Ugly Gun Sunday

"This was my very first Tok. I managed to break the slide stop by using it as a prying tool. It still keeps everything together but of course the slide does not hold open on the last shot.
The polish (N.Y.C.) will come off in a little while. I suppose boredom and artistic endeavor collided."

Why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why

The Tokarev TT33 may be a commie gun of the first order, but it doesn't deserve to be made into a hippie gun like this. It is not a VW bus chasing the Grateful Dead! At least give it a fitting death.

The Tokarev TT33 is an extremely interesting single action pistol used by Mother Russia and her troops prior to the adoption of the Makarov. The pistol was developed as a result of continuous trials, held by the Red Army in the late 1920s. The Soviet Army was looking for a new, modern semiautomatic pistol to replace the obsolete Nagant M1895 revolvers and a variety of foreign semi-automatic pistols. Like the M1911, it can be completely field stripped using no tools other than components of the pistol itself.

Russia supplied some countries within the Warsaw Pact with licenses to manufacture the Tokarev TT33. It was produced in China, Hungary, North Korea, Poland, Romania and Yugoslavia, in more or less original forms. Most military TT pistols of non-Soviet manufacture were also in 7.62mm, with some commercial export versions available in 9x19mm Luger. A couple of years ago, Polish Tokarevs were imported to the U.S. in pristine condition and marketed at very attractive prices.

Here is an article that I wrote on the Tokarev TT33 back in 2006:

"Ever have a pistol catch your eye just because it was so damned ugly? That is what the Tokarev TT33 did to me. The Tok has to be one of the homeliest pistols ever made. The Tula Tokarev is a short recoil operated, locked breech pistol. It uses the Browning swinging link system, borrowed from the Colt 1911 pistol, modified with barrel lugs cut on a lathe to simplify production. The single action trigger has no safeties, other than disconnector to prevent out-of-battery fire, and a half-cock notch on the hammer. Recently US imported Toks have a retrofitted manual safety either in front of, or behind the left grip. These safeties are third world Bubba stuff. Don't trust them. The only safe way to carry a TT is with an empty chamber. The hammer/sear assembly was cleverly made as a single unit, easily detachable for cleaning and maintenance. The magazine holds 8 cartridges. Interestingly, the feed lips are on the detachable hammer/sear assembly, making even banged up magazines serviceable. Fixed sights were factory zeroed for 25 meters. The pistol uses a bottlenecked 7.62X25 cartridge. This is a very hot round, reported to fall somewhere between the .357 and .44 magnum in power. It was designed to penetrate thick coats in Siberia.

I got my chance at a Tokarev TT33 when SOG advertised Polish models for $129. These were listed as good to very good condition. They came with one magazine. I placed my order late, when SOG only had three left in stock. I did not pay for handpicking.

My pistol arrived two days later wrapped in newspaper in a cardboard box. It had the retrofitted safety in front of the left grip, and soft plastic grips with a thumbrest to ease importation restrictions. It had a minuscule IAI import mark on the left of the dustcover. The condition was apparently unissued. There was no bluing wear, although it did have a small amount of freckling. It still had cosmoline all through it. It had the Circle 11 Radom factory proof, along with a 1952 date on the top of the slide. All numbers matched. Fit and finish was similar to a Makarov. For $129 it was a very pretty ugly gun. I took the gun home, detailed it and lubed it up.

Later at the range I bought 100 rounds of Winchester 7.62X25 ammo and 50 rounds of Sellier & Bellot. Ammo was $11 and $9 per box respectively. Both had 85 grain bullets. Surplus stuff may be cheaper at a gun show, but some extremely hot 7.62X25 surplus ammo is out there that a Tokarev shooter must be aware of. Nine millimeter Parabellum barrels and magazines are available for the TT33. Fitting these would allow the use of less expensive ammunition.

