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Post by p35 on Oct 21, 2022 12:46:13 GMT -5
We all have those guns that not because of monetary value but because of personal history are special to us. I first fired this gun at the age of 8 years old at my grandfathers farm in Oklahoma. This gun was purchased by my father in 1953 while he was still in the military. When we traveled overseas my father would leave it with my grandfathers. It spent three years with my mothers father who carried it working security and the rest of the time it spent with my fathers father on his farm. So over the years it has been with both my grandfathers and my father. Before my father passed away he gave the gun to me so there would be no question where it would go. He knows I have a soft spot for family history. I've had the gun now for 30 years and it's still one of my favorites. He did change the barrel in 1966 after letting it sit for a year after firing WWII ammo and not cleaning it and corrosive primers took a toll on it. However my father was still military and had a good friend that was the armorer of his unit who got him a brand new WWII Colt barrel for the gun which it still has today. The price he paid may sound cheap but you could buy an ounce and a half of gold for $44 in 1953.   |
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Post by gt40doc on Oct 21, 2022 14:25:53 GMT -5
I own a 1943 Colt 1911A1 that was a Lend-Lease gun to England. I purchased it back in 1971-72 time frame. It has all of the "extra" proofs, etc. that England put on their guns. The gun is 92+% original. Someone forgot to clean the bbl. after shooting corrosive ammo, so it is less that stellar. I have fired it many times, and enjoy it a lot. At the time I thought that I paid too much for it($125), but it was so nice I had to do it. I am forever looking for a good bbl. with all of the English proofs to make the gun whole.
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Post by p35 on Oct 21, 2022 14:34:35 GMT -5
I own a 1943 Colt 1911A1 that was a Lend-Lease gun to England. I purchased it back in 1971-72 time frame. It has all of the "extra" proofs, etc. that England put on their guns. The gun is 92+% original. Someone forgot to clean the bbl. after shooting corrosive ammo, so it is less that stellar. I have fired it many times, and enjoy it a lot. At the time I thought that I paid too much for it($125), but it was so nice I had to do it. I am forever looking for a good bbl. with all of the English proofs to make the gun whole. Colt made a nice gun even during the war. If you have the original barrel the condition has less importance than matching does IMHO. I wish my father had kept the original barrel to this gun. For me though the value isn't about worth to sell, I can still see my grandfathers hands when I look at the gun. Funny mine are starting to look the same as his did.  |
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Post by CXM on Oct 22, 2022 3:00:07 GMT -5
I have some WWII barrels including a High Standard and I think a couple of Colt's barrels. Drop me a PM if you want one... all you pay is shipping. FWIW Chuck I own a 1943 Colt 1911A1 that was a Lend-Lease gun to England. I purchased it back in 1971-72 time frame. It has all of the "extra" proofs, etc. that England put on their guns. The gun is 92+% original. Someone forgot to clean the bbl. after shooting corrosive ammo, so it is less that stellar. I have fired it many times, and enjoy it a lot. At the time I thought that I paid too much for it($125), but it was so nice I had to do it. I am forever looking for a good bbl. with all of the English proofs to make the gun whole. |
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Post by p35 on Oct 22, 2022 9:22:47 GMT -5
Chuck,
There are a lot of barrels out there, the problem for gt40doc is the same as mine. The Lend Lease guns had a British proof on the barrel. Only Lend Lease guns had these proofs and they only did it to existing guns, meaning no spare barrels with the proofs. I've watched gun shows and other sources for years for a lend lease proofed barrel in decent shape and they are rare rare.
Max
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Post by CXM on Oct 22, 2022 10:01:42 GMT -5
True, but he could use a new barrel for shooting and keep the Brit proof for show. Chuck, There are a lot of barrels out there, the problem for gt40doc is the same as mine. The Lend Lease guns had a British proof on the barrel. Only Lend Lease guns had these proofs and they only did it to existing guns, meaning no spare barrels with the proofs. I've watched gun shows and other sources for years for a lend lease proofed barrel in decent shape and they are rare rare. Max |
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Post by gt40doc on Oct 22, 2022 15:44:34 GMT -5
Chuck
Thank you for the very kind offer. I located and purchased an excellent Colt WWII bbl. a number of years ago and use it for going to the range. This 1911A1 is just so nice that if it had a good, correct bbl., it would be complete. The search continues!! Kind of like finding a good 1911 Colt .455cal bbl.
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