What Brand Pistol for War?

I was just this morning reading on a forum what pistol internet ninjas say they would like to tote on their hip into the theater of Afghanistan or Iraq.

The usual plastic fantastics were listed. It made me think of what people carry when they tend to know sidearms and they have a choice in the matter......

The original MEU (SOC) pistols were hand-selected standard government issued Colt M1911A1s that were gutted, deburred, and prepared for additional use by the USMC Precision Weapon Section (PWS) in Quantico, VA.

They were then assembled with after-market grip safeties, a rounded hammer, ambidextrous thumb safeties, lighter triggers made by Videcki, improved high-visibility sights, accurized match-grade barrels made by Bar-Sto, Pachmayr rubber grips, front cocking-serrations, and improved stainless steel magazines made by Wilson Combat.

The trigger-pull weight is specified at between 4.5 and 5.0 pounds of pressure.

The pistol's components are hand fitted and are not interchangeable. The last four digits of the weapon's serial number are stamped on the top of the barrel, on the right-side of slide assembly, inside of the beavertail grip safety, on each side of the ambidextrous thumb safety, and on the inside face of the mainspring housing group.

Due to wear and tear of the MEU(SOC) pistols, the U.S. Marines attempted to look commercially for replacements. On 17 February 2005, Marine Corps Systems Command announced that it was going to purchase 150 Springfield Armory Professional Model pistols for use as MEU(SOC) pistols. Despite the planned purchase of the commercial pistols, Marine Corps Systems Command has continued to solicit parts to build additional MEU(SOC) pistols.

Source: Cut and paste from Wikipedia. Use: Personal reference. Don't like it? Write your own blog.

Keyhole Mags

after conferring with some real experts, it seems I need a "keyhole" magazine to make my 1912 M1911 complete. This esoteric Colt magazine is the same as a usual lanyard loop two tone M1911 magazine, except it has a "keyhole."

I didn't even know such an animal existed. Learn something new every day..... Ah well, I might find turtle teeth in my mailbox first......... At least I have an excuse for using a standard GI magazine..... If anyone has a keyhole mag in the bottom of their range bag, shoot me an email......

Detail Stripping the 1912 M1911

I finally got around to detail stripping the 1912 M1911 that I acquired. Unfortunately, underneath the grips, especially on the right side, I found rust.


I soaked the rust with Ballistol, and scraped at it with a copper penny. I have, over the years, adopted the Lincoln cent for a scraping tool on guns. The copper is softer than the metal, and I have yet to scratch a finish with old Honest Abe. The grips were quite stuck, but with a little persuasion, they let go of the bushings.


As I dived deeper into the detail strip and evaluation, I saw that this pistol did indeed have the original finish. The two toned look on the grip frame is actually two different directions of polishing applied at the factory. This two toned appearance is quickly altered in a M1911 has been refinished.


I lubricated the pistol like I do all my 1911s, grease on the slide rails and sear, oil on the pivoting parts. When I was done, the pistol was glistening with Ballistol, inside and out. I will let the Ballistol remain on the gun, not wiping it off, for several days. Hopefully it will soak into the remaining oxidation and help loosen it from the finish.

A Phone Call

Ring ring! Ring ring!

"This is Xavier, may I help you?" I always answer the cellphone like that in case it's a physician I work with. My daughter finds it amusing at least.........

"Hey Xav, he accepted your offer, five o'clock OK?"

"Roger that."



More later.........

The 1912 M1911 and other Heirlooms

"This sounds like a setup...don't go alone !" commented C4.
I wasn't worried, the email came from an friend since childhood. When I got off work yesterday, I drove the 40 miles necessary to visit my old friend.

After the usual Southern pleasantries, talk turned to the pistol at hand, and my friend removed it from an old bank money bag. I looked the M1911 over, and found it to be 100% original except for the magazine. The rounded rear sight and the ball cut slide are two features that I really like on the old M1911s. Sadly, my Black Army gun lacks both. The old war horse being offered had not seen much actual firing; the rifling was still sharp (if dirty) and the gun had the original barrel. Most of the finish wear was the result of time, not carry, and not abuse.