The Tokarev pistol shot well, but required a firm grip to prevent stovepipes initially. This cleared up after the first 50 rounds. I had one failure to extract in which the primer was blown off the cartridge. I had to rod that shell casing out of the chamber. It was intact. I cleaned the chamber and continued shooting. I was surprised at the Tokarev's accuracy. The hot cartridge, long sight radius and tall sights combined to make an accurate pistol. It shot easy two inch groups at 25 feet. The trigger was crisp with about 6 pounds of pull. It had no creep. If I concentrated on my trigger work, I could bring the groups down to an inch and a half. The rear of the magazine did chew my hand a bit on recoil. Recoil was straight back, or so it seemed. The muzzle flash was an attention getter.

I did not like the cheap plastic import grips, so I ordered some proper commie grips from Numrich. Those grips arrived without the pivoting metal clips that hold them on. I spent an evening making new metal clips out of a putty knife blade and riveting them to the grips. After a bit of fitting, I had commie grips.

While cleaning the pistol, I lost the detent ball for the safety. The pistol was designed without a safety, and relying on the make shift safety it possessed was a bad idea in my opinion. I pinned it in place. Removal of the safety would have resulted in a hole in the frame.

The Tokarev TT33 is not really useful as a modern weapon. It's only redeeming value is that of a curiosity. As the sidearm of our enemies during the Cold War it has some historical interest. It is an unusual interpretation of Browning's design. For the person who enjoys collecting as well as shooting handguns, these are reasons enough to own the Tokarev. If you are wanting an inexpensive and reliable shooter, the Makarov may serve you better."

Tokarevs are interesting pistols that shoot a hot cartridge. Importation has ceased, and they seem to be selling for between $250 and $300 in the U.S. now. 7.62X25 ammunition has become more common in the United States. If you like interesting mil-surp handguns, and you see a Tok at a decent price, buy it.

The Astra 400

I remember seeing the advertisements for the Astra 400 in Shot Gun News. That was a while back. Surplus M1911A1s were still on the market, and it seems like Nixon was yet to resign. Nobody back then would buy a twenty dollar pistol chambered in a funky 9mm Largo when a combat proven 45 could be had for just a bit more. The Spanish Modelo 1921 had a hard time finding a market back then. I remember examining a strange tubular type pistol at gunshows, and putting it back on the table every time. The strange surplus gun remained a gun show staple for at least half a decade.

Over the years, the prices rose from twenty bucks to over two hundred, and that was when the pistol was readily available from any dealer. A twenty dollar pistol. Yeah..... I should have bought.

While I was perusing Gun Broker I found this example....

"This weapon I think was used during the Spanish Civil War. Note the Hammer and Sickle on one side of the grips and "Viva La Repulica" on the other side of grips. Weapon still has original box, 2 boxes of ammunition and original shipping box (Shipped from Klein's Sporting Goods in Chicago)."

I don't know if the carvings are authentic or not, but the pistol is certainly interesting. It does seem strange that the cardboard box would survive with a well weathered sidearm of a South American revolutionary. Chances are the pistol was placed in the box for importation.

I doubt that I would have shot this pistol much, if at all, since the 9mm Largo ammunition is not readily available. I suppose some folks would ask what the purpose is in having a pistol you would not shoot. Well, to me it's kind of like having money you don't spend. The possibility of shooting the pistol is always there. The pistol is more interesting to hold and wonder about than currency. And for any price under $100, I would not be having any regrets.

Since I have never owned one, I still don't know much about the Astra 400, except I wish I had purchased one back then. Today these pistols usually change hands for $250 or so, a little more for well preserved examples with the box. Handguns are not getting any cheaper. If I see one today that interests me, I purchase it.

Steampunk Guns and the Nagant Revolver

I was cruising the web looking at some of the fantasy steampunk ray guns while searching for ugly guns. The coolest, in my opinion was the Victorious Mongoose 1902a - concealable ray pistol. It is, of course, pure fantasy.

The Victorious Mongoose operates on the extremely sophisticated scientific principals pioneered in Dr. Grordbort's full size weapons; Aether Oscillation, Atomic Vibratulation, high pitch whining noises, all these techniques were used, and more.

But, despite its humble proportion, the pistol packs quite a whollop. Able to project a conical emission for up to seventeen yards, the Victorious Mongoose will obliterate four pounds of Budgerigars in three fascinating seconds.

