What do I have Here? (M1911)

[Hacker]

All -

I am new to this forum but have been reading all I can...posts so far have been very helpful.

I have owned a Colt M1911 for about 10 years and am interested to see if anyone can help me out with some information about it.

I purchased it from a man who had been my neighbor growing up. He had been a Merchant Marine during WWII, and this pistol had apparently been his issued weapon and was a "bring-back". He told me that the barrel and bushing had both been replaced at some point after he brought it home. Subsequent study by me shows that the mainspring housing was replaced at some point, too (it has the later style) and perhaps the thumb safety. Right after I purchased it, the front sight came off and, since I was stupid at the time, I had it replaced. Turns out that the replacement sight isn't correct, either.

The thing is not in that great of shape aesthetically -- it was sitting in a rag in a desk drawer when I purchased it, and has a number of fingerprints on it that I can't wipe off. Functionally it shoots great and has no excessive wear or slop. I used to shoot it regularly until the sight came off and the gunsmith that fixed it advised me to take good care of this one...so I have.

Here are the details:

Colt M1911
SN 552XXX (1918 mfg?)
"Eagle's Head" Springfield Inspection Mark on L side of receiver behind trigger
"S7" stamped on L side of trigger guard

So, in addition to knowing what information might be out there about this pistol, I'm also interested in what the experts think I should so with it? Is there any way to remove those fingerprints without damaging the blueing? Is it worth finding a good Colt gunsmith and having the mainspring housing and front sight put back into "stock" configuration?

Thanks!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v450/Hacker15E/M1911right.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v450/Hacker15E/M1911left.jpg

[Scott Gahimer]

Sorry, but without a refinish the fingerprints are there to stay. I wouldn't refinish it. If I did anything at all to it, I might look to replace the msh and pin with a proper 1911 style, have the front sight replaced with a proper rounded one.
It still looks like a decent pistol the way it is. Thanks for sharing.

[stans]

It is 1918 production Colt. In its current form, with mismatched parts and wear on the finish, it is more of a shooter. It looks like it has about 90 % of the finish remaining, I am sure the finger prints detract from its value. If it is restored with the proper parts, it would likely be worth around $600, maybe just a little bit more.

[Hacker]

Thanks for the info, gentlemen. Any ideas as to where I might acquire a USGI Colt mainspring housing? Are there any preferred suppliers?

[dsk]

Actually Smith & Alexander makes one, if you don't mind a modern reproduction part. Otherwise you might be able to find an original GI unit somewhere, unless they've all been snatched up by parts mongers by now.

BTW your story is interesting, and it further shows that a sizeable number of the US service pistols used during WWII were in fact leftovers from WWI.

[stans]

In the dark days of the opening of WW II, the U.S. being short on new weapons would use whatever it could find in its inventory. A lot of 1911's went back to war still dressed in their WW I blues. A good number of 1917's did the same, though some, like mine, were parkerized.

[jacobtowne]

I read in Pate's "US Handguns of WWII" that the M1917 was a favorite of military police.
Re the 1911: I agree with the advice to purchase original parts, leave the finish alone, and enjoy shooting a piece of American history.
JT