nickel plated #587680

[grubbyone]

Stamped United States Property w/apparently original Antler Grips

[Scott Gahimer]

Welcome to the forum. Did you have a question about your pistol?

The M1911 Colt pistols originally had walnut double-diamond stocks with 15 rows of checkering between the points of the double diamonds.
The pistol you mention was originally blued with what is often called the "black army" finish which was not polished nearly as highly as earlier pistols, resulting in a darker and rougher looking finish which turned out not to be very durable.
Here are some photos of what your gun may have originally looked like.
http://tinypic.com/ibjtps.jpg
http://tinypic.com/ibjtxv.jpg
http://tinypic.com/ibju47.jpg

[Scott Gahimer]

Here's one of the first 500 M1911s from 1912. The bright, mirror finish was phased out pretty early that year, by about serial number 2400. The polishing continued to be decreased in stages over the years leading up to WWI. In 1918 Colt's eliminated the final polishing stage to increase the rate of production.
After WWI, the final stage of polishing was again performed to about the same level as immediately prior to WWI.
http://tinypic.com/ibkizs.jpg

[John]

Hey Scott, thanks for giving me the chance to order a new keyboard again. I saw this thread, but didn't have time to put the drool shield on. Thank God it is not Sunday tomorrow.

[exitwounds]

Stamped United States Property w/apparently original Antler Grips

Who is the manufacturer of the grips, if they are genuine antlers, they may be worth more than the pistol. To bad about the nickel finish, it probably was done many years back when these pistols could be purchased dirt cheap. There will probably be a time when these variations, even though not original or very collectible to most, will be in demand by someone as the supply of original pistols decreases.