While all steampunky and everything, it struck me that the real thing is frequently overlooked by the folks that enjoy these brass and steel creations. I have to admit that I was shocked by the price tag on this prop toy as well. US $535.

The Nagant 1895 revolver is one such gun. Designed by Léon Nagant, a Belgian industrialist, the Nagant M1895 is a military revolver that has a gas seal between the cylinder and forcing cone. The cylinder actually moves forward to seal off the cylinder gap prior to cartridge ignition. Because the ignition gases do not escape the cylinder gap, the Nagant is one of the few revolvers that is able to be effectively suppressed, giving an assassin a handgun that will not spew brass or make much noise. Suppressed Nagant revolvers were used by the Viet Cong, and a suppressed Nagant revolver resides in the CIA Museum in Langley, Virginia.

A couple of years ago, many of these historical weapons were imported and sold as surplus in the United States. Cursed with obscure, weak and expensive ammunition, as well as a heavy trigger pull, they were not popular sellers. Still, they sold readily in like new condition with the original holsters and lanyards for under $100. If you are interested in getting a Nagant revolver of your own, the revolver is still available with the holster and tools from Aim Surplus. They have 7.62 Nagant ammunition as well.

Surplus Nagant 1895 Parts

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

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.

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.

The British Victory Model

In 1941, the British Isles witnessed the evil sweeping through Europe. With the Brits facing the Nazi blitzkrieg alone, Smith & Wesson stepped forward to supply the Limeys with the sidearms necessary to fight back. Between October 1941 and May 1945 over 570,000 of these military issue revolvers were shipped all over the globe on a "lend-lease" program to the British Empire.

Commonly called "British Victories" by some, the revolvers shipped to our future allies are more properly referred to as Smith & Wesson Model K-200 or .38/200 British Service Revolvers. Like the Victory Models later issued to American troops, the K-200 was a Model of 1905 with a rougher, sandblast blue finish, although early models received a polished or brushed blue finish. Most sported plain walnut grips, but some early K-200s had checkered grips. Unlike the US version, the K-200 had a five inch barrel, and was chambered in .38 S&W, a shorter cartridge, slightly larger in diameter than the ubiquitous .38 special. On the butt was a pivoting lanyard ring. In addition to being stamped "US Property" on the top strap, the British Service Revolvers have British proof marks as well as the occasional proof marks of other countries. Some even had "Not Made In England" stamped into their frames, in spite of a corresponding "Made In USA" rollmark from Smith & Wesson.

After the war, Great Britain disarmed, and many of the revolvers were returned to the United States as surplus over the years. Sadly, quite a few of them were converted to .38 special by reaming out the chambers. Alas, the chambers were too large in diameter for the .38 special, and ruptured shell casings were commonplace on firing them after this conversion.

In addition to the rechambering, some were butchered even further, receiving new ramped front sights on chopped barrels, and a chrome finish to make them more attractive to the US market. The returning K-200s were sold for between $25 and $35. Today, unmolested examples in Very Good to Excellent condition often command prices between $375 and $500. Original accessories can drive the price up a bit more.

I still hope to find a K-200 in unmolested form, as well as a pimped up, chopped and chromed version for a fair price. Somehow, I think I had better buy while the buying is good.

More

The Smith & Wesson M-13 Aircrewman

Experts say there are more fakes of this revolver on the market than real ones. The value is so high that fakers are willing to risk felony time just to alter a serial number to get a fake gun lettered as authentic. The Smith & Wesson M-13 Aircrewman was produced from 1953 to 1954 with an aluminum six shot cylinder. In 1954, the cylinder was changed to steel. There were approximately 40,000 produced, with nine known variations, and almost all were destroyed by the U.S. government. The cylinder had an objectionable habit of turning into a grenade when the cartridge inside it ignited. Production ceased in 1957.

