What should I do with this old colt?

[dyerwatcher]

Is it possible to replicate Colt Royal Blue like a Python?

 

[Leadeye]

Nice old Colt!

Somebody comes close to that old Colt blue but I can't remember. A little internet work will probably turn up the answer. Nothing wrong with refurbishing a gun in that condition, I picked up a 1924 Commercial years ago at a sale that was rusted shut, cleaned, replaced some parts, and reblued it. It's a shooter with some history behind it, the top gun in this picture. The bottom one has the original finish and was made in 1927.

 

[AllenM]

I am giving parkerizing a serious thought just because it would be correct for the gun I have a MSH with lanyard on the way, may find a mag at the upcoming 1500

 

[churchmouse]

A question. When did Colt get the heat treating right on the military issue. I have one from the late 50's. Maybe 1959. Just curious.

 

[ghitch75]

your good CM anything post 1924......

if yours has "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" it was made before 1945 as all military production ended then.....

 

[halfmileharry]

your good CM anything post 1924......

What's the "past '53" deal I kept hearing about? I had a couple of old armorers in the Corps that mentioned that time frame

 

[ghitch75]

What's the "past '53" deal I kept hearing about? I had a couple of old armorers in the Corps that mentioned that time frame

i don't know...never heard of it.....

 

[xM3RC1L3SS1x]

I would parkerize it, well, I wouldn't. I'd have someone do it for me.

 

[Bennettjh]

I enjoy the Colt threads.

 

[rockhopper46038]

A question. When did Colt get the heat treating right on the military issue. I have one from the late 50's. Maybe 1959. Just curious.

Hmm. I'm curious too. Or maybe concerned. I just picked up a super sweet (but molested) Colt Commander that the SN dates to 1950 and I want to make sure it's a shooter. First 200 rounds today shot awfully nice. Hope I don't have to be concerned about it.

It isn't military marked though, so perhaps I need not be concerned at all? Were all the commercial models from the 1949 start on fully heat treated?

 

[ghitch75]

Hmm. I'm curious too. Or maybe concerned. I just picked up a super sweet (but molested) Colt Commander that the SN dates to 1950 and I want to make sure it's a shooter. First 200 rounds today shot awfully nice. Hope I don't have to be concerned about it.

look at post 45...

 

[rockhopper46038]

I did . But I've been scouring the web looking for a document where I could read that for myself and I haven't had any luck yet

 

[mvician]

 

[partyboy6686]

I am giving parkerizing a serious thought just because it would be correct for the gun I have a MSH with lanyard on the way, may find a mag at the upcoming 1500

The last couple 1500's I went to had a lot of old 1911 parts there. One table I remember sold each individual piece for the 1911.

 

[halfmileharry]

i don't know...never heard of it.....

I was told of heat treating issues up to the 1953 time frame. I guess they got their hands on a lot of worn out old 1911s.
Edit: I saw a lot of cracked slides as well. They welded a bunch of them around the port.

 

[ghitch75]

I did . But I've been scouring the web looking for a document where I could read that for myself and I haven't had any luck yet

you didn't see this thread?.....

Heat Treated Slides

 

[rockhopper46038]

No, although I read another multi-page thread at M1911.org, I missed that one. I've exchanged PMs with 1911Tuner before though, and he's the man. His post seemed to indicate that fully treated slides date from 1946 on. I found other evidence of Yost doing a full custom build on a 1950-51 Commander for someone and I'd sure like to think he'd have told the client not to use that slide if he thought it would be a problem.

 

[ghitch75]

i had a 1950 4 digit LWC in Super 38 and it was heat treated........

 

[rockhopper46038]

Mine's 2xxx-LW, so it's unclear to me if its 1950 or 1951, but it shoots very well.

 

[ghitch75]

yours would be a late 50....mine was 1123LW.....

Serial Number Data