So... any of our members here have an interest in firearms?

JimInOz · Mar 31, 2022

Wryfox
...........

Married up the slide with a WWI(1918) 1911 Frame that I had(cool story itself, I have written about that one awhile ago in this thread),.............

The patina on that frame is amazing🥰.
Were the WW1 era frames originally phosphated or blued?

SkunkPrince · Mar 31, 2022

JimInOz
The patina on that frame is amazing🥰.
Were the WW1 era frames originally phosphated or blued?

Fire blued. Phosphate didn't come until about 1942.

Edited to add: Carbonia process.

Waltesefalcon · Mar 31, 2022

@JimInOz here is my commercial Model O made in 1915. It still has a decent amount of blue and was finished the same way as the military ones. Below it is one of the original trial guns in an exceptionally well preserved state, and you can see just how good the blue was on these.

Wryfox · Apr 1, 2022

Re the bluing, I didn't realize how blue the slide was until I put the patina'd frame on it. Wow. The blue is very deep blue, almost black. It's very hard to show this in the pics. It's like the Browning royal blue but darker. Doesn't seem to have aged a bit! 👍

Wryfox · Apr 1, 2022

SkunkPrince
Fire blued. Phosphate didn't come until about 1942.

Edited to add: Carbonia process.

As I have now read, the bluing was changed early on from a shiny blue(like a royal blue), to a dull blue. Which makes this slide even more interesting, as it was made well after the change. I suspect the special presentation examples simply used the original shiny blue process to look nicer.

Wryfox · Apr 7, 2022

I was at my local gun shop a few days ago, and saw these on display. I asked about them and he said they were customer guns destroyed by hand loaded ammo. So if you hand load your own, be extra careful. These are a good reminder to pay close attention.

Two are Rugers, known for being quite hardy, strong guns. A 357 magnum and 44 magnum. The other is a S&W 44magnum. Since I also handload, I also know it is hard to overfill magnums when using the right powder, so these likely failed by using the *wrong* powder. Probably a faster burning powder used for more benign calibers, which odd as it may seem, will cause this sort of damage over slower 'magnum powders'.

noelekal · Apr 7, 2022

Shame about that 4-inch tapered barrel Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum. That was a good 'un.

64Wing · Apr 7, 2022

Debating a custom order from Wilson Combat at the end of the year. Seems easier to achieve than a BLRO to commemorate a career achievement.

Anyone have any experience with a custom from Wilson?

SkunkPrince · Apr 7, 2022

I do not but I have a related question...

Why do people get 1911s that cost so much for carry, when a GI gun is perfectly suited for that? I understand for competition purposes a tight pistol with fancy accessories helps you win but I actually took conceal carry training with a 1918 Colt. Its slide to frame fit is... generous, but a better man than I am can shoot it quite well indeed.

Mind you, how you spend your money is your business, but it just confuses me. My Remington R1S is set up just like a WWII M1911A1. It's a little tight, but it works fine. But I'd take the old Colt if I needed to.

noelekal · Apr 8, 2022

I considered ordering up a custom 1911 when I retired. I havs handled a few examples of popular customs and have shot exactly one of them on an occasion. After consideration I determined that it would be more entertaining to try to finish a complete collection of Colts in every caliber for which they factory chambered their Government Model. Somehow, looking at the respected custom 1911 makers' websites put me off the idea. I found I didn''t admire the supposed advantages of their craftsmanship and took a dim view of their ideas for modifications and "improvements" of a basic pistol which has always provided me with such satisfaction.

Wryfox · Apr 8, 2022

Speaking of fancy custom 1911s.....this is one of my favorites, and I haven't even shot it. Mostly because I'm not worthy yet.😎

Always wanted one but I didn't order from the maker, but rather as new condition from an estate sale. A very lucky find. For a whole lot less than the Baer $4000 price tag

Why? A few reasons...

1) It has the COOLEST NAME IN THE WORLD. "Les Baer Ultimate Master Combat Pistol". How frickin cool is that? You need to use ammo loaded with testosterone rather than gunpowder.

2) On top of that, its 6". That's 1" better than the regular Ultimate Master Combat Pistol.

