Colt Government Model made in 1918, look correct? Shipped too?

[Garandy]

[Garandy]

[Garandy]

[Johnny P]

1917/18 is production date, but it will cost you $100 for a Colt historical letter to find out where it was shipped. Barrel is a WWII era Colt military. There is a letter or number or both ahead of the lug on the bottom of the barrel that will tell about when it was made. Magazine looks like a WWII era military made by General Shaver. Is that a G on top of the magazine toe?

[Garandy]

The story

my friend who is the dealer who bought the pistol from the veterans widow said he was a USAAF pilot in WW 2 and carried it, He is very honest, he was told that story

[Garandy]

Any good value as is, or look for a commercial 1918 barrel, and magazine?

[ignats]

You could replace the barrel with the correct barrel which would make the pistol correct but not original. It isn't original now so about all you will do is increase the amount you have spent on it. That along with a correct two tone magazine would be a little pricey. However, if having those parts makes you feel better about it then fine. The WWII barrel and magazine could be sold or saved for future projects and help to offset the cost of the other parts you need.

[Garandy]

It is a General shaver magazine, are they scarcer than others? 2 tones are over 2oo, some have lanyard loops, correct for this?

[snipershot1944]

You need a two-tone without lanyard loop mag. They quit with the loop around 1916. After looking at the Goddard book, I'd bet this pistol was sold to an individual or to a State Militia in 1917/1918. Not too many commercial sales around that time. That would probably explain why it ended up with a GI in WWII. Go ahead and spend the $100, you might find out something real interesting from Colt.

To the group, how would the correct commercial barrel be marked?

[Garandy]

Magazine

Dave, I traded the General Shaver magazine for a correct 2 tone commercial Colt mag, from David Rachwal, a long time friend.

[George in NH]

Is that a "G" stamped into the frame between the disconnect and the hammer? If so, how would a "G" marked frame carry a "C" prefix serial number? I do note that the usual "H" that should be present near the "G" is missing. George in NH

[Garandy]

Government purchased? No Hosmer inspection

[snipershot1944]

Actually that is a good sign in this case. Clawson shows on page 174 of his book s/n c88217 from Feb 1917 with a G marked frame, rejected military receiver, routed to commercial production. Since military contracts in 1917-1918 had priority, Colt probably had to use receivers that were rejected by the military, but we're otherwise serviceable for commercial sales. Colt did the same thing post WWII. I'd bet this is a militia or private purchase pistol, that ended back in the military.

[Garandy]

A letter will be interesting!