Dad is handing down his Colt 1911 MK1V Series 80 GCNM, But...

[deephouse]

So, I'm heading down to San Diego this weekend to pickup my Dad's Colt 1911 MKIV series 80 Gold Cup National Match...

Problem - He has not fired it since (are you ready for this)
1992, when he retired from the Navy - that's 20+ years.

So, i dont know if you can see it in this pic but there are 2 small rust spots on the slide. When I held this gun a few months back, I went to rack the slide and ...cut my hand. it was seized. I'll be taking it down this weekend and am really not sure what to expect when I crack it open.

1. What do you think I will find?
2. Can someone recommend where to find a parts kit fo the Colt Series 80 MKIV GCNM?

Well, I'm excited either way. Hoping for the best but if there's rust on the outside i wouldn't be surprised if there is rust internally too.

[MalC]

Unfortunately 1911s aren't like Glocks and other modern handguns which allow for true drop-in parts... most parts on the 1911 require fitting by a gunsmith or someone who really understands their function and how the parts interact with one another. Detail strip that bad boy and see if any of the internals are rusted... if so you might be looking at a hefty bill to replace/fit the fire control parts. If it's just surface rust, you could soak the parts in a rust remover and put everything back together to test function... you may get lucky and find that the metal hasn't been corroded too much. Someone posted a thread on here about their 1911 build and the frame he used looked COMPLETELY rusted out... enough that most people would've chucked it into the trash. He soaked everything in a rust remover and ended up with a very pretty and useable frame for his build. Since you're getting the gun as a gift, though, there's not much you can complain about! Congrats on the 1911, hope the years have treated it well.

[deephouse]

Youtube. =) jk... Yeah i am hoping for the best. The Colt Python looks like it it didn't age a bit. The Walther P5 I will probably break down and clean for him anyways.

[MalC]

Yeah brother I hope everything is GTG with your new Colt! Even if you have to spend a couple hundred bucks to have some replacement parts fitted, you're still getting a great deal on a great 1911. Assuming that's the pistol in the pic you posted, the beavertail looks like it's fitted perfectly, and the lack of front slide serrations is a plus in my book. Great looking pistol.

[TKM]

Clean and lube and be happy.

[deephouse]

Originally Posted by TKM

Clean and lube and be happy.

Curious what's the longest you guys have seen a gun go without being fired? i supposed it depends on what kind of gun and how it was stored...

[dunndeal]

I've got a nickel plated Python I didn't fire for almost 30 years. No rust or mechanical issues, it looks as good as the day I oiled it and put it in the safe in 1983.

[deephouse]

Originally Posted by dunndeal

I've got a nickel plated Python I didn't fire for almost 30 years. No rust or mechanical issues, it looks as good as the day I oiled it and put it in the safe in 1983.

Ah, there is hope!

[TurboChrisB]

Going by the photo, I'm gonna say it's 99% that you'll be fine...you'll be able to lube it up...let it sit for a couple hours and then free it up. I'll bet nothing needs to be replaced..just cleaned up well and lubed.

[-hanko]

Originally Posted by deephouse

1. What do you think I will find?
2. Can someone recommend where to find a parts kit fo the Colt Series 80 MKIV GCNM?

1. How would anybody know what you'll find.

2. Brownells has 20+ catalog pages of 1911 parts, not to mention Colt direct.

Sweet gun

-hank0

[thomashoward]

Originally Posted by TKM

Clean and lube and be happy.

That's the nice part about stainless.You can CAREFULLY rub out rough spots with crocus cloth or wet/dry fine grit sandpaper.
If there is rust in the rails take it to a qualified gunsmith. You can deal with external spotting.
lube, clean;fire

[kylednf]

2 weeks ago my father gave me his colt mark iv series 80 commander and he hadnt fired it since the early 90's as well. Luckily there was no rust but it was dirty as all hell. Good luck!

[deephouse]

Originally Posted by kylednf

2 weeks ago my father gave me his colt mark iv series 80 commander and he hadnt fired it since the early 90's as well. Luckily there was no rust but it was dirty as all hell. Good luck!

What a coincidence, have you fired it yet?