My friend was simply acting as a broker to facilitate a deal, and I soon learned that the owner was not uninformed. I had cash in my pocket, but I could not pay what he hoped to get for the pistol. I gave a couple of combination offers, trades of firearms and the ability to buy the M1911 back at the same price in the future, and I left it at that. Perhaps the owner, knowing that my word is my bond, will take me up on the offer in the realization that it gives us each the opportunity to own and regain a bit of history we could not otherwise afford.

Talk turned to catching up on each other's lives, and my friend's son Lee brought out his prized possession. Lee has an appreciation for fine firearms, and is a responsible shooter who never turns down an opportunity to blast away steel or paper. For a year before his twenty-first birthday, he would wistfully rhapsodize about the AR he wished he could build. Little did Lee realize that his father and a gunsmith friend were taking notes. On his twenty-first birthday, Lee was presented with a gift that is destined to become a family heirloom. A gift from a father that unequivocally recognizes his son as a responsible man.

These are the admirable qualities of the gun culture. It's a world where people are recognized by what they do, their actions makes them who they are. The honor among men (and women) is what makes the gun culture what it is. And it is that small fact, that honor, that is lost on those who would try to destroy the second amendment. Of course, what would they know of honor? If they trusted their fellow man, they wouldn't be worried about his guns.

Interesting email

"I know you to be a colt man Zav. This is a 1911 colt 45 issued to U.S. Military in 1912 Serial # 8345. He says good condition. I am not up on that sort of thing. If you are interested I can have at it at my place next week. I'm not a pistol guy , just wanted to give you a crack at it if you wanted to look at it. I've not seen it I 'm just relaying . Not mine but an old buddy I'm sure you'll know."

More later, I'm certain........

Shooting Collectibles

I happen to be the proud owner of a Colt M1911 and a Remington Rand M1911A1. I believe each pistol is 100% original. Up until this point, I only owned one handgun that I have never shot, a 1910 Imperial Luger. It, too, is all original and all matching, although I swapped out the grips to preserve them.

It has been a hard decision not to shoot the Colt "Black Army" M1911 that I recently acquired, but I've come to the conclusion that not shooting it will be the best decision for me. It has taken me almost seven years to find this pistol at an all original price I would pay. If I do not shoot it, I can always install a new recoil spring and a shock buffer and take it to the range at any given time in the future.

I am fortunate to have found an original M1911 that I could afford. I'm also fortunate to own a Remington Rand in excellent original condition. While still scouring gun shows and pawn shops for these pistols, I built a M1911A1 copy from a Springfield GI45, and I purchased a Colt WWI Reproduction. Scott Gahimer says they all basically shoot the same. As a collector and enthusiast, Scott has shot a lot of M1911s. More than myself. I trust his advice.

It is an odd thing how some humans acquire objects of desire simply to possess them. But possession is not the goal. Learning about the things and showing others is a large part of the pastime. I have several 1911 pistols that get regular workouts as well as the ones I keep in my carry rotation. I have no driving need to shoot the old grey veteran I have found.

There may come a time when I will shoot the Colt "Black Army." I suspect that when the thrill of simply owning the genuine article wears thin, I will put a few rounds down range to confirm function if nothing else. That time is not now, however. I still have not shot the Colt M1911 reproduction. I suppose the Springfield M1911A1 copy will keep me going for a while longer.

The Colt "Black Army" M1911

In May of 1918, to meet the demands of the US Army in the war to end all wars, Colt changed the way it finished the Model of 1911 pistol. The Army wanted production increased, and requested that Colt eliminate the final polishing process prior to bluing the M1911. As a result, the surface of the pistols would be left with a rougher appearance, unlike previous Colts. In addition, Colt began using a gas fired oven blued process. Between these two factors, the appearance of the M1911 changed from a lustrous blue to almost black. Collectors have since coined the term "Black Army" to denote the last of the M1911 pistols, with the finish phased in after serial number 312000.

To be sure, Hartford was cutting corners to produce as many pistols as possible. Many of the small parts such as the slide stops and thumb safeties were outsourced or previously manufactured, and were still polished and blued in the previous manner. Over time, the weaker "Black Army" finish wore off many of the slides and frames while the small parts remained blued. After ninety years, the uneven appearance from different rates of wear often gives the impression that all original pistols were put together from scavenged parts. Because of the mix master appearance when weathered and a greater chance of wear on these wartime pistols, many collectors are still seeking the elusive Colt "Black Army" pistols with a high amount of finish. When such a pistol appears on the market, it can command high prices.