3) I met Les 10 yrs ago at the SHOT show. I asked him what he thought of Wilson Combat saying their pistols don't need to be broken in like a Les Baer does. Les answered angrily that Wilson wished his guns were as good as his, and that Wilsons will only last 10k rounds before they break. Baers will last 50k easy and he's proven it (his finger wagging in my face the whole time). Tall words for sure, Les definitely had some balls. Made me want one all the more.
It really is an awesome looking pistol. Hard to capture in a photo.🥰

64Wing · Apr 8, 2022

Fair questions. I suppose at this stage I'm just considering the option. My shooting capabilities wouldn't bring any increased level of performance from the custom rig vs a cheaper alternative, but we like shiny things. Where I seem to differ from a lot of other gun people is that I approach my collection with a mindset of: a small assortment of really nice pieces rather than a closet full of everything. Do I want ALL the guns? Sure. Am I gonna buy that many? No.

Heck I always wanted to build a 1911 at home but I'd be nervous I'd screw it up and have to start over $$$. I suppose though, considering the price of a Wilson or Baer I could ruin a few Caspian frames and slides and still be under what I'd have paid for the pros to build one for me.

Rodentman · Apr 8, 2022

Korth Ranger .357. Came with interchangeable cylinder for 9mm (no moon clips). I am still working on "Learning About Money"

Wryfox · Apr 8, 2022

64Wing
Fair questions. I suppose at this stage I'm just considering the option. My shooting capabilities wouldn't bring any increased level of performance from the custom rig vs a cheaper alternative, but we like shiny things. Where I seem to differ from a lot of other gun people is that I approach my collection with a mindset of: a small assortment of really nice pieces rather than a closet full of everything. Do I want ALL the guns? Sure. Am I gonna buy that many? No.

Heck I always wanted to build a 1911 at home but I'd be nervous I'd screw it up and have to start over $$$. I suppose though, considering the price of a Wilson or Baer I could ruin a few Caspian frames and slides and still be under what I'd have paid for the pros to build one for me.

I built a number of 1911s back in the 90s. To build a really good one requires incredible patience, skill, and LOTS of time. I buggered up 3 or 4 before i got to where I thought one would be a superior shooter. I was just going through my old box of of f'd up 1911 parts the other day. Forgot I had it...and the memories came back, with a shudder. I would only recommend it if you had an intense burning desire to do it.

Below is my final example. Probably has 100hrs in it, easy. In fact I just handmade the grips on it a few years ago, after 20yrs with red cocobolo. Now I consider it finished.👍

64Wing · Apr 8, 2022

Wryfox
I would only recommend it if you had an intense burning desire to do it.

Winter is 8+ months here...figure that's a good enough reason for a project I could do indoors

Wryfox · Apr 15, 2022

So here's a little honey...got it at a Pawn Shop who got in a bunch of police trade in guns. $199 each. Most were junky throw down guns taken off criminals, but this one stuck out in the back corner of the display. I seriously doubt this was a confiscated gun, but probably one they had at the station that they just added in to the lot because its an old duty gun found in a drawer or somewhere.

Anyway, its a Colt Official Police 38, made in 1931. The bluing is virtually perfect, 98+% easy as the only wear is the very tip of the muzzle, No wear on the cylinder so it likely never touched a holster. In fact, it appears unfired. No powder or lead fouling, or wear on the bolt at all. Bore is like a mirror. The only thing added is the adjustable match sights (which were std on the heavy barrel model but not this one), and the grips.

So check out the grips. "Duel Duty", Interesting, eh? Holds 6 extra cartridges. Patent Number shown was granted in1950. Neato!

View attachment 1401286

Waltesefalcon · Apr 15, 2022

That's a nice one. It looks like someone was trim to replicate the OMT's target sights, is the rear one adjustable?

noelekal · Apr 15, 2022

Give ya' yer money back for it and I'll pay shipping.

I like me some vintage Colt-ness and that'll do nicely.

Wryfox · Apr 15, 2022

Waltesefalcon
That's a nice one. It looks like someone was trim to replicate the OMT's target sights, is the rear one adjustable?

Front is height adjustable, rear is fixed but in a drift slot so a tap or two with a punch adjusts it.

noelekal · Apr 15, 2022

Drift rear sight is fine. I'd sight it in to shoot 2.8 grains of Bulls Eye or 3.0 grains of Winchester 231 beneath a 148 grain lead hollow base wadcuter and be happy. Lot of entertainment value available with that fine revolver Wryfox!

Your new acquisition would go well with these 1950s Colt Officers Model Match revolvers. A .22 Long Rifle from 1953 and a .38 Special from 1957. That .38 is the most accurate center fire handgun I own and the .22 Colt revolver rivals the High Standard Supermatic Trophy on hand here for most accurate rim fire handgun.

Both your new revolver and these two are fully as fine as the much vaunted and severely overrated Python and I'd prefer any of the three over it.

OOOooo... did he really say that?!!!