Colt Model 1927 Ejercito Argentino:

[10851Man]

Greetings,

Thought I would share with you a photo of my Colt 1927 Argentine Pistol during various stages of restoration. This pistol will soon replace my 1917 production Colt 1911 as my primary duty pistol.

I own two Model 1927 Argentine Colts; serial numbers 9716 and 9721 respectively. Both guns are in excellent condition with hammer and sear pins within ordnance specifications. I have replaced the springs, barrel, bushing and extractors, but the guns remain otherwise stock.

Depicted in these photos is pistol #9721 in various stages of teardown, refit and pre-parkerising.

I also have a very nice Colt Commando that my department began issuing in 1951. I am qualified with this revolver and carry it from time to time when working a desk detail or in the dispatch center. The Colt Commando uses the same speedloaders and holster as the Colt Python.

Historically yours....Robert

P.S. Apparently, I cannot post photos.... :butthead:

[Hawkmoon]

P.S. Apparently, I cannot post photos.... :butthead:
http://forum.m1911.org/faq.php?faq=a_few_words#faq_postingpictures

[10851Man]

Thanks....

That might take me a while to do all that registration stuff...

[kenhwind]

Oh my I gotta be the one.
:fp:

[clughog]

Robert, I'd sure like to see the pictures of those pistols you have. Mine is slightly older than yours and was my first 1911. I love that gun!

[10851Man]

Here is a photo of my 1927 Colt, stripped down for restoration. The staked grip screw bushings, that were totally stripped, were removed by machining them down in a vertical mill and then driving a Torx bit into the I.D and screwing them into the frame as opposed to removing them. A very delicate process without damaging the super-fine threads...Robert

http://i575.photobucket.com/albums/ss196/10851Man/Weapons/Model1927145Automatic002.jpg

And here it is during trial assembly with a long, steel trigger. I now have a C&S Long Aluminum Match Trigger with smooth face. I leave the adjustment screw out, since the trigger doesn't move any farther rearward than it needs too. I also didn't want to deal with a loose screw in a offensive/defensive pistol.

The wood grips in this photo are the originals, circa 1927. I restored them by sanding them until most of the dents and deep gouges were gone, then recheckering them with stock files. The grips were soaked in linseed oil for a week. Sharp eyes can see some dents and dings in the diamonds.

http://i575.photobucket.com/albums/ss196/10851Man/Weapons/1927ColtOriginalWoodGripsRefinished.jpg

[10851Man]

Robert, I'd sure like to see the pictures of those pistols you have. Mine is slightly older than yours and was my first 1911. I love that gun!

Both of mine were built near the end of the production run. I own the 279th and the 284th pistols prior to the end run of 10,000 units. Both are in sound mechanical condition...Robert

[bgiven]

The wood grips in this photo are the originals, circa 1927.


The original grips would have been 28 row full checkered walnut, not double diamond walnut. DD grips were phased out during Colts 1920 production, when they also changed the roll marks.

[10851Man]

Bgiven,

Thanks for the clarification. Those were the grips that were on the gun when I got it. They certainly looked vintage and in the absence of this information, I just assumed they were the originals.

They do have some engraving on the backs of them, a circle with the letters 'RA' in the center, (Republic Argentina proof) that appears on most all the other parts in the gun, including the hammer, trigger, grip safety, main spring housing, frame and slide.

I wonder if Colt might have just thrown a few parts at these gun, or if the grips were added later??? Could it be mere coincidence that both of these 1927 pistols have the DD walnut grips and both sets bear the 'RA' roll marks on the back???

Also, my 1927 slide has 19 serrations on the back, the same as my 1917 Colt. As I recall, didn't they change the number of slide serrations at some point in the 1911's history??? Additionally, most of the WWI 1911's I have seen depict the 'Rampant Colt' between the patent dates and the manufacturer's marks, but on my 1917 model, the Rampant Colt is at the very back of the slide, behind the serrations.

Just curious...Robert

[bgiven]

IMO, seven years is not close enough to see some overlapping of parts/components in Colt's production. Also nothing mentioned in any reference books on the subject.

Being strictly a military collector, I have never been aware of any serration changes or updates. With respect to your 1917 Rampant Colt location being behind the serrations, that's exactly where it should be. It wasn't moved to the center until early 1918.

[Scott Gahimer]

The DD grips in the photo do not appear to be original Colt DD. If they are, theyve been completely re-checkered.

[10851Man]

Thanks, Bgiven and Scott....

I thought I would add that in addition to the circle with 'RA' stamped on the back of the grips, the serial numbers of both pistols are burned or carved into the wood as well...Robert

[10851Man]

The DD grips in the photo do not appear to be original Colt DD. If they are, theyve been completely re-checkered.

I wonder if these are not Argentinian in origin??? There are inconsistencies in checkering that appear as though they were hand made...Robert