The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Handguns => Topic started by: tommy tornado on August 31, 2008, 09:42:05 PM
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Here is my other question about .45acp pistols. I currently own a 1911 Government Model Colt built in 1919. It has been reblued and someone replaced the grips before I bought it. It shoots ok but I know it could be better. Should I buy about $400 to $500 dollars of Wilson Combat parts (barrel/brushing, compensator, trigger, sear, hammer, etc.) and Wolff springs and totally change the look of it or leave it as is? Part of me says go for it because the gun is not 100% orginial (i.e. the reblueing and new grips)and part of me says leave it as is.
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If you were happy with it as is you would not be 'wondering' and in any case you will still have the 'original' parts.
I say make it the shooter you want.
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Since that's an original 1911 I would leave it alone and buy a new A1. You can leave it as is, but if it was parkerized and had G.I grips on it, then it would look like a military museum specimen. But I wouldn't put a lot of parts into it when you can get a whole new gun for not a lot more.
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Since that's an original 1911 I would leave it alone and buy a new A1. If that one was parkerized and had G.I grips on it, then it would look like a museum specimen but still serve as a backup.
+1...I gotta agree with jumbofrank.
I'd re-parkerize it and put some original grips and keep it stock. It may not have high collectors value due to the refinishing, but I'd rather have the thing as is (it IS a piece of history at that age) and buy something else to play with.
You asked, so that's my 2 cents worth....for what that's worth... :D
Now, if that old gun could talk........
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I was too slow editing my post. I just can't see spending that much money on making an antique into a shooter. I would rather look at and admire it for being a piece of history, and shoot a new one.
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+1...I gotta agree with jumbofrank.
I'd re-parkerize it and put some original grips and keep it stock. It may not have high collectors value due to the refinishing, but I'd rather have the thing as is (it IS a piece of history at that age) and buy something else to play with.
You asked, so that's my 2 cents worth....for what that's worth... :D
Now, if that old gun could talk........
Definately. I recently found a Mil-surp 1911 at a local pawn shop but it is like looking at a small import with a giant wing on the trunk, an exaust that sounds madder than my weed whacker and more plastic than cher. It had a new safety, grips, guide rod and numerous add-ons but had none of the original parts. so sad. Leavem alone. Just my opinion.
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If the gun does not work for you in its current form... change it, or get something else.
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Tough call, I'd love to see a pic. (Hint, Hint)
If it shoots well and is safe, I would leave it alone for posterity, and get another.
Than again, like old hot rods, some keep them stock, some make them an awesome varient of the original.
Ultimately up to you.
Often I wish my grandfather would not have sporterized his Mauser I inherited. The original stock and design really had nice lines and appeal.
Note: see "hint" above. 8)
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I had the same question about a '48 Marlin 336 I picked up at a pawn shop. It was the first model year for that rifle, so I wanted to be careful to retain its value.
The advice I got from a Marlin forum - pretty much universally - was it was already abused (light rust on barrel and mag tube, heavy scratches on the fore-end and some mope had engraved something on the left side of the receiver).
In your case, I tend to agree with a few of the others here that old does not equal value, especially since someone else has already abused the weapon. IMHO, it is yours, do with it as you see fit to make it shoot well. Just don't engrave the receiver! ;D
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So if Im correct its a 70s series. I would leave it alone or bring it back to mil spec. buy a armscore RIA fo under 400.00 and accurize it . for another 400.00 you can have a pistol you couldnt buy for 1000.00 .
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Make it the one you want it to be. You'll be much happier!
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Back then there was no Series 80 or 70 or even a 1911A1, just a 1911. For the amount of money it would take to get it up to the specs you want it probably isn't worth it, whether it has any collectors value or not. I would rather have a brand new shooter than a rebuilt 90-year-old shooter. But I can also see the appeal of having it fully customized to your specs and not buying another gun.
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Correct it is not a 70 or 80 series but a 1911 Government model in the C 1121XX range. I can tell it has been reblued because the Government is faded in the middle, and some other buffed out pitting on the slide. Otherwise all other writing and colt pony is sharp.