All "Black Army" pistols will have the rampant Colt in the center of the slide. The prancing pony moved there sometime between serial number 275000 and 290000. They will also have the typical characteristics of a M1911, a smooth flat mainspring housing with a lanyard loop, an early M1911 slide stop, and a wide spur hammer with an itty bitty spur on the grip safety. Walnut double diamond grips are de rigueur.

I was fortunate to find my Colt "Black Army" walking into a gun show at a fair price. Although the wartime expedient finish is mostly absent on the exterior of my pistol, it has seen very little actual use. The interior parts are still as new, and the bore is bright. Prior to being accepted by the US Army, this M1911 was given the nod by Springfield Armory inspectors. The eagle proofmark is visible above the magazine release. I am happy to have an all original M1911 that can be handled without hesitation.

While the "Black Army" pistol is often viewed as a World War One pistol, it must be remembered that the Great War ended with the armistice signed on 11 November, 1918, a scant seven months after the "Black Army" variation began. Thousands of Colt "Black Army" M1911s languished in the armories of the US military, where they sat ready until war was again declared in 1941. The "Black Army" Colts were a common sidearm in the combat theaters of WWII until 1943, when production of the M1911A1 reached it's zenith. It's ironic that many pistols often associated with WWI finally saw combat after Pearl Harbor, and were brought home by the GIs of WWII.

Two Hundred More

Gun shows are a lot like flea markets and garage sales, just more specialized. The same characters haunt gun shows. At the local gun show, a grizzled old coot that I chose not to deal with is always present to sell mix master M1911s at inflated prices. All of his guns are sacred relics, if you believe the stories he tells. In the past, I might have purchased one, but the money he wants is astronomical. I don't mind a mix master M1911. I just want a fair price.

As usual the doors were late to open this morning. Several men were in front of me, and a couple of them had gun rugs. I watched as their handguns were checked by the police officer at the ticket counter. The first fellow looked promising. He was a tobacco chewing gent past Medicare age, with a Brookshires sack. I watched as he reached inside and pulled out a.... Glock. So much for stereotypes.

The fellow in front of me was a bald headed guy in a digital BDU jacket. He held a black leather gun rug. When it was unzipped by the police officer, the bare metal beauty inside caught my eye like a pirate gazing on a chest of doubloons. He had a Colt M1911. My uneducated eye saw it as being correct. I stepped around him, paid my entry fee and waited.

As soon as he placed the old WW1 pistol back in the gun rug, I tapped him on the shoulder and said "See me after you pay your entry fee." He smiled and paid his six bucks.

"Do you mind if I look at your pistol?" I asked.

"Sure."

I am not an expert on M1911s, but to me, this pistol appeared untampered with and 100% correct. The wear on the grips was consistent with the gun's finish wear and age, and the small parts looked to be correct to my neophyte eyes as well. "I bought this one from the son of a vet," the man said. "His father paid for it when he left the Army. It's a 1918 gun."

Dadgummit, I thought, he knows the gun. This won't be cheap. "What do you want for it?" I inquired.

"What will you give me for it?" he countered. I knew how much I had total, in three different pockets, and I knew it was still low. I told him anyway. Cash.

"Ive got to have two hundred more than that," he said. He was right, the pistol was worth what he was asking.

"Would you take a Smith and Wesson 1911 and some cash?" I asked.

"No, I really just want to get cash."

I had not seen a M1911 walk into a gun show in over seven years. "I'll have to make a run to the bank," I said. "Here's twenty bucks to hold on to it for the next hour. If I don't make it back in an hour with the money, the twenty is yours and you can sell it to whoever you like, deal?"

"Sounds good to me," he said. "I really want to take it over to Joshua and see what he thinks anyway." I knew he was referring to the mix master monger.

"I'll be right back," I told him, and I walked quickly back to the Jeep through the misty cold rain. I dialed my wife to see if she had two Franklins on her. She would not pick up her cell phone. I don't use ATMs. If the bank wasn't open........

As I pulled up into the banks parking lot, the green OPEN light over the drive beckoned through the haze like the beam from a lighthouse. John Moses was smiling on me. I wrote the teller a check, got my cash, and tried not to speed on the way back to the gun show.

The crowd was thick as I strode across the convention center floor again. Finding the fellow in this crowd would be a chore. Finally, I saw him showing the pistol to Cowboy Bob. I could see the disappointment in his eyes as walked up.

