Colt National Match 1911 (56k go take a nap)

[Guest Verbal Kint]

Need some help from the 1911 gurus, in regards to the barrel bushing that's on this gun. I've been searching, trying to get some info on this bushing, but have come up with nothing. Trying to figure out if the bushing came this way, or was tweaked by a smith somewhere along it's life.

As you'll see in the photos, the bushing has two spring-loaded ball bearings at the bottom of the inside circumference. In the rear of the bushing, you can see the hole with a spring in it. I assume this is where the ball bearings were inserted and then the springs. Then in the last photo you can see the lockup of the barrel and bushing. It actually requires force to seat the bearings, and the barrel to push past them, forcing a positive lockup of the barrel.

Is this a factory bushing? Did they come like that from Colt? Or was this a gunsmith addition? As I've said, I've found nothing in my searches. Hopefully some of you more experienced 1911 guys, or older geriatric crew might remember these.

Thanks for any help. I've left the photos somewhat large, so you can see what I'm talking about. Other than some cropping and lighting, they're as-taken. This was also before I cleaned those parts, so a good amount of the rust in the photos actually did come off the parts. Barrel is still pretty pitted though.

[Guest gcrookston]

The bushing appears to be the original as modified with the bbs. I've never seen that particular modification. Since it doesn't appear obvious it's been modified when assembled, I'd suggest leaving it alone.

Repro grips are easy to come by, but if it were mine I'd leave the ones that are on it. Heck, I'd probably only give it a thorough cleaning, new springs and shoot it "as is", sewer pipe and all...

But I am a sucker for originality and consider it a sin to restore (sometimes there is a fine line between repair and restore).

Here is an example of a NM I once owned that went through a similiar evolution of modifications of the type your's went through:

In 1928 it was sold at Camp Perry as a "B" model (quite rare), in the early 1930's it was sent back to Springfield for a new barrel. The 2nd owner competed with it at Perry 1939,40, 47. At some point he replaced the stock with the prefered "C" type, but retained the original NM handguard. Also at some point the headless cocking piece had a washer brazed on the end of it (to deflect gasses from ruptured cases) and the front sight was replaced with a ring type and the rear NM ladder sight was removed in favor of the Lyman (original to gun). A two piece firing pin assembly was installed. In fact, the modifications were such that when I purchased it from Jerry Miculek neither of us was certain it was a true NM or just an assembly of parts. After getting it home and finding the paperwork inside the stock, the documentation supporting what it was guaranteed it.

I could have gotten busy and restored this rifle, but in my way of thinking: Every modification done by the competitor(s) that owned this weapon were done for a specific purpose to enhance their edge on the field. You may now see this rifle displayed every year at Perry as part of a collection by an advanced collector from Florida.

Much like your piece, everything that was done to it was done for a particular purpose, and each modification adds to the history. Don't get too carried away swapping out parts. "As is", it would hold front and center in any advanced collection of competition pieces.

Edited October 23, 2008 by gcrookston

[Guest Verbal Kint]

I'm swapping out very little as possible. Going to run a few rounds down the pipe and see where it stands, now that a lot of the crud has been removed and the pitting is the only thing left. If it's still as accurate as when I shot it a few years back, I'll leave the original barrel in it. Otherwise I'll just bag them up and keep them with the gun, and put a new barrel/bushing into the gun for "use" (as limited as it will be).

You hit on another point that I had forgotten about. Paperwork. I think I remember people saying that Colt will supply the gun's history, for a small fee. Going to try and contact them and see if they can do so. Would be nice to have the build info for the gun.

[Guest gcrookston]

Colt will supply the gun's history, for a small fee. Going to try and contact them and see if they can do so. Would be nice to have the build info for the gun.

Colt letters start at $100 and can go up to $300. In the case of the Prewar NM I have never seen one specifically state it was a NM; at most "Patridge sights" - which is a clue, but not definitive. They should be able to tell you date / where shipped. That seems to be a lot of money for little info http://www.coltsmfg.com/cmci/historical.asp

[Guest Verbal Kint]

Wow... that is kinda pricey. I remember them making their money, but wasn't thinking it was that much. Just got done looking at their price sheet. I need to become a gun historian.

[musicman]

Yea, a letter from Roy Jinks at Smith & Wesson is just $30 I believe... a steal comparatively!

[Guest gcrookston]

Wow... that is kinda pricey. I remember them making their money, but wasn't thinking it was that much. Just got done looking at their price sheet. I need to become a gun historian.

I don't really consider the Colt letter worth the money unless you are trying to paper a SAA prewar (pre WWI)

This one shipped to Dunne Hardware, Casper WY, February 1881, Nickel [sic]and "fancy" ivory grips: (a rare occasion where you'll get your money back on a Colt letter)....

in your case, I'd not waste the money. In the above case, I was able to command $600.00 above the normal price due to this Colt letter pointing it out as a strong possiblity to being a cowboy gun... Had this gun shipped to New Jersey or North Carolina or some such eastern state, I'd have been stuck. Such is the life of an advanced Colt Collector and this is one of the reasons I no longer participate in that realm.

Your gun won't be that fortunate with your Colt Letter, Unfortunately...

Edited October 25, 2008 by gcrookston