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Old 07-09-2020, 11:41 PM
growr growr is online now
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Default Stolen 1911 SA is back home!!

I retrieved my stolen Springfield Armory 1911A1 from Billings Police Evidence today......I attached some before and after photos for you all to see.

My question is in regards to the scratches on the phosphate finish....is there any suggested way of dressing those up so that they are less noticable or leave them alone and call it character and attitude.....sort of like ME!

Randy
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Wedding and SA 1911 038.jpg (106.4 KB, 425 views)
File Type: jpg Wedding and SA 1911 039.jpg (102.0 KB, 396 views)
File Type: jpg Wedding and SA 1911 040.jpg (85.7 KB, 394 views)
File Type: jpg Wedding and SA 1911 042.jpg (54.2 KB, 349 views)
File Type: jpg 1911 003.jpg (65.4 KB, 188 views)

Last edited by growr; 07-10-2020 at 09:42 AM.
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Old 07-10-2020, 12:27 AM
Muley Gil Muley Gil is offline
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Glad you got it back.

I would contact Springfield Armory and tell them your story and ask for a refinishing price. They might even give you a discount!
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Old 07-10-2020, 01:37 AM
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It cleaned up pretty good. Was it buried? Sure looked it.
I would try Springfield also and see what they say.
Otherwise, just welcome it back home and shoot the heck out of it!
BTW, how long was it gone?
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Old 07-10-2020, 04:52 AM
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Other than a Factory re-finish I don't know how to make it look new again. Luckily, it seems as though the damage is minor and doesn't look like the metal was beat up too badly. Refinishing should bring it back to LNIB. It stinks that you have to go through this, but at least you did get it back.
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Old 07-10-2020, 06:16 AM
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Default 1911A1

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jessie View Post
It cleaned up pretty good. Was it buried? Sure looked it.
I would try Springfield also and see what they say.
Otherwise, just welcome it back home and shoot the heck out of it!
BTW, how long was it gone?
The gun was apparently in a car accident and was thrown clear of the vehicle, maybe by the occupants themselves or a part of the crash, so no, it was not buried, just in a lot of Texas dirt.

To Springfield Armory's credit they are sending me a replacement hard shell carry case No Charge!

The gun was stolen 14 May of this year. Two others have been recovered, but they are being held until trial. Texas evidence rules are different than Montana or California.

I will ask about a refinish price...another option would be a local 'smith does a wonderful job with Cerakote....

Before being stolen it was in 99% condition.......

Will keep you all posted as I learn things.

Randy
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Old 07-10-2020, 06:56 AM
Racer X Racer X is offline
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black shoe polish? honestly. Easy to strip off if it doesn't help. I'm curious as I want to get a RIA 52009 1911A2 in 10mm. Black phosphate. I'm sure it will get abrasions that don't go down to bare steel. So I will likely end up there too someday.

My uncle was a police detective in eastern Washington. He had a Makarov stolen, and it was found 2+ decades later, across the country. It was being used by a "hobo" for target practice in the railyard, and a railroad "cop" found him and it. When they found it was stolen from a LEO, as a professional courtesy, it was mailed to him at the police station back home. Crazy. Didn't know it was legal for a LEO to just mail a pistol to another LEO. Anyway, his son (my cousin) now has it.

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Old 07-10-2020, 07:12 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Racer X View Post
Didn't know it was legal for a LEO to just mail a pistol to another LEO.
It may not have been, LOL. I just don't know

O/P, if that's parkerized, perhaps try a brass toothbrush and apply some good oil on it first.
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Old 07-10-2020, 08:21 AM
Protocall_Design Protocall_Design is offline
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A brass brush will leave it's own marks. I would go with stainless.
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Old 07-10-2020, 08:26 AM
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Randy, send it back to SA for their Armory Kote finish. Well worth whatever it costs. I bougHt a RO, with Parker iced finish, sent it right back and had it refinished and sights changed. They do great work.
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Old 07-10-2020, 08:28 AM
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If it’s to be a working gun, I’d give it a good rubdown with Kroil or Ballistol and keep on shooting. If it is a safe queen, I’d send it back to Springfield for a factory rehab... anything else is just a refinished gun. BTW, did you have insurance coverage? They may cover part or all of the cost of the factory redo. JMHO, YMMV.

