Ugly Gun Sunday

People often hear about the damage blood will do to a firearm, and dismiss the peril. Here is a Colt 1911 that was left bloody while in evidence awaiting trial. The pistol fell in a pool of blood. The blood was not removed when the pistol went into evidence. The trial lasted for an unspecified period. The blood went to work attacking the metal of the firearm.

My response to the new owner.....

First, I like the gun. At $300, you have to consider a couple of issues.

The area around the slide stop is badly corroded on the passenger side of the gun. The slide is heavily pitted at the ejection port as well. These areas are prone to cracking on high mileage 1911s, they are high stress areas. Your gun may not be safe to fire.

Second, you apparently bought the story along with the gun. This weapon may have been a murder weapon and sat bloody in evidence, or it may have been found under the seat of a junked automobile in a wrecking yard. Without any court documents listing the serial number of the firearm, you have absolutely no documentation as to the history of this gun. I must ask you....If the seller told you it was found under the seat of a truck in Al's Salvage Yard, would you have paid the same amount for it? It's OK to say yes, it's OK to say no. If you say no though, verification of the story which is apparently important to you is essential. Expect the seller to provide it.

Not everyone appreciates such a firearm. When confronted with such a relic, otherwise logical people will sometimes assign magical powers to it. Bad juju. Ugly stuff indeed.