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  #1  
Old 03-17-2009, 08:23 AM
walnutred walnutred is online now
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The back page article of this months American Rifleman got me thinking. One of my uncles was in a German POW camp the last part of WW2. Two of his uncles owned a hardware store during this time and when he finally got home his uncles gave him a Colt 1911 in 38 Super as a welcome home present. As a kid I never liked the gun that much because I thought the nickle plating and stag grips a little gaudy, but he did let me shoot it on occasion.

Last time I handled the gun he still had the original box and probably whatever came with it. Maybe I should look my cousin up and see if I can talk him out of it.

I'm making a couple assumptions of course but he was given the pistol in early 46, so I expect it's actually pre-war. The grips have Colt medallions so I'm thinking factory option rather than aftermarket. After reading that article I'm beginning to appreciate that old pistol a little more.
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Old 03-17-2009, 08:23 AM
walnutred walnutred is online now
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The back page article of this months American Rifleman got me thinking. One of my uncles was in a German POW camp the last part of WW2. Two of his uncles owned a hardware store during this time and when he finally got home his uncles gave him a Colt 1911 in 38 Super as a welcome home present. As a kid I never liked the gun that much because I thought the nickle plating and stag grips a little gaudy, but he did let me shoot it on occasion.

Last time I handled the gun he still had the original box and probably whatever came with it. Maybe I should look my cousin up and see if I can talk him out of it.

I'm making a couple assumptions of course but he was given the pistol in early 46, so I expect it's actually pre-war. The grips have Colt medallions so I'm thinking factory option rather than aftermarket. After reading that article I'm beginning to appreciate that old pistol a little more.
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Old 03-17-2009, 08:26 AM
feralmerril feralmerril is offline
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That sure would be a prize!
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Old 03-17-2009, 08:34 AM
walkinghorse walkinghorse is offline
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Hope it works out for you, as stated previously

"That sure would be a prize!"
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Old 03-17-2009, 08:44 AM
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I love guns with a family history. That would be a great one to own. If you have a S/N proofhouse.com can give you an idea of the manufacture date. Other than that, I can't help you.
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Old 03-17-2009, 08:58 AM
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This man was my favorite uncle. He introduced me to Louis Lamour books, arrowhead hunting and hard cider. Taught me the basics of shooting beginning with a pellet pistol when I was 4 years old and the excitement of arrowhead hunting. As both my parents worked I spent every summer day at his farm, helping out when needed but mostly just goofing off.

One of the few things I'm I am genuinely proud of in my life is that I worked two years filing paperwork and making phone calls to get his POW Medal issued to him. My American Legion Post had an presentation ceremony for him at his house and he was surrounded but his friends and family.

Unfortunately he had been fighting cancer for years and died just a few weeks after the ceremony. The last time many of those people saw him he was finally getting recognized for something that had happened 60 years before. Sounds minor I guess but I know it meant a lot to him and his siblings. And hey, I know my Mom was proud of me that night as well for putting it together. That has to count for something right.
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Old 03-17-2009, 09:02 AM
john traveler john traveler is offline
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I would think that the Colt M1911A1 pistol to be more likely a pre-WWII production item.
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Old 03-17-2009, 10:24 AM
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i JUST finished reading the colt super 38 article in american rifleman...from a family history standpoint that would be a super find for you...seems the pre-1968 versions are in high demand...good luck!
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