M-13 Aircrewman revolvers were given serial numbers within the range of other production K frame revolvers such as the Model 12 Airweight. Some of these commercial models, with serial numbers in the correct range, where given fake markings to make them appear similar to an Aircrewman. Unscrupulously reproducing the stampings on the aluminum frame is pretty easy. The barrel markings are more difficult to forge. M-13 Aircrewman barrels were marked on the right side with "AIRCREWMAN" over the ".38 Special CTG". The caliber marking is in smaller type than commercial models. Serial numbers range from C247,000 to C405,363, but serial numbers of genuine demilled examples are best kept secret lest a felonious faker usurp the numerals for his "representative example" and then seek to have result lettered by Roy Jinks. Suffice to say, Aircrewmen with an AF prefix change hands in the $5000 range.

The M-13 Aircrewman and holster pictured here are genuine, the real deal. Alas, they are not mine. Most of us will never be so lucky as to find this revolver gathering dust on a pawnbroker's shelf. Marilyn Monroe is more likely to knock on our door and lavish us with a lifetime supply of ammunition and free gun cleaning services.

I was, however, fortunate enough to receive a M-13 Aircrewman. Mine, is regrettably the result of John Kennedy's administration trying to protect our fly boys. It was crushed to insure it would never be fired. Then it was sold off as scrap.

The "Property of U.S. Air Force" markings on the backstrap and the "Revolver, Lightweight-M13" markings on the top strap are still intact, as is the inspector's mark. The C prefixed serial number falls within the correct range. Because it is a crushed example, it is almost certainly the real article. It is inconceivable that a faker would fake a crushed frame. I will guard the serial number to prevent it from being used fraudulently. I was offered this chunk of aluminum by a friend who spotted it at a gun show. I happily accepted it, and placed it into my collection of revolvers, right beside a crushed Victory Model.

If you believe you have an Aircrewman in your possession, one of your best recourses is to post photos of the revolver on the S&W Forum for evaluation. Then consult the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson for more information. Finally, get the revolver lettered. If you are buying even then confirm and consult as much as possible.

As I was photographing my M-13 along with an ejection handle I had brought home from my military service as a souvenir, I noticed the "Smith & Wesson Lifetime Service Policy" emblazoned on the blue counter mat. I wonder.........

From the Wife's Collection

My wife-mate enjoys collecting and shooting curio and relic firearms, primarily rifles. She enjoys the rifles most because they have more wood to bear the scars of use. Yes, she seeks out the battle scarred Mausers. Several times I have intercepted a sale in which she was forking over $150 for a Turk that would cause a Khyber Pass pawnbroker to blush with shame. I don't get angry when sellers do this, I just explain to her that the same rifle is available for $80 less elsewhere. She might like battle beaten wood, but she likes a bargain better. As we walk away from the table or counter, the price usually quickly drops to acceptable limits.

Many are surprised at what these old war horses can accomplish. I remember a couple of years back when she took the old Lee Enfield to the range and out shot the good ol' boys scoping in their deer rifles. Carteach0 had a similar experience over the weekend. How sweet it is!

The Red Navy Victory

Some Smith & Wesson Victory revolvers bear a US Navy stamp below the thumb piece. Often, this stamp is filled with red paint by the Navy to enhance visibility. Sailors have a habit of painting everything.......

This type of marking has been faked with some regularity by a nefarious west coast seller, claiming they are producing "representative" examples. Such a property mark increases the revolvers market value by double to triple. The only way to be certain such a revolver is actually "Navy" is to get a letter from Roy Jinks.

Old German Iron

Pictured at top is a 1910 Imperial Cavalry Luger. My wife inherited it from her father. Original Luger pistols are handfitted, with many of the small parts individually serial numbered to the pistol. This particular one is all matching. To break one part that bears a serial number would seriously devalue the pistol. As a result, it is one of the few pistols that I own but do not shoot.

Below is a Walther P1. The P1 is basically the same pistol as the P38, but with a lightweight aluminum frame. These frames sometimes crack,leading to the preventitive modification of a hexagon shaped steel stud being placed through the frame. This pistol was never modified. It cost $189 back when I purchased it in 2003. They are still available at AIM.

The Crushed Victory

Ever since I read of the destroyed Victory Models in John Henwood's book, I have wanted one. These were often sold at gunshows with the spurious story that they were run over by a tank. It seems a lot of tanks were running over Victory Models in WWII! The truth is, these revolvers were destroyed by our own government. The contract between the US government and Smith & Wesson for the Victory Model revolvers specified that the government would not sell the guns as surplus when the war was over. This protected Smith & Wesson from struggling in a gun market flooded with their own revolvers, as had happened after WWI with the M1917.

