Author Topic: 1911/1911?  (Read 1019 times)

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Offline spitpatch

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1911/1911?
« on: July 09, 2004, 01:15:29 PM »
hello men, can anyone help me to identify the date on a 1911 colt and where the ser# is supposed to be if any? Heres what I got: on the left side of slide it reads Pat. Apr.20 1897. Sept.9 1902 Dec.11 1905 feb 14 1911 Aug 19 1913 Colt's PT FA MFG Co. Hartford CT, USA. It has a black heavy Parker type finish, kinda' epoxy looking stuff. Under slide on flat part- rear has #4 picture of bomb and #7. some picture to small to make out under fire pin(on flat part) and letter H above pin.   Frame has the JMG emblem. Could this black finish stuff be covering ser #, or is this unit to old to have one. I thought I could identify anything till I saw this one. Got me stumped. MORE INFO......5" Bbl, top has the letters P   H (J?)...side of Bbl. lug #7   front of lug #5. top of slide back toward hammer  The letter G   H(J?)#2    ON foward rail R.side #8. If I need to look for something else or explain better let me know and thanks. oh yeah...lanyard ring behind magazine well
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Offline Iowegan

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« Reply #1 on: July 09, 2004, 04:35:32 PM »
The serial number is normally on the right side of the frame, above the trigger. Sometimes it is also found inside the slide on the flat area just in front of the disconnector cutout. I have also seen the S/N stamped on the frame under the mainspring housing.
GLB

Offline spitpatch

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« Reply #2 on: July 09, 2004, 04:50:48 PM »
Thanks Iowegan, Been researching this since my post and found the monogram JMG was the ordinance inspector 1917-1918 JM Gilbert, the ser# was on the back part around the firing pin. The blue book puts this gun around the $600 range according to condition. Not a bad buy for   $225.Was going to resale but think I'll keep.....great shooter! Also will keep my Kimber custom target company. The only thing better than 1 .45 is 2.....or more. Thanks alot for your time.........I owe ya'
                                                               Rick
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Offline jacobtowne

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1911/1911?
« Reply #3 on: July 29, 2004, 06:21:12 AM »
A question. The frame with JMG  certainly suggests 1917-18. I'm no expert, but as far as I know the slides on 1911s were unnumbered.  I've been told that the slide numbering is encountered only on 1911A1s from about 800,000 to 1,300,000.
I offer this more as a question than a statement.
Frame right should also say United States Property, along with SN, although this might have been buffed off during refinishing. 1911s were blued.
On the left of the slide there should be a rampant colt. Is it behind the finger grooves, or in the center of the slide?
Whatever, $225 is a filne price for a working Colt.
JT

Offline spitpatch

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« Reply #4 on: July 29, 2004, 11:44:19 PM »
The colt emblem is in the middle of the slide. I'm not sure about the numbers. Everything I've read seems to agree with you on the location of the stampings. Was it common to have the ser # buffed off these guns during refinishing?
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Offline jacobtowne

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« Reply #5 on: July 30, 2004, 07:39:27 AM »
The placement of the logo indicates that the slide was made about SN 275,000 or later. That's a guess, because I've misplaced my notes about this. My 1911 is 196,xxx and has the Colt behind the serrations.
I was wrong about the property stamp - it's on the left, forward of the trigger guard. The right should have the SN.
On the right of the slide should be MODEL OF 1911. U.S. ARMY.
Can't answer about refinishing - perhaps someone removed the SN. Most of these things were stolen from the govt.
Does it have a flat mainsprig housing, or the arched one with checkering?
JT

Offline spitpatch

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« Reply #6 on: July 30, 2004, 04:33:05 PM »
there is no checkering anywhere on this gun that I can see. Would a person have to remove the grips to see it?
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Offline jacobtowne

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« Reply #7 on: August 01, 2004, 06:18:51 AM »
No. The mainspring housing is actually the part of the rear gripstrap below the grip safety. Looked at from the side, the M1911 would be flush with the frame, or flat. The 1911A1 would bulge rearward (arch) and be checkered.
Are there stamps such as AA, SA, RIA, or any other anywhere on the piece?
JT

Offline spitpatch

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« Reply #8 on: August 02, 2004, 07:14:26 PM »
No, nothing like that. All parts do have an "H" stamped on them. Slide has bomb emblem.
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