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Fellas,

What would you do with this gun? It's now travelled the country in hopes of being made well. I want honest opinions on what you think I should do. Can it be salvaged? Pitting removed without losing rollmarks? Leave as is or build it? The barrel is SHOT (badly pitted and the ramp beat up). The thumb safety sticks. What would you do?

~Jim Keeney

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"I'd rather die on my feet than keep living on my knees." - Emiliano Zapata, Mexican Revolutionary

That thing is just begging for a rebuild and a new lease on life. It would be a great before and after story.

Bill Adair or Doug Turnbull could make that gun look like new.

Some of the pitting could be welded up and trued by a real restoration master.

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"The most effective armor is to keep out of range"-Italian proverb

CHECK OUT MY CUSTOM 1911 BLOG
http://thearsenalofdemocracy.blogspot.com

If it was mine, I'd build it. Especially with the bbl being shot. Not sure on the pitting, one of the smiths will probably have to answer that one. Or you could just save yourself the stress and send it to me.............

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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE
Thunder Ranch THG & UR(x2), Gunsite 250C,
Yavapai Firearms Acad HG1(x2), HG2, & SG,
Shootrite Prvt Inst HG, NRA Life Member

I forgot to answer your question in full.
The gun could be restored, but I would probably leave it as is since a correct replacement barrel, if you could find one, would easily run $200. Also, the restoration involving welding is likely approaching or more than $500 with that level of pitting.

I owned a 1928 colt that was really spectacular inside and out and have a strong affinity for commercial Colts of this era, but it may be easier to find a worn, but unpitted gun if you were looking to restore it.

http://www.restoration-gunsmith.com/

Bill Adair is well respected in the 1911 community and his prices are pretty competitive.

_________________
"The most effective armor is to keep out of range"-Italian proverb

CHECK OUT MY CUSTOM 1911 BLOG
http://thearsenalofdemocracy.blogspot.com

I agree with Gunfighter45...build it! I like the bold, deep roll marks. I wish Colt still did it that way.

Jim,
I dont know how you manage some of the things you find...I like it a lot and Im sure you know already but I say get it restored..Others know far better than I but Im sure there's an craftsman that can do it...You cant leave history lay in a state of disrepair.....

Just my .02

Jim

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"Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." Benjamin Franklin , 1759

I restored several worse than this. It just takes a lot of time. I see no advantage to doing anything but finding a nice Colt "take out" barrel and dropping it in there and do nothing else to it. It is just getting nice! It is far more valuble like it is, and with a decent barrel, it could ride on my hip until the end time.

Jim-
Neat gun. As the others have stated, the gun CAN be restored but it will never bring what you put into it. As you know good work doesn't come cheap. If it was mine I'd slide it down to Sammy and have him look it over, fix the pits, replace parts as needed, and have the coolest RETRO in town!
If you want to get rid of it let me know.
Kendall

Jim,
Interesting post with great pictures. I am inclined to argue for restoration. Further, you may consider a pair of ivory grips after the trip to a restoration oriented smith. Respectfully submitted.

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Regards,
Will M.

Member: NRA (Life) - ORPA (Life) - GSSF (Life) - OFCC (Annual) - Buckeye Firearms Association (Annual)

This presents quite a moral dilemma. The piece is NOT that bad at all considering it was made in the 20's. I'd be tempted to leave it as is because you can always get a series 70 repro to shoot and enjoy.

then again.....a full artistic resto, done by someone like Doug Turnbull would certainly be worth it, inasmuch you'd be showing the piece much love, admiration and a desire to give it a life extension.....


I, personally, would do the restoration......and live with the guilt and joy of it all.....

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I wanted to breathe smoke.....

Fix the reliability issues, add ammo and shoot as is.
Lenny

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Show 'em where you live....

Fellas,

I appreciate all the replies. This gun has given me fits, as it has travelled to three different gunsmiths, an engraver, and two restoration shops. I have spent, literally, over $450 shipping it from place to place, saving a bit by sending just the slide when necessary. The lowest quote I got to fix the slide was $500, and the highest $750. A full restoration would run over $2500. Fixing reliability issues alone would cost about $500, which would include a barrel install. The original barrel was almost unshootable by my standards. Dropping in a Colt take off is something I've never been a fan of. Most Colt barrels I've seen are straight tubes, which means fitting a match bushing is almost impossible, if not a waste of money to do with a non-match barrel in the first place. Yes, some will shoot very well, but call me spoiled. Just changing the cosmetics of a gun without really getting into the mechanical side is something I cannot bring myself to do since I think it should be the other way around. Needless to say, I made up my mind a few months ago after all the efforts and took it back where I should have in the first place, which is Cartersville, VA. It is being built now, and will be engraved in about three months as a gift for a deserving fellow who has really given me a lot of good opportunities. What you will see sometime in the next week is nothing short of amazing. My tastes in 1911s has come about full-circle, and if you remember the WWI repro Dave built for me, this will be something similar, albeit, original and better. I'll post pics as soon as I get the gun in my hands sometime next week.

Alas, I am not restoring it, but improving it considerably.

GOD Bless.

~Jim Keeney

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"I'd rather die on my feet than keep living on my knees." - Emiliano Zapata, Mexican Revolutionary

I had a feeling you were baiting us, with that extensive "before" photo album. Looking forward to the "after" pic.s.

Congatulations in advance as I know this will be nothing short of spectacular. We appreciate you sharing it with us.

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Redeemed

Hey Jim, ol' buddy, ol' pal-

Wait until you see your pistol with the fat gold bead front sight and a set of "pimp" grips. Here's the grips that went on it:

http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/ ... 891_228883

I helped Dave do the work today while I was there. He's letting me work on ALL of your 1911 projects from now on.

I finally got the bondo to stay in the pits. Doesn't look bad at all with the nine coats of hand rubbed KRYLON covering everything.

Al finished up the hammer and nail engraving. He had a lot of trouble staying between the lines, but we put bondo over the mistakes.




Chip

P.S. - It shoots almost as good as my musket.

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Sic Semper Tyrannis

Jim-

You have got to stop wasting Dave's time with all your damaged guns. First the Delta and then this Colt. When is he going to find time to finish my lightweight P-35 and pre-B CZ-75 with all the work you are sending his way?

Seriously, I am sure Dave will do wonders on that Colt and I cannot wait to see the photos. I am sending the 1959 Commercial Colt to him sometime this summer. Thanks for sharing and I really need to meet up with you and the VA guys sometime!

Thanks
Ross

I remember the Repro well, and loved it. You say this one will be even better, so I am dying to see it.

Can't wait to see the finished gun. Were are the repro pictures?

Fellas,

I just got the finished product yesterday evening. I will post pics ASAP. The gun looks GREAT! It feels even better. I'll llikely do a new post when I get the pics taken and up. Look for my name and 1926 Commercial Colt in the heading.

~Jim Keeney

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"I'd rather die on my feet than keep living on my knees." - Emiliano Zapata, Mexican Revolutionary

Jimbobobobobo,

When you get around to taking the pics, remember that on those old Colts the heat treatment was different from front to back.

Yours is no different and is observed in the deiffernce in blueing coloration. Almost imperceptable, but there.

Yes, I fondled the peice

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"No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave."
Calvin Coolidge

Al fondled my piece.

Here's a teaser, folks. I had a bad picture taking day, so I'll get more this weekend. Until then, check the retro post I just put up.





~Jim Keeney

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"I'd rather die on my feet than keep living on my knees." - Emiliano Zapata, Mexican Revolutionary