1911s

[Hunter]

I have not seen very many posts or pictures here about 1911s so I figured I would start one. I myself am partial to Colts and here is my constant companion
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h264/Hunter1911/Gun2.jpg
I have a modest collection of Colts and even dipped in my Colt fund to begin my casting hobby.

[Four Fingers of Death]

I had a Colt Commander:

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k228/4fingermick/Handguns/Handguns%20that%20have%20moved%20on/gun1.jpg

This was confiscated by the gubbermint (calibre too big, barrel too short, just plain ol' too much fun!)

Now I have a Series 80/38Super Auto.

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k228/4fingermick/Handguns/6366997c.jpg


I also picked up an old PoPo (Police Positive) in 38 Smith and Wesson, it's not a 1911, but it has a prancing pony on it :-)

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k228/4fingermick/Handguns/ColtPolicePositive38SW3.jpg

Colts are like Landrovers and Jeeps, they aren't any better than a lot of things out there, are expensive and invoke great pride in ownership. Past cred I suppose.

Mick.

[imashooter2]

I've got a 1917 vintage commercial Colt that Grampa and Dad used to shoot Bullseye for many years. Grampa brazed on the Patridge front and changed out the rear for a Micro Machine adjustable. I suppose that killed any collector value. No matter, it's priceless to me.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/imashooter2/pictures/1911-R.jpg


When I started shooting steel, I decided I didn't want to be putting holster wear on Grampa's Colt so I bought this Kimber. Added a Dawson FO front and an Ed Brown well along with a kitchen table trigger job.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/imashooter2/pictures/kimber3-760.jpg

[dk17hmr]

I only have this little guy....
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f208/dk17hmr/1911od1.jpg

Springfield 1911A1, with some extra Wilson Combat and Chip McCormick parts. Needs a new barrel as the factory barrel is still on it, which is about shot out.

[Baldy]

Hi Hunter. You came to the right spot for learning about cast bullets. I been up here a while and it's a good bunch. Besure and sign up on all three forums. As you know I don't have a Colt yet, but I do have 1911's.
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h268/4Baldy/test2.jpg

[grumpy one]

[QUOTE=imashooter2;117740]I've got a 1917 vintage commercial Colt that Grampa and Dad used to shoot Bullseye for many years. Grampa brazed on the Patridge front and changed out the rear for a Micro Machine adjustable. I suppose that killed any collector value. No matter, it's priceless to me.
QUOTE]


It has been many years since I sold my early commercial Colt, but just going from memory, I'd say yours has the short-spur hammer. Mine had the long spur, and the last of the patent dates (was it 1919?) - it seems to have been made about 1922. The history book said that was about when they ran out of long spur hammers, having been required by the military first to shorten the spur, then to fit the short spurs immediately to military pistols (during the First World War). It took a long time to use up the plant stock of long spur hammers in peacetime on commercial pistols, hence the commercial changeover didn't happen for half a dozen years. Incidentally I liked the long spur for my purely civilian target-shooting purposes.

Seems like there are only four possibilities here: my recollection is wrong and that's a long spur hammer; or your pistol was made after 1922; or the short-spur hammer was retrofitted; or it's a military Colt, not a commercial Colt.

I'm no Colt guy, and at least a hundred people on this board are, so I may be full of prunes here.

Geoff

[Hunter]

Man yall really have some nice 1911s. I really like this forum, have already made a few friends and picked up some real good pointers. I apperciate the hospitality.
A picture of My Colt Gold Cup Commander, I am real proud of this one.
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h264/Hunter1911/DSC01168.jpg
I have a Colt Offical Police myself in .38 Special my uncle gave me for Christmas a few years ago. Mine is from 1939 and still is tight as a drum, though I ain't sure where the picture is.

[grumpy one]

I guess I'd better recant quickly before everyone else does it for me. Hunter's Colt has a shorter hammer spur than imashooter2's, so the one I provisionally accused of being short must actually be long. No insult intended, imashooter2 . Nice looking old Colt you have, by the way - I wouldn't be shoving it into a holster either.

