Is it a WWI & WWII Colt. 1911 ?.......Need Info.......(Dial Up is going to suck)

C85D4x4

C85D4x4

NAXJA Member #1311
Location
Ohio, Brecksville
Ok guys........Found this in my Grandfathers Basement..........

And I really don't feel like signing up for some gun web site (im not all that into guns really)

so....

I really don't know how to find info on it.........so Im hoping that someone here does.........b/c it seems that allot of ppl around here know allot about guns

1. How much is it worth? (NO IM NOT SELLING) I would just like to tell my Grandmother how much money she was about to throw away

2. Historical Information on it.....

3. Who the hell is this Orr guy?

4. How should I take care of it......(gun)

5. How should I take care of the.......(Leather Holster)
.....also I do not keep the gun in it.....i just did it for the pics.......

6. Would you take it to the gun range?

O......and there is no amo Magazine/Clip For it.......

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Thanks guys!!!

Chris
 
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Re: Is it a WWI & WWII Colt. 1911 ?.......Need Info.......(Dial Up is going to suck)

Should not be any issue shooting it, it looks like one of the earlier WWI era 1911's, not the earliest which looked a bit different. I'd just keep it wrapped in a good clean cloth or gun storage cloth, pass it down to your kids.
It is off paper so don't take it to a gunsmith where he has to check it in and out. Many WWI and WWII vets were able to retain their side arms when they left the service. As for the Orr guy, he was probably the first one who was issued that holster and put his name in it. Somewhere in the paper work of your grandfathers military stuff you will probably find the transfer property paper.
If you have a friend who is knowledgeable about colts let them look it over. If you do fire it use standard .45 ACP ball ammo, no high powered + loads. Also you can pick up a cleaning kit and give it a good cleaning, I prefer Hoppes for most cleaning plus I grew up with the smell so it give me the warm fuzzies :D

Look around the cellar more, you may find the magazines and even some ammo for it somewhere.
You could also look up the serial number but I'd do it from a public internet computer site incase it's ummmm been 'acquired' thru a less than kosher method.
 
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Re: Is it a WWI & WWII Colt. 1911 ?.......Need Info.......(Dial Up is going to suck)

My Grandfather was Chief of Police Around here........So I think he took it from work........or he confiscated it or something.......I dont know.....he died....so we will never know where it came from.......

There probably isn't paperwork for it If my Grandmother never saw it b4

O.....and I have already took it apart and cleaned it (found info on that online)
 
Re: Is it a WWI & WWII Colt. 1911 ?.......Need Info.......(Dial Up is going to suck)

Also I am interested in how to Clean/Preserve correctly the Wood Handle Grips and Leather Holster?

Or if I should I not touch them at all?

If anyone could give me any insight on this, that would be great.
 
Re: Is it a WWI & WWII Colt. 1911 ?.......Need Info.......(Dial Up is going to suck)

C85D4x4 said:
Also I am interested in how to Clean/Preserve correctly the Wood Handle Grips and Leather Holster?

Or if I should I not touch them at all?

If anyone could give me any insight on this, that would be great.
Click to expand...

Historically the leather is cleaned with saddle soap and then treated with neatsfoot oil.
As for the grips, tung oil or boiled linseed oil, clean with a soft tooth brush, thats about it.
 
Re: Is it a WWI & WWII Colt. 1911 ?.......Need Info.......(Dial Up is going to suck)

The leather would probly love a decent cleaning with some saddle soap and then you could rub in some mink oil. Another great oil for leather is Neatsfoot oil. You can pick that stuff up at any farm/tractor store or at a sports store in the baseball glove section...

Edit: Rich you beat me to it...
 
Re: Is it a WWI & WWII Colt. 1911 ?.......Need Info.......(Dial Up is going to suck)

But if you look at where the name is inside the holster...the leather is kind of fraying if you will.....similar to like lint coming off a sock....but not falling apart that easily.

Wouldn't the Saddle Soap remove allot of that or damage the Name further than it is now?

I really dont know......Iv never worked with leather

Also if I do this, would it reduce in historical value?
 
Re: Is it a WWI & WWII Colt. 1911 ?.......Need Info.......(Dial Up is going to suck)

You just do the outside, not submerge the thing. You just want to replace the natural lubricants. A good source of info would be the NRA site, they are big on preservation of all kinds of stuff. I still have my dads issue shoulder holster from his days as one of Pattons body guards. They may even say not to do anything more than put the holster in a zip lock bag.
 