"You know, Joshua offered me what I'm going to sell this to you for," he said. "Bob says it's worth more." I looked unconcerned. I knew what I was willing to pay, and I had the money.

"Well, that's up to you," I told him, ready to walk.

"This one is a fantastic shooter," he said, "It's been my baby."

"Yeah, that's why I'd like to buy it. I want a M1911 that I can shoot, not just oil and fondle," I replied. I asked if I could field strip the pistol to check it out. He agreed. Inside, as far as I could tell, it was correct. There were no cracks. The bore was good.

"Like I said, this one is one hundred percent," he said. I reassembled the gun and counted out the hundred dollar bills on a bare table area. The seller was hesitant. He held each note up to the light to verify it wasn't counterfeit. Finally, when he saw that I was not going to offer more, he said OK. We shook hands. The M1911 was mine. I zipped it back in the black leather gun rug and thanked him for a fair deal.

More later........

Colt "Black Army" M1911 at auction

An exceptional Colt "Black Army" M1911 is up for grabs at Rock Island Auction.

all original (near new) and unaltered example of a late WWI "Black Army" M1911 pistol as manufactured by the Colt Manufacturing company. This pistol is a late all blued Model 1911 that has the block style marking and the Black Army type finish that is found only in the last of US Army Model 1911 contract pistols. This Black Army finish is actually a collector term to identify and differentiate these pistols from the earlier all blue Model 1911s. This type of finish was actually due to a change in the bluing process that occurred in 1918 when Colt went to a gas-fired oven blued process which gave the pistols a rougher finish with a dark black color. This specific pistol falls into the generally accepted serial number block (285,000-350,000) when this change took place. The left side of the slide is marked "PATENTED APR. 20.1897. SEPT.9.1902 / DEC. 19. 1905. FEB.14.1911. AUG 19.1913" followed by "COLT'S PT. F.A. MFG. CO." over "HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A." with the Rampant Colt in the middle of the markings and the left side of the slide is marked with "MODEL OF 1911. U.S. ARMY". The left side of the frame is marked, "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" and it has the circled "JMG" proof of LTC J.M. Gilbert, the government inspector assigned to the Colt factory. The right side of the frame has the serial number of the pistol, behind the slide stop pin hole. It still has the correct early WWI parts such as the Colt wide checkered spur hammer, smooth flat main spring housing, checkered slide stop and thumb safety, and the Colt barrel which is marked with the single separated "P" and "H" proof on top of the chamber area. It has the original diamond checkered walnut grips and is complete with one half-tone magazine.

Estimated Price: $5,500 - $7,500

Colt M1911A1 National Match at Auction

A near mint National Match M1911A1 is up for bids at Rock Island Auction.

Parkerized frame with "FJA" inspector marking above the magazine catch with a "P" proof below the catch. The right side of the frame is marked "UNITED STATES PROPERTY / serial number / ordnance bomb FK" before the slide stop hole and "M1911A1 U.S. ARMY / RIA" after the slide stop hole. The frame serial number places this M1911A1 in the Remington-Rand production run for the year 1944.

The slide is parkerized with the one-line Colt Hartford address on the right and "Colt" flanked by "GOVERNational MatchENT / MODEL" and "AUTOMATIC CALIBER .45" next to the un-circled Rampant Colt. "NRM" is marked on the right trigger guard bow. Blued barrel with caliber marking over "National Match 7790313". Ramp blade front and adjustable Elliason rear sights, textured front grip strap, aluminum adjustable trigger, serrated arched main spring housing with the lanyard loop on the bottom, serrated slide stop, checkered thumb safety and narrow hammer. Fitted with checkered grips and a blued magazine marked "19200- / ASSY 5508694 / MFR. 1M291" on the shoe. Complete with cardboard box marked "SHOT FROM ARM REST" on the lid.

Estimated Price: $2,500 - $3,000

Sweetheart of a Story

Some relics of our pasts are treasures. When a man goes to war, the small photos of home and loved ones are priceless. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, with the world at war, James L. Morris left Texas Tech University and enlisted in the U.S. Army. The Army sent him to officer candidate school in Virginia.