Geoff

[dragonrider]

Hi Hunter. here's my twol
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/PaulGauthier/1911s010.jpg
The upper is an Essex frame and Iduno slide with Millett sights it's my carry piece. the race gun is a Sprinfield Amory slide and frame and a C'more systems sight most of the internal parts are Clark, Ed Browne and others. They both shoot very well.

[45nut]

My Randall
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/45nut/100_0365.jpg

My Colts,38super and series 80 45
http://www.hunt101.com/img/314314.jpg
I have 4 1911's I built on Essex frames too,,,2 SS and 2 blued. Sorry,,,no pics yet.

[imashooter2]

It has been many years since I sold my early commercial Colt, but just going from memory, I'd say yours has the short-spur hammer. Mine had the long spur, and the last of the patent dates (was it 1919?) - it seems to have been made about 1922. The history book said that was about when they ran out of long spur hammers, having been required by the military first to shorten the spur, then to fit the short spurs immediately to military pistols (during the First World War). It took a long time to use up the plant stock of long spur hammers in peacetime on commercial pistols, hence the commercial changeover didn't happen for half a dozen years. Incidentally I liked the long spur for my purely civilian target-shooting purposes.

Seems like there are only four possibilities here: my recollection is wrong and that's a long spur hammer; or your pistol was made after 1922; or the short-spur hammer was retrofitted; or it's a military Colt, not a commercial Colt.

I'm no Colt guy, and at least a hundred people on this board are, so I may be full of prunes here.

Geoff

Well, the serial number places it as a commercial unit manufactured in 1917. The last patent date on the slide is 1913. Folks on other forums have mentioned the same "incorrect" hammer. Could Grampa have swapped out some components? Well, he clearly wasn't interested in keeping it pristine for future generations of collectors... Doesn't sound like my Grampa to change out a perfectly good hammer for another that would make the gun less practical for its intended purpose though. Who knows? Doesn't really matter if it's correct or not. The most important (and indisputable) facts are it was Grampa's, then it was my Dad's and now it's mine. :-D

[Hunter]

Thanks yall. I was hoping I was not oversteaping my bounds on starting a thread here about 1911s but it looks like yall got some 1911s that NEED showing off. Very Nice. Here is a picture of my Delta Gold Cup National Match 10mm.(not a good one really but I ain't no photographer) Thanks for all the feedback I do enjoy looking at yalls 1911s.
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h264/Hunter1911/PB190010.jpg

[Hunter]

Well, the serial number places it as a commercial unit manufactured in 1917. The last patent date on the slide is 1913. Folks on other forums have mentioned the same "incorrect" hammer. Could Grampa have swapped out some components? Well, he clearly wasn't interested in keeping it pristine for future generations of collectors... Doesn't sound like my Grampa to change out a perfectly good hammer for another that would make the gun less practical for its intended purpose though. Who knows? Doesn't really matter if it's correct or not. The most important (and indisputable) facts are it was Grampa's, then it was my Dad's and now it's mine. :-D
Check these links on older Colt Government Models and dates, they have helped me in the past.
http://www.coolgunsite.com/
http://proofhouse.com/index.htm

[C A Plater]

A 10mm Razorback and .45 Pointman Seven.
http://tcbunch.com/kiosk/danwessons.jpg

[imashooter2]

I guess I'd better recant quickly before everyone else does it for me. Hunter's Colt has a shorter hammer spur than imashooter2's, so the one I provisionally accused of being short must actually be long. No insult intended, imashooter2 . Nice looking old Colt you have, by the way - I wouldn't be shoving it into a holster either.

Geoff

LOL! I replied to your first post before I read this one. I never saw your post as an insult. Just making conversation...

[imashooter2]

Check these links on older Colt Government Models and dates, they have helped me in the past.
http://www.coolgunsite.com/
http://proofhouse.com/index.htm

Both of those links place my Government Model C875XX as a 1917 manufacture commercial unit.

I wouldn't lie to you about this guys...:-D

[robertbank]

My Colt look a like a Para. There is 8 in there at 15 yards from a rest!

