OLDSTER
Member
SORRY
I no longer own this pistol. But thank you for your comments, advice, and input.
I no longer own this pistol. But thank you for your comments, advice, and input.
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Old Clark Custom 1911
- Thread starter OLDSTER
- Start date
AJ
US Veteran
Nice find. Embarrass yourself and let us know what you paid for it. More pictures too.
Congrats!
Congrats!
OP
OLDSTER
Member
AJ
US Veteran
Low $400s
You done good, son!! Haven't bought one that low in a long time.
Well done. Hope you enjoy it. Going to shoot it or sell it?
muddocktor
Member
Just another 22 shooter
Member
Congrats on a great buy. Most estate sale lookers wouldn't recognize it.
I have an original Clark Custom 1022 built back in the mid 80s for the Chevy Challenge shooter. After thousands of rounds, still the most accurate 22 I own.
Let us know how that 1911 shoots; bet it is sweet.
I have an original Clark Custom 1022 built back in the mid 80s for the Chevy Challenge shooter. After thousands of rounds, still the most accurate 22 I own.
Let us know how that 1911 shoots; bet it is sweet.
vonn
US Veteran
Range report would be awesome!
Nice!
Can you post a pic of the markings and address?
The Keithville ones are really old.
There should also be a date stamp on the inside of the slide, on the polished part that recocks the hammer.
(X-XX for month and year)
The REALLY old ones just have a marking under the slide saying "J. Clark" and date code.
Can you post a pic of the markings and address?
The Keithville ones are really old.
There should also be a date stamp on the inside of the slide, on the polished part that recocks the hammer.
(X-XX for month and year)
The REALLY old ones just have a marking under the slide saying "J. Clark" and date code.
MCorps0311
US Veteran
Sweet find congratulations!
Well there is only the single picture and it's kind of dark. I don't see any of the typical features that show up quickly on most any/every Clark that I've seen, and I've sure seen a few.
What distinguishing marks tell you that this was a Clark build?
What distinguishing marks tell you that this was a Clark build?
OP
OLDSTER
Member
The only reason I believe ( hope ) that, is one of the guys over on the 1911 forum suggested that could be the case. I'll have to disassemble it and get some photos of markings, etc. as suggested earlier in this thread.
Clark or not, it was a good buy at that price.
I asked my question above because I'm surprised to see a AO frame under a NM slide. Not something that I would expect to see. I'll be very surprised if this pistol went through Clark, but I suppose anything is possible.
It might be a Clark build, or it could be a Clark barrel used by someone to build a 1911 target pistol. Essex receivers were used quite a bit for custom builds and later, Caspian receivers. Auto Ordnance receiver builds were less common as the AO receivers often had dimensional issues and sometimes porosity in the casting. Essex made lots of receivers and made AO's receivers, but I sometimes think that some of the AO receivers were rejects upon which Essex would not stamp with their own name.
More pics are necessary.
By the way, for low $400's, as long as it's not broken and functions correctly, I don't think you got taken to the cleaners.
More pics are necessary.
By the way, for low $400's, as long as it's not broken and functions correctly, I don't think you got taken to the cleaners.
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I have a West Hurley AO from the 1980's, it was all-cast and not of the highest quality either. It was my introduction to the world of the 1911 and it taught me a lot about what to look for, what to do, what not to do with 1911's. It became a practice piece for my DIY skills. I ended up turning it into a Combat Commander style pistol. It's accurate, reliable, but the receiver is the only original part remaining.
Hi,
I got a private message with a few questions, and it reminded me of a couple things I forgot to mention.
-The name stamp used to be J.E. Clark.
-While the Keithville ones are old, the earliest ones from the 50s were marked Shreveport.
-There should also be another three digit code. This is an inventory control number. Jim Clark was quickly overwhelmed with demand for his work, he hired other guys, and they worked on lots of guns. Anyhow, the inventory number should also appear somewhere on the barrel unless it was later replaced. It's usually the last three digits of the serial number.
I used to own a couple of his 38 wadcutter 1911s. One was from 1959, right around the time he started doing those conversions.
I had photos of them both, just checked for them, but I think they're long ago deleted.
Jim
