1914 commercial Argentinian

[jerry55]

AT a gun shop today I looked at a 1914 with SN#62XX the slide has Marina Argentina on the right side and the left has the Colt at the rear of the slide. Finish is almost black but not shiney remindes me of the "balck gun" finish.Finish is in 80% condition. Everything looks correct.

Any comments as to rarity or value.

Thanks Jerry

[exitwounds]

The MARINA ARGENTINA (ARGENTINE NAVY) 1914 serial range is C6201-C6300, C6301-C6400, and C11501-C11621. They (1914) were RA inspector stamped on top of the frame near the disconnector hole, and on the slide above the firing pin stop, and the top of the barrel chamber hood. Serial number 62xx is a 1912 Colt frame. The pistol is a mismatch. The MARINA ARGENTINA slide was found as late as 1938. In the condition specified it is probably a $450-$750 pistol, possibly higher because of the frame. :)

[Doran]

Does the serial number start with a C or No?

[jerry55]

Does the serial number start with a C or No?
it starts with a C6279

[exitwounds]

it starts with a C6279

That would make it correct. You should find the stamp's I mentioned in the above thread. The Argentine RA stamp will resemble an R with an A intertwined, and with or wothout a circle around it. The last example I saw like you mentined sold at a gun show in Dale City, VA for $850, maybe higher now on the right market since there were only 312 mfg. in 1914 for the Argentines. Good luck in your endeavors.

[Doran]

You found an interesting pistol. The Argentinas imported over the past several years usually have a "black" refinish so you might chk for an import stamp somewhere on the frame. The original finish would have been blue.

I saw an original finish pistol, probably 85%, from the 1916 contract at the last Tulsa show for $1050 or $1150. How much were they asking for the 1914?

[jerry55]

They are asking $775 for it. The finish does look more black than blue.. But the finsh is very good on it.

Thanks
Jerry

[Doran]

I don't think that's a bad price, but I have a weakness for the Argentina pistols. I put out a display of Foreign Service pistols and most are Argentina.

[mayagrafix]

can you field strip the pistol? look under the "firing pin retainer" and take off the grips and see beneath them were the magazine goes. Also look for scratches that arent scratched, i.e. covered over with a new finnish. A pistol with almost a hundred years, and especially with military use, is hard to be in 80% condition, even if the admiral put it away in his locker and nobody touched it since. there should be rust marks on it somewhere, unless it has been refinished.