I wouldn't want to shoot it. It's made about as cheaply as a revolver can be - cast frame, poor machining, no swing-out cylinder, no extractors, cheap firing pin design, snub-nosed barrel, good-for-nothing .32 cal ..... look closely at it:



By comparison, here's an antique S&W .32 cal revolver that belonged to my grandfather - It's not good for anything except concealment, either - but at least it's a quality weapon that you might be able to hit something with at close range without killing yourself first...... I really need to have it re-chromed:




Frank

I've checked all of the markings on the M1911A1 against a reference guide - as far as I can tell, it's 100% unmolested original issue Colt.... frame, slide, grips and trigger group. I'm not certain the magazine is Colt manufactured, but it is WWII standard issue. I've field stripped it, brass-brushed the bore, cleaned and oiled it - it works great - slick action and looks fine - no refinishing will be done on it:




Curtis, do you have an instruction set for complete disassembly? I'd like to take it all the way down for inspection and a full cleaning.

Frank

Huh. Interesting. Thanks Frank <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

AWESOME!!! I will dig around for an online 1911 guide. I also surf a "gun" forum, and there are some 1911 experts over yonder.

My gosh that 1911 is a wonderful find. I envy you. I think you're making a good call on the Titanic revolver, though. That revolver looks like it could be a guessing-game whether or not it'd hold up to much firing at all.

I don't think you mentioned it: were either of them loaded when you found them? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />

What about keeping the cheapy as a "historical piece"? I kow they can blow up your face but it might have its place in a collection.

I had a few cheapos in my time. Swanson, Lorcin, ETC. I'd imagine after many decades they would at least be good for specimens in a collection as they were no good to shoot. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

I also had a Spanish .32 of which I thought was decent.

Thanks, Curtis - the last 1911 I completely disassembled was in Army ROTC weapons class in about 1963, so I don't trust my memory with the little bits. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />



Joe, no - but there were a couple of .32 long rounds found that fit the revolver. Just the day before, I found a few .38 +P rounds that I can use in another pistol..... and a couple of weeks ago I found a full box of S&W .40 FMJ flat-nose cartridges.... I gave those to a Lieutenant I know at the county Sherrif's department who's in charge of crime investigation.



Chris, no...... I really don't want to shoot it, don't want it and don't want to throw it away so a crook or crackhead can get it to use. Most law-abiding folks that I know have an appreciation for well-made firearms and would never buy something like that. It's a disposable weapon like so many on the street that can be bought for a few bucks. If all weapons cost more than $200, we probably wouldn't have as much crime.... and most folks won't sell a quality weapon for that. I suppose that's being discriminatory, but it's just the way I see it. It's easier for a crackhead to buy a cheap pistol than it is to steal one, but it's harder for him to buy a nice weapon than a cheap one. It wouldn't eliminate all crime, but I think it would help if the cheapos were kept off the street by a combination of not allowing them to be made, destroying those that are found and requiring manufacturing standards on those that are deemed ok to manufacture.

Frank

I don't know Frank, did you type that last post from your Iphone while have a double non-fat latte at star bucks. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

There are a lot of honest poor people that need a cheap weapon. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

Thread the barrel, and make a shifter knob out it Frank. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

That Colt cleaned up pretty nicely Frank; good on ya. Yeah, if the po-po wanted to junk stuff, I'd give 'em that ol' clunker .32 and they'd be none the wiser.

Ver' nice find; glad the Colt is with someone who appreciates it. Didn't get that rig off an estate sale did ya?