[Zeva]

My Father recently told me about a S&W model 59 he bought back in the 70s I fired it over December... now that I think about it.. probably was not the best idea but it worked fine just some surface rust i had to remove

[GM4spd]

My young neighbor(who has never owned a gun) inherited this Gold Cup
from his granddad along with 4 cans (50 cal size) of 45 ball ammo.Serial places it in early 80s.He would have sold me the whole load for a great price but I suggested he KEEP it because it was from his granddad.Anyway he asked me to clean it
for him.I detail stripped it and showed him how. He is real concerned about
putting the slide stop back in and will come to me if he wants it taken down
without incident. Pete

[redcliff]

Originally Posted by GM4spd

My young neighbor(who has never owned a gun) inherited this Gold Cup
from his granddad along with 4 cans (50 cal size) of 45 ball ammo.Serial places it in early 80s.He would have sold me the whole load for a great price but I suggested he KEEP it because it was from his granddad.Anyway he asked me to clean it
for him.I detail stripped it and showed him how. He is real concerned about
putting the slide stop back in and will come to me if he wants it taken down
without incident. Pete

You cleaned it up nice Pete! Did you use Renaissance wax on it?

[kylednf]

I took it to some BLM land the day after I got it. He only shot it twice so it is pretty much brand new. This is my first 1911 and now I'm hooked.

[redcliff]

Originally Posted by kylednf

I took it to some BLM land the day after I got it. He only shot it twice so it is pretty much brand new. This is my first 1911 and now I'm hooked.

Nice! I'm a big Commander fan myself.

[deephouse]

Originally Posted by GM4spd

My young neighbor(who has never owned a gun) inherited this Gold Cup
from his granddad along with 4 cans (50 cal size) of 45 ball ammo.Serial places it in early 80s.He would have sold me the whole load for a great price but I suggested he KEEP it because it was from his granddad.Anyway he asked me to clean it
for him.I detail stripped it and showed him how. He is real concerned about
putting the slide stop back in and will come to me if he wants it taken down
without incident. Pete

@Pete - that is a beautiful pistol! Nice work! May I ask what products you used to clean? Looking for recommendations when I break down my Dad's 1911.

I'm new to this, but open to what works well for others.

Thanks!
Brian

[deephouse]

Originally Posted by kylednf

I took it to some BLM land the day after I got it. He only shot it twice so it is pretty much brand new. This is my first 1911 and now I'm hooked.

Sorry I'm a noob, what's "BLM"?

[mr00jimbo]

I am all thumbs with complex detail strips. If it were me, I'd take it to a competent gunsmith, have him detail strip and clean it and keep it comfortably lubricated from there on.
They are not inexpensive guns. Congrats, what a beautiful piece.

[-hanko]

Originally Posted by deephouse

Sorry I'm a noob, what's "BLM"?

Unbelievable, noob or not.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=blm

hth, probably iffy.

-hanko

[Dr. Dimento]

Last week a long time client brought in 38 firearms that have been safe queens since the 80's. The 1911'S, Browning HP's,Ruger t-512 were all seized up from congealed oil. The Berettas and Walthers and Glocks were okay.The rifles and shotty's I haven't got to yet. No rust as of yet. I just use Walmart brake cleaner on the guns that have no plastic,polymer,any type of spray on coatings,or outlined painted sights. When we were in the biz together in the 80's I cleaned and oiled all these for him and he put them away. He hasn't touched them since and he knows better.

[deephouse]

Originally Posted by -hanko

Unbelievable, noob or not.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=blm

hth, probably iffy.

-hanko

Thanks!

[wsmc27]

Deephouse, congrats, hope you enjoy that .45!

We have one just like GM4spd pictured, my dad bought it for me in the early eighties. Awesome pistol/great shooter, will always cherish it.

[pyromensch]

Originally Posted by deephouse

So, I'm heading down to San Diego this weekend to pickup my Dad's Colt 1911 MKIV series 80 Gold Cup National Match...

Problem - He has not fired it since (are you ready for this)
1992, when he retired from the Navy - that's 20+ years.

So, i dont know if you can see it in this pic but there are 2 small rust spots on the slide. When I held this gun a few months back, I went to rack the slide and ...cut my hand. it was seized. I'll be taking it down this weekend and am really not sure what to expect when I crack it open.

1. What do you think I will find?
2. Can someone recommend where to find a parts kit fo the Colt Series 80 MKIV GCNM?

Well, I'm excited either way. Hoping for the best but if there's rust on the outside i wouldn't be surprised if there is rust internally too.

full respect for your father and his service...but this is why the navy issues guns, described in Inches, not just tenths of inches. hope the best for the recovery.

[eeeeman]

Lube it with this sfuff the best http://www.jardinescustom.com/jardin...emegrease.html