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Edit: If interested, see #21 for new pics.
So, I drop into a local gun shoppe just to see what's what, and on my way out I spy what appears to be an old 1911 Colt hiding in the shadows, as it turns out with possibly a reasonable price tag affixed. Here's a composite of the quicky photos I took:
Now I don't know very much about collectible military 1911s, certainly not all the types of original parts and their unique configurations and marks. Sorry for the poor pics, but this example appears to be in original black oxide finish with about 70% remaining (maybe better on the slide and upper frame with more thinning on the grip straps) with about a dozen or so scattered light rust spots of around a millimeter in diameter. The serial number is 292xxx, the owner indicated a 1918 manufacture date. The hammer appears to possibly be a replacement as its finish is darker than the rest of the gun (also the trigger and mag release button escutcheon?). I didn't field strip it, but noted the barrel chamber is marked (seen through the ejection port) with a small P and a small H, while the frame is marked near the disconnector with a small H and a small W. There is a stamp on the frame left side behind the trigger of a stylized co-joined J and M inside a G. The two-tone magazine is unmarked.
What would be a decent price, assuming the hammer and perhaps the barrel and some other small parts are replacements? If I do get to field strip it, what should I look for, and is there a way to tell whether the hammer is indeed a replacement or not without disassembling the gun further? TIA for your help!
So, I drop into a local gun shoppe just to see what's what, and on my way out I spy what appears to be an old 1911 Colt hiding in the shadows, as it turns out with possibly a reasonable price tag affixed. Here's a composite of the quicky photos I took:
Now I don't know very much about collectible military 1911s, certainly not all the types of original parts and their unique configurations and marks. Sorry for the poor pics, but this example appears to be in original black oxide finish with about 70% remaining (maybe better on the slide and upper frame with more thinning on the grip straps) with about a dozen or so scattered light rust spots of around a millimeter in diameter. The serial number is 292xxx, the owner indicated a 1918 manufacture date. The hammer appears to possibly be a replacement as its finish is darker than the rest of the gun (also the trigger and mag release button escutcheon?). I didn't field strip it, but noted the barrel chamber is marked (seen through the ejection port) with a small P and a small H, while the frame is marked near the disconnector with a small H and a small W. There is a stamp on the frame left side behind the trigger of a stylized co-joined J and M inside a G. The two-tone magazine is unmarked.
What would be a decent price, assuming the hammer and perhaps the barrel and some other small parts are replacements? If I do get to field strip it, what should I look for, and is there a way to tell whether the hammer is indeed a replacement or not without disassembling the gun further? TIA for your help!
Time for "creative finance", I may have to sell off a toy or two pronto and hope to replace the funds before getting caught out. Hey, Jon Corzine seems to be getting away with it, why not me?!!! 
). 
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