Thus, as excess Victory Models were removed from service, most were destroyed rather than sold. Comparatively few Victory Models reached the general public as functional guns. Government agents oversaw the destruction of most of these arms. An ordnance officer was required to be present as a steam powered hammer crushed each of these perfectly serviceable revolvers in three places; on the barrel, the cylinder, and the triggerguard. The remains were then sold as scrap metal.

Several enterprising firms purchased the scrap in bulk, and resold them as gun parts. The crushed Victory Models were usually priced under ten dollars each in 1980, and even included the grips, and lanyard loop. Either would cost over ten bucks today.

When I saw this stripped crushed Victory on a table at a recent gun show, I wanted it for two reasons.....First, the historical aspect, but secondly it is a US Navy rollmarked version, and it will help me avoid counterfeit US Navy Victory Models in the future. I asked the seller what he wanted for it, and I was relieved to not hear the old tank running over the gun story. The seller simply said twenty bucks. I handed it back to him with the comment that I could find one with a cylinder and grips for that amount. I turned to leave, and he asked "How much will you give me?" I told him it was worth ten bucks to me to be able to place it in a display of M&P revolvers. He thought a minute, and considered that he had gotten everything off the revolver he wanted, and agreed to my price. Call me crazy.

Call Me Crazy........

I was reading about these demilled Victory Models in John Henwood's book last night. In 1979 they sold for $8.95 each or ten for $75. Call me crazy.......I want one, or two, or three......

Lipsey Sistemas

The advertisements began to appear in Shotgun News and Gunlist in February 2006. Sistemas. Colt 1911s produced in Argentina to GI specs by the Fabrica Militar de Armas Portatiles. These fine firearms were long believed to have dried up on the surplus market. At least three thousand were found by Lipsey's out of Baton Rouge Louisiana. The condition was listed as NRA Good. The price was $289.90 plus $17.50 flat rate shipping. Estimated date of arrival was June. The C&R gun forums were ablaze with updates and speculation regarding these incoming Colts. Some people placed orders for two or three. All were sold before the container reached an American pier.

I almost ordered one or two. The only thing that kept me from it was I already owned two Sistemas, one of which I modified into my carry gun.

Nevertheless, I kept an interested eye on the C&R forums. First, Lipsey's began to charge credit cards before they had the pistols. Then delivery was postponed. Finally, on July 12, 2006, a C&R forum member went to Lipsey's and picked up his pistol himself. He posted photos of what he received in a forum thread. He revealed that his three pistols had all seen heavy use. The finish was long gone, replaced by bright metal and rust. There was pitting. The grips were worn smooth. There was an ugly import stamp on the left side of the slide. These were not the same rearsenaled Sistemas that JLD Enterprises had sold several years back. These pistols were pigs, in a poke.

The angry online handwringing began and many people canceled orders before their pistols even shipped. Others adopted a wait and see approach. When they arrived, the pistols all seemed to be in similar condition. Lipsey's has adopted a money back guarantee approach on these pistols. They decided to waive their usual 10% restocking fee. Many pistols were returned.

Some of these pistols will no doubt be sold for $289. If I were in Baton Rouge, I might just buy one for that. I am certain I will see them on the gun show tables for $400 in a couple of months. They are already showing up on Gun Broker. Sooner or later somebody will ask my opinion. The JLD Sistemas were worth the $389-399 that was charged. These pistols are not. If I could buy one for $250 total though, I'd probably bite. I'd just want one with plenty of "character'.

Dust My Broom

Another visual meme has begun at Ride Fast Shoot Straight. It's a series of pics of "mantle guns". Wall hangers. Display weaponery.

My first example is a Mauser 1896 Broom proudly displayed and gathering dust with my grandfather's helmet from the war to end all wars.