Re: Is it a WWI & WWII Colt. 1911 ?.......Need Info.......(Dial Up is going to suck)

RichP said:
You just do the outside, not submerge the thing. You just want to replace the natural lubricants. A good source of info would be the NRA site, they are big on preservation of all kinds of stuff. I still have my dads issue shoulder holster from his days as one of Pattons body guards. They may even say not to do anything more than put the holster in a zip lock bag.
Click to expand...

Great! thanks man
 
Re: Is it a WWI & WWII Colt. 1911 ?.......Need Info.......(Dial Up is going to suck)

damn..if only that ol' war horse could talk. just emagine the stories. awsome find.
 
Re: Is it a WWI & WWII Colt. 1911 ?.......Need Info.......(Dial Up is going to suck)

Here's what I know and found out :)
1911A2 (straight backstrap makes it A2). What's odd is the logo on the slide: does not seem to fit the manufacturer (Springfield Armory). Also from what I found out the US Property stamping is on the wrong side of the frame.
Couple posibilties:
1. The gun was made under contract for SA by someone else during war.
2. The slide does not belong to that gun.

Some of those pics seem a bit dark: can you try and take high res pics of the gun with better lighting? I'm realy curious about this one and I have someone that is the ultimate O-Frame expert that I would like to have take a look at the pics.

Edit: ran the current pics by him and here's his verdict:
U.S. military parts gun sold to a foreign country. After 1913, before 1927 MFG. I don't think it's a matching gun, wrong slide.
Click to expand...
 
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Re: Is it a WWI & WWII Colt. 1911 ?.......Need Info.......(Dial Up is going to suck)

Kejtar said:
Here's what I know and found out :)
1911A2 (straight backstrap makes it A2). What's odd is the logo on the slide: does not seem to fit the manufacturer (Springfield Armory). Also from what I found out the US Property stamping is on the wrong side of the frame.
Couple posibilties:
1. The gun was made under contract for SA by someone else during war.
2. The slide does not belong to that gun.

Some of those pics seem a bit dark: can you try and take high res pics of the gun with better lighting? I'm realy curious about this one and I have someone that is the ultimate O-Frame expert that I would like to have take a look at the pics.

Edit: ran the current pics by him and here's his verdict:
Click to expand...

Ill try and get pics when I go home this weekend

Thanks man

But heres what I posted on M1911.org

http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?p=439100#post439100&conly=
 
Re: Is it a WWI & WWII Colt. 1911 ?.......Need Info.......(Dial Up is going to suck)

Keep in mind that very few military firearms are '100% factory original parts'. Every few months we would go thru the racks and function check every single 1911, M60, M16, M203, M2, M37, M243, M9, M3 and replace unit level replaceable parts. Parts we did not keep like extra receivers, extra bolts and barrel assemblies I would ship the whole weapon back to the next higher level and get a rebuilt in exchange. It would get run thru an entire rebuild process including refinishing. Some of the 1911's we had were absolutely beautiful, fired maybe 300 rounds a year and other then holster wear were very serviceable, I've always hoped they got shipped to a warehouse somewhere and at some point in the future when we get a real honest government again they will be offered for sale from the civilian marksmanship program.
 
Re: Is it a WWI & WWII Colt. 1911 ?.......Need Info.......(Dial Up is going to suck)

Your grandmother made you take every other gun to be melted down???? That is absolutely rediculous.

"sorry grandma I didn't find anything"
 
Re: Is it a WWI & WWII Colt. 1911 ?.......Need Info.......(Dial Up is going to suck)

goodburbon said:
Your grandmother made you take every other gun to be melted down???? That is absolutely rediculous.

"sorry grandma I didn't find anything"
Click to expand...

Yea, I was going to say that too. Following that logic all the wrenches, hammers, screwdrivers, power tools and kitchen utensils should also follow suit.
 
Re: Is it a WWI & WWII Colt. 1911 ?.......Need Info.......(Dial Up is going to suck)

My Grandmother didn't want us having guns.......not like shes a bad person...lol
 
Re: Is it a WWI & WWII Colt. 1911 ?.......Need Info.......(Dial Up is going to suck)

During the Houston "buy back" my father's friend saw a man give up an old flintlock, pennsylvania rifle(I believe), the dude's into weapons. He told the people the man needed to take it to a museum, or to sell it, the man was broke. He offered 8k for it. The people would not let the man have it back, nor would they let him sell it. it was theirs to destroy. My dad's friend was there sellin back guns that had been acquired at a lower price than the "buyback". Older people are loosing a part of our history, and lots of money to these "buyback" programs.
 
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