ltwguns.com

Just picked up this nice Colt 1911a1 I would rate it about 96-97% overall....not bad for 40 years old.
Something about the old rollmarks of the pre series 70/80. Like an era gone by. It was manufactured just as the Veitnam war was reving up....1965/66 Although it's a great gun as it is I'm looking to turn it in to a modern fighting weapon.....I want to put this in the hands of one of the LTW smiths for a up date and make over.
This is my delema..... some folks say no to any mods being its in to good of shape. I'm obviously wanting to have a old school custom colt.
So what do you all think should I do it or not? Do I look for one in a lesser shape and keep this as it is?
Please help

A couple of snaps.....

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Gary Pennington
email........ brewdog57@hotmail.com


I've learned age is a very high price to pay for maturity

One vote for be.

Steve - got any "after" photos of anything like this?

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Heirloom Precision, LLC.
480-804-1911

Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.

TR

I'd leave it "as is." Colts like that are getting quite hard to find now. Enjoy it for what it is and find a gun in much worse condition or a newer one to have worked on.

count my vote a no. there are too many solid Colts out there with dings and scrapes to use for base material. dont alter such a pretty and original commercial.

Ted I bet you would make a full house custom out of Pattons SAA wouldnt you

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Gary Eastridge
http://www.randgfirearms.com

It appears that you already appreciate it for what it is now. And with some work, you'll probably appreciate it more. What a great base gun.
Stay with your "old school" thoughts and turn it into a great custom, I would!




Brian

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Brian

Be, be, be. Gorgeous old Colt, congratulations on your find.

Fine guns are meant to be shot and enjoyed. OK, OK, there are plenty of exceptions for collectors, but do you really want to just admire this through a glass case as it ages? Even the occasional fondling is no substitute for use...what a super custom this gun will make!

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NRA Endowment Member

Take the plung, amigo. Nice catch!

~Jim Keeney

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"I'd rather die on my feet than keep living on my knees." - Emiliano Zapata, Mexican Revolutionary

Do it. I LOVE the way the old commercial Colts look- if I could find one I could afford, it would definitely be a base gun.

Maybe a set of fixed sights that use the exisiting dove tail, a staked on front sight and a little trigger work if needed and it would be good to go as is.

Steve Bailey built this, I bought it. I definitely think you should send yours to YoBo.





Hand engraved grip screws by JR French. We thought it might be a nice subtle touch.


25lpi checkering and a hand checkered mag release.

gman, I've always loved those older commercial Colts. I've seen some absolutely first rate workmanship out of the factory during those days. Guess it just depends on whether you want to just look at it over time (or shoot it with those original sights), or make it yours personally by having it built to your specs. Tempting either way. Regards,

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Don Williams
http://www.theactionworks.com
http://www.ltwguns.com

Wow what a nice find.

The cool thing about finding a gun in such fine shape is that it will make such a fine base gun. How can you not customize it???

FWIW I am not sure those are the original grips that came with the gun…Do you have the box, instructions, little round screw driver thing and wax paper? If not, the collector value is greatly diminished. I should know I have paid a premium for close to NIB guns of the same era. Are they in my safe? Nope, I think they should be getting cut up any day now (anyone whant to buy some empty boxes??? )



Good Luck,

Jim

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An amateur practices until he gets it right. A professional practices until he never gets it wrong. Anon

It needs a trip to the beauty parlor.

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CT Brian Custom
'Blending Art With Firepower'

Cut it man, you only live once.....It is a very nice piece, but could be nicer with a little attention.

Well I would imagine anyone would know what we at YoBo would do.......fire up the mill and warm up the files.

Here is why. If it was a pre war NM gun in the same condition then let it sit. However, while this is a beautiful gun, you may not shoot it much and only enjoy the aesthetics of it. Is it going to increase in value? Maybe a little over time. Will it increase in value to you if it is more than what it is now...yep.

We all seek these out because of the roll marks. However, as base guns they are and can be very good. However, the new 70's are fit and finished just a little better IMHO. A retro build on this would be very nice. And it would consist fo the following for me.

-Checkered front and back
-standard Colt grip safety dehorned
-NM barrel no manufacturer markings
-A set of retro sights
-Lines straightened and any flaws removed
-Match fit bushing
-Solid trigger
-Mild carry dehorn
-Nice set of smooth woods or of course ivories.

