Old Colt .45 info?

[sandviper]

I'm new and think all of you have done an excellent job with adding info and historical data about this great piece of our nations history The 1911! I lucked up on this sight and after looking at info for awhile I was hooked !!
The question I have is info on a colt 1911 I own which was heirloomed to me.

It's a Colt 1911 U.S. ARMY model and the serial # is 5506xx and was wondering if some of the knowledgable 1911 genius's could tell me a little info on it . I'm blank as far as specifics on when it was shipped and where to. I beleive it's 1918 but I'm no expert. I have pics if I can figure out how to lad them ! THANKS!

[John]

Read the FAQ section to learn how to post pictures. The link is at the blue line, above the Sponsors Panel.

Rgds

[PZ93C]

Yep 1918.

Check http://www.coolgunsite.com/ to ID the small parts and markings on your pistol.

Lookin' foward to seein' it.

Brian

[sandviper]

having problems with that site !. is there other ways to post pics ?

[John]

Sandviper, please read the FAQ about how to post pictures. I have added some new instructions yesterday, which should be of help.

Rgds

[Hawkmoon]

You cannot post pictures directly on here. They must be hosted on another web site, then you link to them in your posts. The FAQ explains how to link to them.

There are many sites that offer free photo hosting. If one doesn't work for you, try a different one.

[sandviper]

let's try this http://www.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=30350379/PictureID=857034566/t_=34863427

[sandviper]

HOORAY!!! I'm glad the url works? at least for me it does! anyway let me know if your able to view! and if you have any info on these serial #'s. Thanks!

[John]

It does not work for me. When I click on the link you provide (which is the URL of your album), it asks me for username and password. You can't expect everybody to register with snapfish.com to see the pictures. Maybe there is a setting which makes your album public? If not, it is next to useless.

Rgds

[sandviper]

O.K. ,How bout' this!http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a363/sklarvetto/2003_03031911colt0008.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a363/sklarvetto/2003_03031911colt0002.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a363/sklarvetto/2003_03031911colt0001.jpg
hope this works! still would like to find info on where shipped and to whom and what dates ! Thanks

[Doran]

Shipped 14 December 1918 to either:

Ordnance Depot, Camp Devens, Ayer, MA (also another December shipment listed with no date)
USMC Storehouse, Philadelphia, PA
USMC Depot Quartermaster, Philadelphia, PA

This pistol looks parkerized in the photo; blue would be the original finish. The slide stop looks 1911A1 style and the grips may be Remington UMC; can't tell for sure on my moniter. What marks are stamped on the barrel?

This probably rates a Colt factory letter. USMC pistols are not common, if that's what it is.

[sandviper]

here are a couple better pics, and yes I think your right about the refinish but what puzzles me is at a couple places of holster wear it seems like there is a real dark blueing under the parkerize ? finish . you can see it on the fronts of slide, which is the same color as the mag release,safety,pins and slide release etc. there is also an eagles head ? w/ S12 under it which is above the mag release.As far as the barrel goes I think it was changed , It says COLT .45 AUTO on the left side next to lower part .Would'nt it be marked USMC?. Thankshttp://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a363/sklarvetto/2003_03101911colt19180006.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a363/sklarvetto/2003_03101911colt19180001.jpg

[Doran]

The slide stop looks ok and the grips might be also looking at the new pictures. I have an old laptop and the monitor isn't that great.

The barrel is later than the rest of the pistol, 1937+. There aren't any special markings on USMC pistols, you have to go by the serial number. The top of the barrel looks in the white to me while original finish military barrels are fully blue.

The roll mark on the right side of the slide looks like the small block style. Your serial probably came with the large block style.

From the pictures I would guess they disassembled the pistol and parkerized the frame and slide over the original finish.

[sandviper]

Thanks Doran, I'm glad to see a little history about my 1911 . can I also look this info up openly on the web or is this personal info you have? I also would love to know why it was parkerized ? I cannot find a re- arsenal stamp like AA etc.Thanks alot.

[Doran]

Military arms are also refinished at lower levels than arsenals, or it could have been done after "leaving" the military. Since you appear to have blue small parts that may be what happened.

I got the shipping information from Charles Clawson's book; Colt .45 Service Pistols - Models of 1911 and 1911A1. The large edition has the shipping information but is out of print and expensive. There's a smaller Collector's Guide that is a must have if you wish to know details about configuration, etc or intend to collect the pistols. Scott Meadows also has a good book concerning the 1911 only.

[sandviper]

Thanks for the info ! It's always cool to find out the history of old guns . I'll look some of that up ! I was looking at the gun and noticed 3 grooves cut parralell with each other and 1/4 inch long in front of the trigger guard and it is under the parkerize finish , is this common among 1911 ww1, ww2 pistols. Thanks

[191145]

I'd say the pistol was Park'd by somebody that wanted it to look like a M1911A1. Nevertheless, I would leave it alone. I believe the 'grooves' you refer to may be 'notches' filed into the steel by some previous owner. It was common in the old West for pistoleros to cut a notch in the gun after winning a gunfight, usually in the grips. This probably would have been done after your pistol left the military, because it would have been a big fine for defacing it in that manner. If the grooves are actually on the front of the trigger guard, they may have been the beginning of a checkering or serrating job that wasn't finished. Again, post-military. I believe you have a very nice 1911 as it is, and with the grooves, may not be worthwhile for restoration. Since its a family gun, I think I'd enjoy it as-is.