Take Care

[grumpy one]

Well, the serial number places it as a commercial unit manufactured in 1917. The last patent date on the slide is 1913. Folks on other forums have mentioned the same "incorrect" hammer. Could Grampa have swapped out some components? Well, he clearly wasn't interested in keeping it pristine for future generations of collectors... Doesn't sound like my Grampa to change out a perfectly good hammer for another that would make the gun less practical for its intended purpose though. Who knows? Doesn't really matter if it's correct or not. The most important (and indisputable) facts are it was Grampa's, then it was my Dad's and now it's mine. :-D

Here is a picture of a hammer the same as mine:
http://www.coolgunsite.com/images/1911/1915%20Colt%20NRA/1915%20C36.jpg

It looks longer than yours to me. However I'm not about to say that Colt didn't build any odd ones, given that they were phasing out the long hammer at the time yours was built. In fact, from the weird assortment of long and short hammers on very early 1911s shown at that site, it looks as if Colt may not have cared much - or perhaps most of the early pistols were retrofitted with short spur hammers.

For me the long spur was just plain nicer, more revolver-like, and I can't imagine why anyone would replace it on a pure Bullseye pistol. However the army claimed that people managed to get their thumb-web caught between the hammer spur and the grip safety in the heat of the moment, and they certainly weren't in the business of buying pistols for Bullseye, especially in wartime.

The subject is interesting to me, but probably not to anyone much else. There probably isn't any point in concerning yourself about it. First, whether original or not, it is your grandfather's pistol the way he built it and wanted it. Second, since the sights have been altered anyway, you don't have any money riding on the question of whether it's the "right" hammer.

Geoff

[imashooter2]

Here is a picture of a hammer the same as mine:
http://www.coolgunsite.com/images/1911/1915%20Colt%20NRA/1915%20C36.jpg

It looks longer than yours to me. However I'm not about to say that Colt didn't build any odd ones, given that they were phasing out the long hammer at the time yours was built. In fact, from the weird assortment of long and short hammers on very early 1911s shown at that site, it looks as if Colt may not have cared much - or perhaps most of the early pistols were retrofitted with short spur hammers.

For me the long spur was just plain nicer, more revolver-like, and I can't imagine why anyone would replace it on a pure Bullseye pistol. However the army claimed that people managed to get their thumb-web caught between the hammer spur and the grip safety in the heat of the moment, and they certainly weren't in the business of buying pistols for Bullseye, especially in wartime.

The subject is interesting to me, but probably not to anyone much else. There probably isn't any point in concerning yourself about it. First, whether original or not, it is your grandfather's pistol the way he built it and wanted it. Second, since the sights have been altered anyway, you don't have any money riding on the question of whether it's the "right" hammer.

Geoff

I just pulled it out of the safe and looked it over. It appears that the back of the hammer has been ground off to shorten it (now THAT sounds like my Grampa). Note in my picture that the angle on the rear of the hammer spur is different than on the pictures of the correct guns. Mystery solved! You know, I've had that pistol for years and shot it for years before I owned it and never noticed...

[kenjuudo]

mine looks like a Para too.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=2357&stc=1&d=1163121978

[Hunter]

I here you Bob, My Colt looks like a Para. When you make good on your promise to stop by the house we will have (a few) beers and decide what you are talking about. Still pretty good shooting but you know I got to mess with you.
Here is a picture of 2 of my GCNM one is a Elite IX (9mm) and the other is an Elite 40 (.40 S&W).
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h264/Hunter1911/P8120003-1.jpg

[robertbank]

Man I get down your way I'm going to relieve you of one of those Colts. Keep on posting them so I can decide which one you are going to be missing. May have to get to know a few North Carolina State Troopers to get me out of state in a hurray. :mrgreen:

Take Care

Bob

[Hunter]

You gonna give me a hollar?
Oh did you say something about posting another Colt? Well all rightey then. One of my Series 70 Gold Cup National Matches. Almost stock.
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h264/Hunter1911/PB190009-1-1.jpg

[RayinNH]

Not much of an autoloader person but I do have a beautiful condition Union Switch and Signal that I shoot about once a year...Ray

[slughammer]

I'm glad all you guys are posting about your 1911's. I didn't think anyone else out there has one.

Now kindly divert your attention over to the Ballistic Challenge :mrgreen:


http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=9800

I hope to see all your entries!