In other words keep the classic lines, make it a sleeper that you can carry and enjoy. Here is a few sneak previews of a Commercial Theo just finished. One of the finest finished products I have seen.



There is those roll marks.




I am going to post some additional photos this evening. Either way great find Gary, you will enjoy it whatever you decide.

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Heirloom Precision, LLC.
480-804-1911

"If everyone is thinking alike, someone isn't thinking."
- General George Patton Jr

Steve, the description you gave there reminds me of the specs I'd like for my own gun. Retro sights, 30lpi checkering, straight lines, a bobbed hammer, match barrel, and ivories... how can anyone argue against that? It's interesting how much people go nuts over old Colts. I can see a series 70 or 80 in a shop and not even have the urge to pick it up, and the same goes for the original GI Colts... just no interest for me. But, if I see a commercial from the 1920s - 1960s, I will simply ask, "how much?" Unless the price is absurd, I'll find a way. It IS the rollmarks, and Colt should run a batch of each era as a special edition like they did with the reissue WWI and WWII guns. Then they should do a run of old rollmarked series 70 or pre-70 commanders/combat commanders. Just my $0.02

~Jim Keeney

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"I'd rather die on my feet than keep living on my knees." - Emiliano Zapata, Mexican Revolutionary

Personally I would leave an old beauty like that as it is.

Then I would take a NRM Series 80 or re-issue Series 70 and have Yost et al work it over.

Regards,
Cameron

cut that bad boy up and use it! I just picked up a 1955 lw colt that i'm going to do some stuff too though keep it retro looking, i'll post pictures soon, i agree i love those old roll marks!
Trevor

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Any questions email me at trevor@trevorzantos.com

It's a fight'n handgun, make it more fit for fight'n!

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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE
Thunder Ranch THG & UR(x2), Gunsite 250C,
Yavapai Firearms Acad HG1(x2), HG2, & SG,
Shootrite Prvt Inst HG, NRA Life Member

Gary

For what it's worth I just picked up a 1963 manufactured Colt, 90-95% for the my first base gun. So you know what my vote would be.

Jim

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"Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." Benjamin Franklin , 1759

Thanks to all for your input!
After long and hard consideration my plans are to trick this one out, this is why I bought it. I don't feel it's a safe queen ..... and what the hell if you just put it away to pull it out from time to time to look at it what good is it. I just as well make it mine ..... carry it, use it and enjoy it as it was ment to be.

Thanks again and best regards to all,
Gary

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Gary Pennington
email........ brewdog57@hotmail.com


I've learned age is a very high price to pay for maturity

It's none of my business what one does with any gun (other than point it at my kids, my wife, or myself). It's your gun.
But since you asked.............

Here's my suggestion.
Set a time limit.

Wait a set amount of time- I'd say six months, or maybe set a date like Jan 1, 2006 for example, but whatever seems right to you.
During that time, you can look for another to send off. If you don't find a more viable candidate by then, send this one.

If you are leaning toward leaving this one alone, then you can find another IF you really want to.
If you aren't concerned about finding a "better" candidate, then you probably won't.

Either way, you're in good shape- It's a nice gun as-is, and it would be nice after the work also.

I'd send it out for work. Try to keep most of the looks about the same. Sights and trigger definitely, and if it were me I'd want the finish (the exact tone of blueing) to be the same as it was originally. Either way it's a beautiful gun, and even more so if you have it made into what you consider to be your perfect 1911A1,
I hope you'll post lots of pics of it if you do have it gone over!

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Lynnie, NRA Life Member

Beautiful Colt you have there...D

Ummmmm... not trying to rescind my vote, but Barry in IN has a damn good point. That's about the best idea I've heard yet. Best yet, even if you find another and still want to have it worked over, then you can have TWO!

~Jim Keeney

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"I'd rather die on my feet than keep living on my knees." - Emiliano Zapata, Mexican Revolutionary

Gary:

I vote to keep this one as is and try to find a more worn gun from the same era. That beauty was made the year I began my hitch in Uncle sam's Army

Bob.

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Bob

Smiths and 1911s are what it's all about!

This is a win/win situation. But, I too would lean toward what Barry and Jim said. We can all stand to have an additional pistol, right?