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16612  - Refinished 1911
9/24/2022


Maker: Colt, Model: 1911, Caliber: .,45, Barrel Length: ?, Finish: Blue, SN: 62436

Question:
I have a Colt 1911 serial number 62436. Need to know what year it was made and maybe resale value. Also would you be interested in buying it.

 Answer:
Thanks for the photos, they help a lot. Unfortunately, this is a parts gun with numerous replacement parts. The serial number on the barrel is unique to pistols made for or in Argentina, and the barrel number has been pantograph engraved on the frame, not stamped as when M1911 pistols were originally made in the U.S. or Argentina. The gun has been heavily buffed and refinished, probably with a Gun Kote type finish.

It has a M1911 style frame without the M1911A1 half moon shaped cuts behind the trigger adopted in 1926, so best we can do on date without knowing the original serial number is somewhere between 1912 and 1926. The 1914 date we originally provided was on the basis of it being the original number when made by Colt for a U.S. military contract. The short trigger, arched mainspring housing and long grip safety are all post-1926 M1911A1 style parts.

Argentina made M1911A1 style pistols under license from Colt, (known as the ``Systema Colt 1927``) which were 100% interchangeable with Colt parts. They also made Ballester-Molina pistols which externally resemble the M1911A1, but are quite different mechanically. However, the Ballester-Molina barrels and magazines are 100% interchangeable with the Colts, so the barrel number may be from when it was made as part of a Systema 1927 (circa 1950s), or as a Ballester-Molina (circa 1947).

With the frame now numbered to match the barrel, instead of the original serial number, I think that BATF may consider this to have an altered serial number and illegal. It is probably a good shooter, but has no collector value at all.

Sorry it is not better news. Hope it helps. John



16611  - Found An Old Winchester
9/17/2022
Bob

Maker: Winchester, Model: Rifle, Caliber: ?, Barrel Length: ?, Finish: ?, SN: 826979

Question:
Found this very cool Winchester rifle. I have a few pictures, could I send them to you so I can get more information? Thank you

 Answer:
Bob- Thanks for the photos, they help a lot. You have a Winchester Model 1890 slide action rifle, it was made in 1930. These were made from 1890 to 1932. The barrel should be marked with the caliber, .22 short, .22 long, .22 long rifle or .22 Winchester Rimfire. These will ONLY shoot the specific cartridge they are chambered for. The rifles in .22 long rifle are far more popular and valuable than the other calibers since it is readily available while the others are hard to find or expensive if you can find some.

As far as value, if .22 long, I would expect to find one like this in pretty well used condition at a gun show selling for around $250-400. Other calibers maybe 1/2 to 2/3 of that. Guns in nicer condition would bring more.

Here is a link for some more history:

https://guns.fandom.com/wiki/Winchester_Model_1890

Hope that helps. John Spangler



16607  - Browning A5 Age
9/10/2022
Brad

Maker: Browning, Model: A5, Caliber: ?, Barrel Length: ?, Finish: ?, SN: ?

Question:
I`?d like to figure out how old my great grandfathers Browning A5 is. I believe he was born around 1900. I have the gun. Just wondering what I can do to find out roughly what year it was made.

 Answer:
Brad - we do not know that information, however, we do know where to find the answer.

Browning, and a couple other makers, have an excellent customer support site with historical info, not just the latest sales of new product advertising most companies put on their sites. Including ways to date when your gun was made.

Remember, the Auto-5 began production in 1902 and continued through 1999, and was made by FN, then Remington, then back to FN, with several changes in serial number format. They also had the A-5 Autoloader (New Model), the A-500G and A-500R models which were Auto 5 cousins, so be sure to use the right table.

Here is a link to the Auto 5 table covering your gun:

https://www.browning.com/support/date-your-firearm/auto-5-semi-automatic-shotgun.html

John Spangler



16606  - Ithaca 1911A1 Info
9/3/2022
Buddy Lecanto Florida USA

Maker: Ithaca, Model: 1911A1, Caliber: .45, Barrel Length: 5 Inch, Finish: Handgun - Parkerized, SN: 902427

Markings:
has FJZ initials and cross cannons

Question:
Wondering where this firearm was shipped or issued.Thank you Buddy

 Answer:
Buddy, when World War II broke out the military knew that the Colt could not meet the demand for the Model 1911A1 so the Ordnance Department contracted with four other manufacturers to make this pistol. The four were Singer Sewing Machine Company, Remington Rand Typewriter Company, Ithaca Firearms Company, and Union Switch and Signal Company. Ithaca began manufacturing 1911A1 pistols in December of 1942 and they reached full production by July of 1943. Ithaca manufactured your pistol in 1943. Ithaca pistols with serial numbers 856431-916402 were shipped to Raritan Ordnance Depot Metuchen, N.J. on NOV. 5, 1943. Marc