Before Photos added - Pre WW I Commercial 1911
Jan 2, 2018 18:37:57 GMT -5
Poohgyrr, ruber, and 1 more like this
Post by CXM on Jan 2, 2018 18:37:57 GMT -5
It's no secret I'm a big fan of vintage commercial 1911s. I don't have a lot of them but I do have some.
Back in the early part of 2017 I acquired a Pre WWI commercial 1911 Colt from a friend of a friend. I was very pleased to get the old gun despite the fact it had lived a hard life and at some pointed had been chrome plated by some unknown bumper shop.
Anyway, when Ford's Gun Refinishing got rolling again after their move to Crystal River Florida I took the gun up to them to be re-furbished and re-finished.
For the most part the gun had original parts. It still has the old rounded rear sight designed for the 'knife blade' front sights. Unfortunately the original flat smooth main spring housing had been replaced with a modern arched grooved model at some point. The original checkered double diamond walnut grips were long gone replaced with some rubber grips...
to my delight the gun came with an original pre WW I 'key hole' magazine which very likely is original to the gun.
The old gun looked sad and tired.
A phone call to Colt's told me the gun had been shipped as a blue gun, which would mean it not only had the old style Colt's blue, but it also would have the 'fire blue' small parts as well.
So, in April 2017 some 104 years after it left Hartford I left the old gun with Fords... Estimated refinishing time: 12-16 weeks... The job took rather longer than that (Fords kindly told me it was a result of back up resulting from their move) but quality jobs take time.
This morning a friend and I drove up to Crystal river to finally pick up the 1911.
I am happy to say I'm delighted with the results... my first look revealed a blue finish that was like that of the 19th century Colts. The fire blue 'small parts' look like the real thing and show a deep bright blue...
EXCELSIOR!!
The trip involved a bit more than five hours in the car today, so I have not taken many photos of the old gun, but I will try to get some more tomorrow. For some reason the lighting in these two pics don't show the lovely fire bluing of the small parts... but you can still get an idea of the gun.
So here are some photos, before refinishing and after.
BEFORE PHOTO:
And after:
BEFORE PHOTO:
And after:
ALSO BEFORE:
Hope y'all find the photos of interest.
Oh... also thanks to Vant for putting me in contact with his friend from whom I bought the gun.
V/r
Chuck
Back in the early part of 2017 I acquired a Pre WWI commercial 1911 Colt from a friend of a friend. I was very pleased to get the old gun despite the fact it had lived a hard life and at some pointed had been chrome plated by some unknown bumper shop.
Anyway, when Ford's Gun Refinishing got rolling again after their move to Crystal River Florida I took the gun up to them to be re-furbished and re-finished.
For the most part the gun had original parts. It still has the old rounded rear sight designed for the 'knife blade' front sights. Unfortunately the original flat smooth main spring housing had been replaced with a modern arched grooved model at some point. The original checkered double diamond walnut grips were long gone replaced with some rubber grips...
to my delight the gun came with an original pre WW I 'key hole' magazine which very likely is original to the gun.
The old gun looked sad and tired.
A phone call to Colt's told me the gun had been shipped as a blue gun, which would mean it not only had the old style Colt's blue, but it also would have the 'fire blue' small parts as well.
So, in April 2017 some 104 years after it left Hartford I left the old gun with Fords... Estimated refinishing time: 12-16 weeks... The job took rather longer than that (Fords kindly told me it was a result of back up resulting from their move) but quality jobs take time.
This morning a friend and I drove up to Crystal river to finally pick up the 1911.
I am happy to say I'm delighted with the results... my first look revealed a blue finish that was like that of the 19th century Colts. The fire blue 'small parts' look like the real thing and show a deep bright blue...
EXCELSIOR!!
The trip involved a bit more than five hours in the car today, so I have not taken many photos of the old gun, but I will try to get some more tomorrow. For some reason the lighting in these two pics don't show the lovely fire bluing of the small parts... but you can still get an idea of the gun.
So here are some photos, before refinishing and after.
BEFORE PHOTO:
And after:
BEFORE PHOTO:
And after:
ALSO BEFORE:
Hope y'all find the photos of interest.
Oh... also thanks to Vant for putting me in contact with his friend from whom I bought the gun.
V/r
Chuck