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Old 07-10-2020, 08:47 AM
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Maybe some 0000 steel wool, gun oil, and very light rubbing would help.
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Old 07-10-2020, 09:02 AM
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A little good oil and a shop rag. In a hundred years it'll look like this.
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Old 07-10-2020, 09:03 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by growr View Post
I retrieved my stolen Springfield Armory 1911A1 from Billings Police Evidence today......I attached some before and after photos for you all to see.

My question is in regards to the scratches on the phosphate finish....is there any suggested way of dressing those up so that they are less noticable or leave them alone and call it character and attitude.....sort of like ME!

Randy
Absolutely, looks like it was left in a mud puddle too? lol
You could do my "carry finish" as I like to call it.
My finish was less than desirable when I bought my Colt Officers, but I fixed that right up as this is my daily carry weapon and wanted something that would "enhance" with age.
I believe this knocks the ball out of the park.
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File Type: jpg IMG_1322.jpg (106.9 KB, 97 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_1306.jpg (130.5 KB, 111 views)
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Old 07-10-2020, 11:03 AM
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Default Stolen 1911 SA is back home!!

Randy,

I agree with Muley Gil 100%!!

Since 2011 I have bought many Springfield Armory firearms, and have contacted their Customer Service several times. Unless it has changed, they have always provided me with outstanding service for all of my firearms!

I also would explain the circumstances to the SA customer service representative. While they certainly may not charge for the repairs, they also may want to make it a special project for you.

Bill
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Old 07-10-2020, 12:44 PM
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My apologies, no intention to hijack "growr's" post

I'm very glad you got your pistol back although not as good as new, I have a question since I too have had a couple hand guns stolen. If you had insurance and the insurance company has compensated you for your loss will you need to negotiate with them before you are able to take possession of what is now their property? Mine have been gone since 2000, January 01 and I'm not very optimistic about them being returned but thought you could offer some guidance if they ever are returned. Thank You!
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Old 07-10-2020, 02:00 PM
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I would keep the steel, whether it be brush or wool, far away from the pistol's surfaces. Even working with an oiled surface, it's the steel that will leave more evidence of cleaning efforts. Bronze brushes or Chore Boy copper wool won't degrade the surface as steel brushes and steel wool will, however minutely that may be. Any copper residue that may be left from the bronze brushes or copper wool wipes away with good ol' Hoppe's No. 9 on a nylon brush or handy rag. Surfaces remain unscathed.
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Old 07-11-2020, 03:23 AM
Racer X Racer X is offline
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There is also bronze wool found at marine supply stores.
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Old 07-11-2020, 09:40 AM
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Definitely keep the steel or stainless steel brushes and steel wool away from that pistol! If you need something beyond solvent, oil, rags, and maybe a soft bristle toothbrush, then bronze wool, genuine copper Choir Boy (not the imitation, plated steel wool, knock-off brands), or bronze brush and oil. Steel wool and steel brushes will scratch the finish and can embed steel particles that will rust.

If the finish is bad enough, have it re-parkerized. Contact Springfield Armory, explain the situation and story, who knows, maybe they will cut you a deal on refinishing.
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Old 07-11-2020, 01:58 PM
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I'd have it reparked and cerakoted. In my personal experience there is no tougher finish.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Last edited by tnmandpshooter; 07-11-2020 at 02:01 PM.
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Old 07-11-2020, 05:56 PM
Racer X Racer X is offline
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Its my understanding that degreased parkerizing is the perfect base surface for cerakote.
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