1925 commercial. I hope you enjoy the photos.
A Nice Old Colt Government Model
- Thread starter s&wchad
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Nice timing! A friend of mine has a 1924 vintage that I was proudly (and carefully) fondling a few nights ago and now you post your pics. What a piece of functional art. Thanks for the pics of a very nice part of history.
sigp220.45
US Veteran
Man, what a classic. Thanks for posting.
bamabiker
Member
Very nice old Colt.
If I may ask, what's the story on the magazines of this era? I know they are correct but does anybody know why they only blued half of it?
Never heard.
If I may ask, what's the story on the magazines of this era? I know they are correct but does anybody know why they only blued half of it?
Never heard.
Sir, the magazines were dipped into an acid solution (I forget what, exactly) to harden the feed lips. The acid dip removed the bluing from the top portion of the mag.
To the OP, neat old gun. Pre-war Colt workmanship was a thing to behold.
Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.
Ron H.
bamabiker
Member
Thank you.
BruceHMX
Member
That is a true thing of beauty!!
sipowicz
Member
I love that hammer!
Texas1941
Member
What a great gun. As most everyone has pointed out, the workmanship on the prewar Colts is stunning. I wonder if the talent neccessary to mass produce a pistol like that still exists in the world. There are some custom shops that produce beautiful work, but most of them produce a few dozen to a few hundred guns a year.
I haven't carried a Government Model (or any 1911 type) in more than 20 years. But one or more go with me on just about every range trip. For me, Government Models and N frame Smiths are as good as it gets.
I haven't carried a Government Model (or any 1911 type) in more than 20 years. But one or more go with me on just about every range trip. For me, Government Models and N frame Smiths are as good as it gets.
Beautiful Colt pistol. Really shows the workmanship that went into these back then.
FWIW, the Colt magazines were dipped into molten cyanide (1450F+) for 2 to 3 minutes, then quenched in oil to temper to a spring hardness.
Quenching in water would have left the thin sheet metal glass hard.
The earliest mags given the treatment were done to about 1" below the feed lips, then later to just below the mag catch slot so that area was hardened also.
The cyanide treatment removed the blueing. The mags were given a rust proofing dip treatment after they were washed and then dryed.
WW1 Springfield Arsenal made mags used a similar system with higher temps and a separate tempering process in an oven at about 425/430F to bring about the spring temper needed.
FWIW, the Colt magazines were dipped into molten cyanide (1450F+) for 2 to 3 minutes, then quenched in oil to temper to a spring hardness.
Quenching in water would have left the thin sheet metal glass hard.
The earliest mags given the treatment were done to about 1" below the feed lips, then later to just below the mag catch slot so that area was hardened also.
The cyanide treatment removed the blueing. The mags were given a rust proofing dip treatment after they were washed and then dryed.
WW1 Springfield Arsenal made mags used a similar system with higher temps and a separate tempering process in an oven at about 425/430F to bring about the spring temper needed.
Indiana George
US Veteran
Enjoyed, I did. Thanks for the great photos!
Hartford, Connecticut sure put out some nice craftsmanship back in the day. 
That's a dandy!!
Still the king of the shellshuckers. Beautiful.
GyMac
US Veteran
What a beautiful gun! Notice the lanyard loop on the commercial model.
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