the owner of a USGI m1911 Army with Colt markings. I was wondering if I could get some help finding out what year this pistol was manufactured.
While I wish we could go about this the easy way and me just give you the SN, the problem is, it's not there. At some point in this pistol's history, it was ground off of the frame. Will the SN be listed anywhere else? If not, here are the markings.
Left side of the slide:
On the barrel end of the slide:
PATENTED APR.20.1897
SEPT.9.1902. DEC.19.1905.FEB.14.1911
Above the slide catch:
COLT'S PT.F.A.MFG. CO
HARTFORD.CT.U.S.A.
19 slide serrations, with the prancing colt above the safety notch, one arrow in the mouth and one between the front legs.
UNITED STATES PROPERTY is marked on the frame below the leftmost section of text on the slide.
Above the mag release button is WGP in a circle.
On the right side of the slide, roughly centered between barrel end of the frame and the stub end of the slide catch:
MODEL OF 1911.U.S.ARMY
The SN was located just above the trigger, and doesn't appear to have been very long; maybe 5-7 characters. Not a one of them is visible.
Above the firing pin on the back of the slide is the letter H.
On the inside of the slide, on the firing pin housing are two markings. Towards the barrel end is a T and on the hammer end is a 2.
On the frame, just above the disconnector, is another H. To the right if it, is the letter R.
On the barrel itself, above the linkage, are the marks S on the left, and P on the right.
At one point, I had found a site that had pictures of just about every year the USGI was issued, and showed the variations in markings from year to year. Anyone know what page I'm talking about? Because I can't find it again.
Oh yeah, and here's some pics. Sorry about the quality, but the only digi cam I have access to right now is my phone. I'll try to get some better quality pics later.
http://img527.imageshack.us/my.php?image=m1911left.jpg
http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/1070/m1911right.jpg
http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/2922/m1911twins.jpg
*EDIT*
I am fully aware of the legal issues that this gun presents. If the SN is not located on this firearm anywhere else, I fully intend to have it legally re-serialized in full accordance with federal law.