Posted: 1/15/2007 6:21:21 PM EDT
I got this gun from my Dad, it was for his Dad before him. So my Dad doesn't know alot about it.    Here's the frame:  Barrel:  It was and is setup as a .22. We do have an extra slide that is a .45. Has the barrel, recoil, spring, mag. and Here's the problem.:  The slide doesn't want to fit onto the frame. I'm not sure if the slide is Fubarred or if this gun was only setup to be a 22. By looking at the frame it appears to have been fired as a 45 as some point because there is some wear on the feed ramp area. Any one have any idea what I got? And or what I need? Thanks |
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Well, your slide isn't fit to that frame. From what you said, the history is a little unknown here. Sombody may have bought the slide thinking they were going to put it on the frame and it didn't fit, so they left it. From what I can see...the frame doesn't looked peened so that can't be the case. You can send it to a smith (I know of one) that can fit your SLIDE to the frame and check out the barrel lockup and make sure it is going to work and be safe and reliable. You don't want to remove much material from the frame as not to interfere with the .22 conversion fit. Let me know if I can answer any more questions. Bob |
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It may not convert to a .45 ACP unless it was made as a conversion model. Lots of Ace Info |
After reading that it looks like it may be an Ace 22. If the serial number on the frame is correct it looks like it was made in 1931. I'm wondering if my Grandpa bought it or if it was given to him while he was in the Army. He was a Dr. during WWII and landed in Japan right after we dropped the bomb. I guess I will do more investigating before I try doing anything to the gun itself. |
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Well after a little more searching, it looks like it is an early model ACE 22. The serial # on the back of the slide matches the # on the frame. It also looks like the pics I have found of Post War Ace 22s. The sights match, the checkered trigger and hammer spur, the 2 tone mag and all the other markings. Cool now I can tell my Dad what we have. To think when I was younger we used to shoot the hell out of this thing. My brother and I probably ran a few thousand rounds through it. I think I clean it up real good first. |
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I know little of the factory ACE guns but I suspect it's collector value would be destroyed by setting it up to work in the 45 caliber also. From the picture of the top of the frame there is either an ejector missing or never installed, probably not needed for the 22kit but the 45 kit will not work without an ejector block on the frame. |
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Okay, here is the deal on the ACE. What you most likely have is a Colt ACE psitol that someone ( your Dad's Dad? ) purchased a .45 Caliber Conversion kit for...yes they had such a thing....OR: he bought the proper Colt components to facilitate such a conversion. Back in the day, things were more hand fit than they are now and it is simply quite likely that the 45 caliber slide you have is just too tight. If you are gonna use this as a dedicated shooter....then have the slide fitted to the frame, you'll also need a standard ( or even a lightly extended ) ejector and ejector pin. Have someone good fit it up for you. As long as it is staying in the family, go for it. |
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I was thinking the gun was originally a .45 and was converted to .22, but now that I know what it is, I am going to leave it the way it is. I have a Kimber and 3 Paras to shoot in .45. I remember this being a sweet shooting .22 so I have some fun shooting that way. Thanks for the info and links. |
There ya go! 45's are a dime a dozen, Ace's are not. It will be a great gift to your grandchildren someday. |