Recent content by moleary

Given the interest, thought I'd resurrect this thread. Here is a GB sale on an original LL Russian that went for two grand a few weeks back... Just a moment...

Thanks Cooker...seems pretty logical for at least one scenario...

No go on the first purchase today. Dealer I had talked to last week was not there and had to talk to a young guy who knew next to nothing about the gun. After examining in great depth (thanks to you guys), I concluded it was as original as I could tell, but had been factory refinished about...

Thanks Lee...esp the fact about roll marking prior to finishing! Could have been a big mistaken assumption. When you say "lower left grip frame" I'm assuming you mean I need to look under the grips to find the number?

Roger...have lighted magnifier/will travel! Intend to look for exactly what you describe...sharp edges on all lettering.

Lee, without the gun in front of me, and (I have to be very careful here) my wife assisting me last week by logging the data on a sticky note without listing the location of the info...I have the data, but relying on a poor memory for location on the gun. That said, the 841 does show up...

And I thought I was up on the net way too early this morning! You guys must be old like me! Thanks so much for the expert advice. Gives me plenty of ammo to examine this pistol in depth. If I wind up forking out the dough...you'll see it soon! Mike

Many thanks John...indeed it's the "expertly polished and reblued" piece that concerns me. I'm looking for original finish and I'm pretty sure I can spot a bad job for the reasons you state...especially since the 1917 HE has so much lettering on it to examine closely. Another few questions...

Hi folks...new to the forum but learning a ton from you all. I'm in process (a long one) of collecting representative US Army handguns from Civil War to present...and the time has come to find a decent 1917 HE (and maybe a Colt brother at some point). I am checking out for the second time this...