The other is an SMLE my wife bought at a gunshow years ago. She loves the old C&R rifles, and actually will pay more for a beat up example. She says those have more character. I try to teach, I really do......... She shot this old warhorse several times before she hung it up. To the amazement of a group of hunters scoping in their deer rifles, the little lady with the old Lee-Enfield was popping bullseyes with open sights at 50 yards.


If you have a mantle gun or wallhanger, snap a pic of it and link it to Ride Fast Shoot Straight.

Star Modelo B Range Report

I purchased my Star Modelo B back in 2004 from SOG. At that time they were still plentiful, and they could be had for the paltry sum of $139. As with most surplus military weapons, the pistol I received had some mileage on it. My initial inspection was rather disappointing. The pistol had cheap plastic grips and no lanyard loop. The bluing was 90%, which was very nice, but it had pitting around the grips and on the muzzle end of the slide. The magazine was packed with cosmoline. The rifling was this pistol's saving grace. The rifling was like new, bright, shiny and sharp. The barrel was marked Cal.08 with a P inside a bomb proofmark on the chamber. The barrel and slide lugs were sharp, with no wear. In fact, the frame rails still had bluing all the way down them! My new pistol had a CAI import mark approximately 1mm high under the slide stop hole on the right side of the frame. While I was somewhat disappointed with the pitting on this pistol, as well as the lack of wooden grips or a lanyard loop, I accepted it with a knowledge that I would likely not be as lucky with a replacement pistol.

The pistol was not without problems from being stored for so long. The detent ball in the slide stop was rusted in place, allowing the piece to lock the slide open halfway through a magazine of ammo. After soaking the slide stop in automatic transmission fluid for several days, the detent ball loosened, and the problem resolved.

I purchased the Star Modelo B to give me a pistol that had the same manual of arms as the 1911, but with a less expensive cartridge to shoot. The Modelo B is, of course, chambered in 9mm Para. The pistol is accurate, and reasonably easy to aim with the smallish sights. Trigger pull is consistent at approximately 4 pounds, with the slightest bit of creep after take-up. The pistol is capable of shooting one inch groups at 30 feet if I am up to the challenge. It has no hammer bite.

The Star Modelo B is not a 1911A1 despite it's superficial resemblance to one. The trigger pivots at the top, and has a trigger bar that actuates the sear. The thumb safety works on the hammer, not the sear, and can be engaged with the hammer cocked or down. There is no grip safety. The action of the pistol is closer to a Beretta 951 than a 1911. The firing pin protudes past the breechface with the hammer down, and would be resting on a cartridge's primer. Condition 2 is not an option with this pistol. Magazines are not widely available. I was fortunate enough to find one at a gunshow for $10. The bocote grips presently on the pistol came from The Grip Guys.

When I purchased my Star pistol, I had read all the internet rumors about soft Spanish steel. I decided for the money I could take the risk. Over the past two years this pistol has been shot a lot. It has seen well over 3000 rounds with no evidence of peening or failures. In fact, the pistol has functioned flawlessly, once the slide stop problem was resolved. I knew when I purchased this pistol that it would become a trainer for my daughter, once she was ready for 9mm. The gun has performed that job admirably. It has been a fun gun for me, and a gun to move up to for her. That's a hell of a lot of gun for $139.

Smith & Wesson Modelo 1917

One of the more interesting guns I found at the gun show today was a Smith & Wesson Model 1917 from Brazil. In 1937, 25 thousand Smith & Wesson .45ACP Hand Ejectors were purchased by the Brazilian government. These fall in the 181983-207043 serial number range. The Brazilian guns have a Brazilian star seal with 1937 beneath it. There were actually two separate shipments, one in 1938, and another in 1946.
These revolvers shipped to Brazil with plain grips, a serrated trigger, and a lanyard ring. In 1990, a large quantity returned to the United States, and bear the importer's mark. They generally sell for 50-75% under a US Property marked S&W 1917 according to Supica's Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson.
The example at the show had no remaining finish, and no importer's mark. It also sported diamond magna grips, and came with no moon clips to hold the .45ACP ammo. The seller was wanting $400 for his revolver. It was interesting, but I did not give a counter offer. I could not even come close, and I did not want to insult the man.