In Virginia, he met Velma Cashatt, a young girl who had gone to Washington, D.C. to work for the government during the war. James and Velma married before he shipped out with the 82nd Engineer Combat Battalion. He landed at Omaha Beach two weeks after D-Day. Morris served as the battalion’s executive officer and later as it's commanding officer. The turning point of the war for Europe, the Battle of the Bulge during the Ardennes Offensive was only part of the history experienced by the unit as it fought through France and Germany in 1944 and 1945.

All during this time, photographs of Velma were carried underneath custom clear plastic grip panels on the young officer's Remington Rand M1911A1. The grips were made for Morris by his men, from the fractured windshield of a downed German bomber. They were a gift of admiration and esteem from a group of men for an honored comrade in arms.

James L. Morris returned from war, and he kept the sidearm that served him so well throughout that part of his life. Velma's photos remained underneath the clear plastic grips of the pistol. He began a new life with his bride and the war relic was placed away as an old memento of a time he hoped would never reoccur. They had a long and fruitful life, and a son who grew up to join the US Navy. In 2005, Velma died. In September 2007, James joined her again. The pistol he carried was bequeathed to his son Jim.

In October, Morris' home was burglarized. Three firearms, including the precious M1911A1 were stolen. "Nothing in this world that I owned had more sentimental value to me," Jim Morris said. "That gun meant the world to me. It means the world to me." Even though he did not have the serial number, he still listed the lost firearm as stolen.

December 2007. Parker County deputies execute a search warrant at a house near Azle, Texas in search of a suspect. The perp was long gone, but the deputies discovered an old gun under a mattress. The homeowner told them he thought it was stolen. The serial number was run through the data base, but it got no hits. The old pistol was placed into the property room. It languished there, unclaimed.

As his office was being renovated in August, Parker County Sheriff Larry Fowler saw the old gun laying in the the property room again. A history buff, he decided to conduct a search for the owner again, this time using the photos as a clue. A newspaper article was circulated through the press. "I’ll bet you it was someone connected with the Army Air Forces. They had to have the materials to make this, and I doubt somebody in the infantry would," speculated Sheriff Fowler. The truth is "sweetheart" grips were not uncommon during WWII, and they were most common in infantry units, as Sheriff Fowler learned from multiple telephone calls.

Then, finally, the lawman received the call he had waited for. A man from Stephenville called with a story about a young officer from Texas who fell in love with a girl from Nebraska. A man so loved by his men that they crafted him sweetheart grips to carry her picture under for safekeeping. A couple who built a life for themselves in the trials of war. A photograph recognized, a cherished heirloom recovered. "I never thought I would see it again," Jim Morris said. "My son will get it when I pass away."

Record and photograph your guns and heirlooms. Today may be your last opportunity.

Ugly Gun Sunday

Some pistols just make me want to weep.

This poor old M1911 has suffered a terrible fate. Not only has it been nickeled, but several of the small parts have been gold plated. Then some miscreant slapped Paraordnance grips on it, tacking them down with Allen head screws for that true custom look.

At one time, this Colt was a proud defender of a US soldier. It would be collectible, even if it had next to no original finish, as long as it was not altered. As a finish worn and scarred up battle veteran, it would have been worth at least $900-$1000, possibly more. With the US Property mark and Colt logo removed, it would still be worth more in it's original finish, however worn it might be. With the surfaces polished and nickeled, the value dropped by half. With the gold trim, the value can be divided by half once again.

Then some guy named J.A. Oiler decided to sign this messterpiece on the right side of the slide.

With each change in this M1911, the value was decreased. But with some nickel on the gilded small parts, and a set of walnut checkered grips, this gaudy gallimaufry might at least be brought into harmony.

Colt M1911

Like the pistol?

Get it on a shirt.

$14.99. You can't beat that.

Courtesy of Oleg Volk.

The $40 M1911A1

I knew I had this Shotgun News advertisement somewhere.

Yes, they used to sell as surplus for under fifty bucks each. Now they start at $500 for extreme beaters, and go solidly over $2000 for excellent examples.



Here's a Colt M1911A1 up for auction on Gun Broker.

Started at $1,660.00

Buy it Now for $1,895.00

Choice

I'm trying to decide on which grips to keep on my parkerized Springfield GI45. Several years ago I swapped a few parts to more closely approximate a WWII vintage M1911A1. I decided on walnut double diamonds back then, and i like the look of them on the pistol.


