North American Arms #19?

[PhillipM]

I went by a little local gunshow today and saw NAA #19 under glass with several other pistols labeled as very rare, one of 100, $21,000.

I was just curious if it's legit or a known fake.

[Tuna]

How was the finish on it? I was told that the finish on the known originals has not lasted well at all and that even the one or two in museums have had the finish deteriorate. I do not know how accurate this is but it might be one way to tell if it is accurate.

[PhillipM]

It has more finish than not. I'll try to get a pic of it tomorrow.

[oldcanuck]

If it's right.... that's half price.......

[Michael Tompkins]

Saw one about 10 years ago and National Gun Day in Louisville, KY. It was $20,000 and had about 50 percent finish. Do not know what serial no. it was. Mike

[oldcanuck]

The black copper oxide finish that NAA started to use for production was about as durable as Colt's 'Black Army' finish. They both were very fragile to say the least.

I have NAA #55 in my collection that exhibits about 75% finish remaining. I observed a very simillar example at NGD in Louisville in Feb. for $45,000.-

[Rob Greer]

Wish we could learn more about this pistol (#19)... if correct, it is in a very small club. I know of 24 North American pistols but I don't know how many of these 24 are correct. (Most of these S/N's came from a published list in Meadows.)

[Johnny P]

There wasn't a "Black Army" finish. Colt used the same oven bluing method as the previous gas oven blued guns, but the surface preparation and bluing operation was speeded up resulting in a less durable finish. Remington-UMC suffered from the same fragile finish.

What is the black copper oxide finish as used by NAA? This would appear to be a hot caustic blue.

[PhillipM]

I compared the pistol to 77 at m1911info.com and in my amateur opinion, it's been refinished and the slide markings are not as deeply struck, possibly due to refinishing. I did not see a 19 on the trigger. The dealer said he bought it from a collector that also owns #89.

Dealer contact info: http://gunlocators.net/contact.htm

[Johnny P]

While the 19 looks like it was stamped, the slide legend has the appearance of being pantographed.

[westgard]

i would have to agree with you, while the picture isn't very clear, it looks like the characteristics of the legend are incorrect...

[Scott Gahimer]

Slide marking "LIMITED" definitely engraved, not rolled on or struck. Can't really see the pistol well enough to say what it is, but it certainly isn't an original NAA slide marking.

[oldcanuck]

Yup... faker. So much for half price.....

[Rob Greer]

Agreed... Not even close.

[Rob Greer]

Here is what the legend should look like. (This also shows what the original finish looks like.)