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Do the Wilson Combat parts fit into the Rock Island 1911? I have looked at those and the Springfield 1911A1 Mil-spec pistol as a possible buy and build up rather than my original 1911. However, one of my friends was suggesting to take the one pictured and add a compensator, etc.
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If it fit a Colt it will fit an RIA
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Since that's an original 1911 I would leave it alone and buy a new A1. You can leave it as is, but if it was parkerized and had G.I grips on it, then it would look like a military museum specimen. But I wouldn't put a lot of parts into it when you can get a whole new gun for not a lot more.
Bullseye!
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those grips look to good to be original, it may be my eyes or the photos but they look really great.
Enjoy it as is. Maybe an internal "tweak" here or there, and keep it to hand down to the family.
Really tough call, I can equate it to an 1824 Rosewood Candlestand, I bought at auction, it was black from decades of old finish, varnish, wax, polish, you name it. Not pretty, and a shell of its former beauty.
Some said: get it refinished, strip that old crap off and bring it back to its original luster, while some said the opposite, it will ruin its original nature, and historical significance of the piece.
You know what? I refinished it myself. Took me 6 weeks to methodically bring it back to life. I'm glad I did, under that tar nasty crap was the original wood. As beautiful than as it is now. I was offered an amazing amount of money for it now, and just said NO.
It sits by my 1919 Oak Victrola, (which is mint), and I'll never part with either.
Like I said before, "Your Call". Enjoy it none the less, its a piece of history.
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The whole thing abou t"tricking out" a pistol is the same as making a Harley a chopper. If your gun runs great as is why do it? And if you choose to upgrade your firearm make sure that your upgrades actually make the gun function better. Weather you put better sights on it to getting a new mag release that raises or lowers the mag in the mag well, it is a must that improves the preformance.
Sometimes I see people put in these "match" barrels and it doesnt do anything but at a brand name to the ejection port.
So dont be like Orange County Choppers and build a bike that doesnt function better. The purpose of a chopper is to make the bike faster and handle better. So the purpose to upgrade your gun is the same, to make you shoot it better. Just cause some Author in a magazine got a couple mm tighter group at 15 yards doesnt mean you will. All mods must make you the shooter better at handling your gun.
Thats my 2 cents. But it is pretty much a common sense.
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+1
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If I was lucky enough to have a Colt .45 made in 1919, I'd leave it as is.
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Yes, as I stated in my first post the grips were replaced by the pervious owner. I think my dad might have an extra set of original grips, however, he being a business man, it would cost me. I think I might look into the RIA 1911 and doing a build up of that particular model.
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I would leave it alone. Clean it up and put in a case for display.
The 1911 of that vintage is built loosely for a reason, so the GI could take it apart with only it's own components for tools. The barrel and bushing may make a difference but it's the slide and lower frame that would need the work. These guns would need some hand lapping to make them tighter along with the shopping list you discribe. That kind of work is not for the weekend gunsmith. Modern guns are made to much tighter tolerances and therefor need a break-in period, not so with the old Colts or Springfields of that era...They were designed to hit a two foot wide target at 5 to 10 meters and they performed that particular task quite well.
Great find, leave it be!
T
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Welcome TSB, thanks for jumping in with both feet, the more knowledge to spread around can only be a benefit.
Tommytornado, ask your dad for a discount if he has parts, grips, etc,.. after all, its family.
Hope it works out to your satisfaction.
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If I was lucky enough to have a Colt .45 made in 1919, I'd leave it as is.
+1
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Since that's an original 1911 I would leave it alone and buy a new A1. You can leave it as is, but if it was parkerized and had G.I grips on it, then it would look like a military museum specimen. But I wouldn't put a lot of parts into it when you can get a whole new gun for not a lot more.
Leave your current piece of history alone, as God and John Browning intended it to be, and Find you a new 1911 that has what you want. 8)
Also, post pics of the old Warhorse. ;)
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Look on page two.
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I did a little research on the serial number if your interested. Here's a link to the site..
http://www.coolgunsite.com/pistols/colt%20production.htm
C1121xxx was a comercial model of 1911 built circa 1919 built by Colt.
Have fun..
T