I have an extra set or two of genuine USGI issue plastic grips from WWII that would make the inexpensive approximation of a GI gun a bit more authentic. I don't like the feel or the appearance quite as much though.


I'm not one to play Barbie doll dress up with my pistols, I usually chose a set of grips and stick with them, but this one has me in a quandry. The more I look at the real deal, the more I like them. Whadaya think?

M1911A1 Grips

I heard today, to my chagrin, that another M1911A1 escaped my grasp. Apparently it was a decent and correct Union Switch & Signal, and an even Cleveland saw it changing hands. I'm kind of bummed because of that.

On the plus side, I recieved two sets of US GI grips today. If you are needing grips to replace non-original or broken ones on your GI pistol, don't bother with ebay or gun shows. They are available for $15 a set at Simpson Ltd.

Maybe these grips will act as a seed.......

History

Ah the agony and joy of having a gun still on one's short list to acquire....... This Colt M1911 was given to a friend of mine by her father. Luckily, she is a shooter and she values the pistol for all the right reasons. A correct World War 1 era M1911 is still a pistol that I hope to acquire someday.

The first rendition of John Moses Browning's most famous handgun is getting more and more difficult to find. The prices have risen such that they are essentially collector's pieces now. Once though to be surplus junk, the prices for usual specimens seem to hover around $2000. Chances are, like a gallon of gasoline, they will not be going down ever again.

The M1911 is history. All the imperfections in the finish, acquired over nearly an entire century add to the allure of the piece. Thus, when a perfect restoration such as this Turnbull restored M1911 appears for sale, I am less than eager to consider it. It's not the $2,999.00 price on the auction that leaves me cold, it's the fact that the gun's history has essentially been erased. Beautiful? Yes. Perfect? No doubt. Interesting? Only if you want to admire the work of a master restorationist instead of the firearm itself. An old gun that has been made to look new just doesn't excite me much. In fact, it kind of saddens me when I think that the owner failed to appreciate the history he held.

By contrast, Colt's reproduction M1911 is rather interesting to me. Because it's a reproduction, not a restoration, the historical aspect is a moot point. It's not a perfect reproduction...... The slide cuts are not the ball cut of the M1911 (although some M1911s had the more gradual cut) and the rollmarks have edges raised above the level of the slide polish; but it is close enough.

When I acquired my a Colt WWI reproduction, I knew it might be a while before I decided to shoot it. To date, I still have not put any lead down range with it. When I finally stick it in my range bag and bring it along, it will begin it's history with me. It is my hope that when it is passed down to it's next owner, that they will value the history they hold as much as my friend values the history in her gun. I suppose I would rather have that than a gun with history erased.

The Sistema Situation

A Sistema Colt is a 1911, that was manufactured Colt specifications, in Argentina on Colt equipment. They meet the same specs as a US Colt that was manufactured in Hartford in 1927. They are solid 1911s with 100% parts interchangeability with other 1911s. One of my carry guns is a modified Sistema. The supply of surplus Sistemas dried up in the Summer of 2006 when the banged up, bare metal and rusty Lipsey's Sistemas arrived on US shores. No Sistemas have been located or imported since in mass volumes for resale.

Since the last Lipsey's Sistema disappeared from the shelves of local gun dealers, I have occasionally glanced across Gun Broker and Auction Arms to review asking and selling prices. It seems, overall, that the asking prices are going up. The selling prices will perhaps follow. Here is what I found.

The California seller of this Sistema does not say much about it, other than giving the serial number and a brief description. The importer's mark is on the forward right portion of the slide. There was only one importer, to my knowledge, that marked their guns there......Lipsey. This pistol also wears old US M1911A1 grips, not the black plastic Sistema grips. It was formerly a police pistol.

There is little doubt this pistol has been refinished. The question is, by who? Re-arsenaled Sistemas, that is Sistemas sent back to FMAP for refinishing during their service life, have long been considered shooters by those who seek out old 1911s. Even though the edges of this pistol are sharp, the importer's mark makes me suspect that it was refinished here in the States after it was sold by Lipseys. Being able to read the importer's mark would tell me for certain. This pistol is being offered for $650. At present, it has no bids.

The next Sistema I noticed is this one from Florida. This seller provides a bit more information.

This is a used Argentine model 1927 in 45 ACP. Very Good condition! It has an arsenal refinish with matching serial numbers except for barrel. It also has colt grips and comes with one magazine. Sorry, but no box or paperwork.

