Posted: 3/22/2016 9:51:52 PM EDT
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I really need the 1911 gods and experts to help me out on this.
A elderly man in his late 90's! Passed away and left a few guns to a family friend of mine. This guy does not like guns and asks me to look at the guns he got from the deceased gentleman. Well one gun is a pristine Colt 1911 with a lanyard ring on the butt and one on the magazine - a dull blue - on the left side of the slide it has the colt the colt mfg logo and the patent 1903-1918. Standard diamond wood grips. Standard sights. But on the right side of the frame where marking were it is ground off professionally and a new serial number stamped in its place. What do I have? Did cmpnin the old days do this? I'd like to know what it's worth... No scratches dings or dents at all. It's mint. |
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Heard rumors of those concerned with WWI and WWII bringbacks being scared on getting in trouble. So there might be grinding marks removing Property of.
Look at Military 1911s and see if the pattern fits. Either way, I would be concerned about a ground and restamped gun. |
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Defacing a serial number is a huge atf violation - would need more info and preferably pics. While it is sadly very common to find a 1911( not a1) with the LEFT side property stamp removed, serial number removal is a totally different manner.
There are a good number of guns out there from the so called black army series ( late ww1 guns that had very lightly stamped serials) that after refinishing numbers could be obliterated and as a result were Arsenal restamped sometimes with an X prefix. If it can be determined the restamped number was Arsenal applied, it may not be an issue. It could be if restamped outside government possession |
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If the number is ground and restamped you can not call it mint at all!
Also is there a small "AA" stamp on the Left side of frame near the slide stop? If so would be a post ww1 rebuild which could explain the restamped number. Need much much more info to render an intelligent response |