Colt 45 (1943yr. 1911 model) Ithica?

Question

My husband is restoring an old gun. A colt 45 from 1943.

Was it originally stainless and black or was the black removed by a previous owner intending to ave it re-blued?

Answer 1

If it is a 1943 the gun is not stainless

Most likely the previous owner has either destroyed the collector value of the gun by taking it down to the white or it's a replacement frame that was bought in the whites

Answer 2

Like coins - refinishing destroys the petana of the metal and a firearms initial value.  However, Ithica 1911's are quite common and if your hubby does a really good job - it will be fine.  Best to ship it and have it professionally Parkerized.  This has become a fairly inexpensive thing to do these days.  There are also better finished available.

ALLOT of companies stoped making their usual wares to produce firearms during WWII.  Pistols marked 'Singer Sewing Machine' are a favorite and the most expensive and collectable.  

One of the properties of stainless steel is it is virtually non-magnetic.  If you suspect the frame is stainless - it is definitly not a 1940's vintage frame - but a magnet will test that easily.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

An original piece like that was usually parkerized; a dark gray matte looking finish.  

Answer 4

the Colt 1911 A1 didn't have a blued or polished finish. they were military issue and had no luster

Answer 5

Was issued a 45 Ithaca while in the Army in Germany, they were never stainless nor blued - kinda buffed to get the shean off them.

Answer 6

the original finish on the gun should have been parkerized, which is a very dark gray/ black color.If that has been changed it really hurts the value of the gun.

Answer 7

DON'T DO IT! ! ! !

If your husband has even touched the original finish to 'restore it', he has already destroyed at least 90% of ANY collector's value this Ithaca 1911A1 had. . . . .

The original U.S. military finish was a chemical coating called 'Parkerizing', which was a slightly rough medium matte gray coloring.

NEVER do ANYTHING to the original finish of any weapon that may have value as a collector's piece other than normal cleaning and a light wipe-down with an oily rag, removing all excess to prevent dust collection.

I have regrettably seen the value of many such collectibles destroyed in just such a manner.

I own both a pre-war Luger P-08 and a Remington-Rand 1911A1, both of which are in 70-80% finish, and I would NEVER consider ANY kind of 'restoration' to be done to either. In fact, if either one were in any better cindition, I wouldn't even consider SHOOTING them.

Answer 8

Not stainless, or black, they were OD Parkerized. See this photo:

http://coolgunsite.com/navy/navyithbig.j...