1911A1 question

[searcher5]

I have recently inherited a colt 1911A1. It is marked government property, & was given to my grandfather by a relatively famous KBI agent. My question is, how do you tell if it's a parts gun, or if it is all original? I am pretty sure that it is all original, but the serial number on the frame is all I can find. Where do I look on the slide to see if it is matching? It is priceless to me either way, but one needs to know for insurance purposes. Thanks in advance, Dan

[jp58c]

Man I am probably wrong,but,I don't think there are any markings on the slide.There are more then lickly some roll marks some where,I never found any on my original 1911,it was not an A1.The only ID a Marine Corp Match armorer id'ed this is/was the flat main spring with loop on it,he couldn't verifiy that the internals were original.
SEMPER FI
Patrick

[Geno]

There are books published for collectors that have all the info on your 1911. You could ask Colt to do a search but they will charge a small fee. Slides do not have any serial numbers. You could post a pic and maybe someone could check their sources?

[searcher5]

I have found out that this gun was made by Colt in 1943. It has all matching parts, but, unfortunately, it has been refinished. This gun is priceless to me under any circumstances, due to family history. Amazing that a polish & blue job could, in the end, cost about $2,000.00.I figure that this is the difference between the original and refinish price. If anyone is interesed, I could post the story behind this gun.

[Edward429451]

Sure, post away. I want to hear it. KGB huh? You sure? Maybe it was taken off an American agent. Due to the refinish,:( , and the KGB connection, I'd probably carry it. But thats just me.

[searcher5]

My grandfather was friends with a KBI (Kansas Bureau Of Investigation)Agent named Joe Anderson, in the '30s & '40s . Joe was after a man, but he always made it across the border into Missouri before Joe could arrest him. My grandfather was a very large, strong man. Joe got word that this man was in a restaurant in Missouri, and asked my grandfather for his help. Grandpa went into the restaurant, identified the wanted man, picked him up in a bear hug, carried him to his car, stuffed him into the trunk. He then drove across the state line into Kansas where Joe promptly arrested the criminal. Joe gave grandpa this pistol in appreciation.

[Geno]

It was unusual for police officers to carry a 1911 back then. Jeff Cooper would be proud! Refinishing it did cause alot of value to be lost but it obviously has too much meaning to ever sell.

[Edward429451]

KBI? Man I need some new contacts. Coulda swore it said KGB.:confused: Well at least you got a shooter/CCW. Just guessing but it may mean more to your Granpa for his grandchild to get use out of it rather than 'saving it safely away somewhere.'

[Black Prince]

Yep Searcher, I have one just like it, also made in 1943, and also refinished although, done very well. It has been fired very little. My brother got it out of a five gallon bucket of cosmoline that had a bunch of pistols in it. Some guy had that bucket full of guns and owed him 50 bucks back about 1960 and he took the pistol in payment. He took the pistol that was in new condition with the old olive drab finish and the brown plastic grips and lanyard ring on it and had it brite blued, Polished the barrel and removed the lanyard ring. He put ivory grips on it, had a nice Walnut case made for it and gave it to my father.

When my dad died (A Former Marine) my brother got the gun back but then he gave it to me. It shoots damn good.