The seller claims an arsenal refinish, but the slide appears to be polished blue, not the dull parkerizing done by FMAP. Further, the hammer and trigger have been replaced with aftermarket parts. At an asking price of $515, the pistol still has no takers.

I thought for a moment that the Florida seller may not have realized the parts replacement, but then, I checked his other auction. It appears to be an arsenal refinished Sistema in very good condition, all original except for the replacement grips. What is striking though, is the seller's description of this pistol.

This is an Argentine Sistema Colt C.F.S. model in 45 acp. This is a hard to find model with the C.F.S. markings that was originally made for the Federal Council of Security, (Consejo Federal de Seguridad). Not many of these were made, especially with the "A" prefix on the serial number. All Serial numbers match on four locations of the gun. This is in very good condition and all markings on gun are clearly unidentifiable.

The seller's apparent failure to spot the differences between the two pistols he has for sale, contrasts remarkably with his knowledge level concerning this particular specimen. His asking price for this one is $775.

The Argentine Colts were never inexpensive surplus weapons, owing to their high quality, absolute parts interchangeability, and their chambering in the popular .45ACP cartridge. Still, because they were refinished and not rollmarked with "US Property" on the receiver, many, if not most collectors shunned them. A decade ago, high condition rearsenaled Sistema Colts were selling from distributors such as JLD Enterprises for as low as $350. Indeed, when I purchased my two Sistemas at a gun show, I paid $230 for one, $225 for the other. Both myself and the dealer thought we had out done the other. I went on to uninhibitedly modify one of the pistols, but I am glad I bought the second and left it alone.

The price of the bottom of the barrel Lipsey's Sistemas was $289.90 plus shipping. The anticipation of their arrival and the poor condition heralded the last of the remaining Sistemas for importation. The price tag reflected the poor condition of the weathered relics, but it also foreshadowed an increase in coming prices as the good condition Sistemas began to escalate in value in a market that was just starting to reminisce on the virtues of the old GI issue M1911A1.

Flying Tigers Pistol

In the Summer of 1941, with a Presidential wink and nod, 300 or so American men infiltrated China as tourists. Their mission was to combat Japanese Imperialist expansion on the Asian continent.

The American Volunteer Group, commonly known as The Flying Tigers, was a singular group of American volunteers, who flew shark faced Curtiss P-40 fighters over China prior to WWII, led by General Claire L. Chennault. The operations of the AVG were clandestine at the time, as the United States had yet to enter into WWII. The AVG is a unique group of warriors, who kept in touch even after the AVG was re-absorbed into the US Army Air Force. The passage of time has unrelentingly decreased their numbers. I have the distinct privilege of being able to call one of Chennault's men a friend.


The AVG had a total of 19 Aces among it's members. They were:
Robert Neale: 13 victories
David Lee "Tex" Hill: 10.25 victories
George Burgard: 10 victories
Robert Little: 10 victories
Charles Older: 10 victories
Robert T. Smith: 8.9 victories
William McGarry: 8 victories
Charles Bond: 7 victories
Frank Lawlor: 7 victories
John Newkirk: 7 victories
Robert Hedman: 6 victories
C. Joseph Rosbert: 6 victories
J. Richard Rossi: 6 victories
Robert Prescott: 5.5 victories
Percy Bartelt: 5 victories
William Bartling: 5 victories
Edmund Overend: 5 victories
Robert Sandell: 5 victories
Robert H. Smith: 5 victories

This is good information to know.

Here is an interesting pistol. It's listed on Gun Broker, and it's being billed as a "bring-back from Berma[sic] used by a U.S. Flying Tigers Ace." The pistol comes complete with an authentic GI issue holster and magazine. The grips on the Remington/UMC M1911 are plastic WWII style grips, but the package includes carved custom grips reminiscent of the work produced in China at the time. It is no doubt an interesting pistol, and possibly a historical M1911. It has a price that corresponds to this, $4,190.00.

It is entirely possible that this pistol was carried over the skies of China by a member of the Flying Tigers. However, at the price asked, a definite provenance should be expected. To many people, including surviving relatives, anyone who strapped on a Curtiss P-40 was an Ace. The status of an Ace is distinct, however. The list is a short one.

Perhaps I should email Dick a photo of this interesting pistol, to see if he remembers it.