my free 1911 - The Firearms Forum

old semperfi · 01-23-2010, 08:16 PM

a number of years ago a good friend of mine gave me a 1911 45.he said it belonged to his grandfather but he was afraid to shoot it,he gave it to me.it had so much holster wear a hole was worn in the slide,the hammer was so long it bit everytime he shot it.it also appeared to have serial #ground off.i took it thinking i would use parts and build one.with much research i found that the gun was probably made around 1913 and was military.i called my local atf and explained what i had.i was told that many years ago a military officer could purchase his 45 but they were numbered for amory purposes only and legally they did not have to have serial #anyway.i finally purchased a essex frame and a surplus slide and rebuilt gun using some of the parts,it will out shoot my gold cup.i still have the old parts and may some day put it all together again. old semperfi

Popeye · 01-23-2010, 08:18 PM

Free is a very good price!

jondar · 01-24-2010, 07:36 AM

Quote: "I was told (by the ATF) that years ago a military OFFICER could purchase his firearm...."

Absolutely correct. A few years ago I got into an argument with two or three members of another forum who had posted that they had a Model 1911 or 1911A1 'their dad had carried in the war". They said I was saying that their dad stole the gun. Not at all. Huge numbers of these arms were put on the market about 1950 and could be purchased cheaply. If you were an officer and had the document from your commanding officer permitting you to buy it, you could. But the idea that any and all could walk out the gates of the discharge center with their discharge in one hand and their Model 1911 in the other is very naive indeed.

Alpo · 01-24-2010, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old semperfi

a number of years ago a good friend of mine gave me a 1911 45.he said it belonged to his grandfather but he was afraid to shoot it,he gave it to me.it had so much holster wear a hole was worn in the slide,the hammer was so long it bit everytime he shot it.it also appeared to have serial #ground off.i took it thinking i would use parts and build one.with much research i found that the gun was probably made around 1913 and was military.i called my local atf and explained what i had.i was told that many years ago a military officer could purchase his 45 but they were numbered for amory purposes only and legally they did not have to have serial #anyway.i finally purchased a essex frame and a surplus slide and rebuilt gun using some of the parts,it will out shoot my gold cup.i still have the old parts and may some day put it all together again. old semperfi

If you ever want to put that old gun together again, I suggest you WRITE to the ATF, instead of calling. Having an answer, on ATF letterhead, will keep your butt out of jail. Saying, "But they told me, over the phone" won't.

While it's true that, back then, they were not required to have a serial number, removing the serial number on a gun is a Federal crime. Even though it wasn't required to have one, it did have one, and it was removed, and that's illegal.

Goneracin · 01-24-2010, 05:40 PM

thats just plain AWESOME. nice snag

01-23-2010, 08:16 PM	#1
old semperfi Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: i live in southern indiana,old country boy at heart Posts: 1,506	my free 1911 a number of years ago a good friend of mine gave me a 1911 45.he said it belonged to his grandfather but he was afraid to shoot it,he gave it to me.it had so much holster wear a hole was worn in the slide,the hammer was so long it bit everytime he shot it.it also appeared to have serial #ground off.i took it thinking i would use parts and build one.with much research i found that the gun was probably made around 1913 and was military.i called my local atf and explained what i had.i was told that many years ago a military officer could purchase his 45 but they were numbered for amory purposes only and legally they did not have to have serial #anyway.i finally purchased a essex frame and a surplus slide and rebuilt gun using some of the parts,it will out shoot my gold cup.i still have the old parts and may some day put it all together again. old semperfi -->

01-23-2010, 08:18 PM	#2
Popeye V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Sacramento area, CA Posts: 319	Re: my free 1911 Free is a very good price! __________________ We, as a nation, have become fatified, lazified and stupefied.

01-24-2010, 07:36 AM	#3
jondar V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 458	Re: my free 1911 Quote: "I was told (by the ATF) that years ago a military OFFICER could purchase his firearm...." Absolutely correct. A few years ago I got into an argument with two or three members of another forum who had posted that they had a Model 1911 or 1911A1 'their dad had carried in the war". They said I was saying that their dad stole the gun. Not at all. Huge numbers of these arms were put on the market about 1950 and could be purchased cheaply. If you were an officer and had the document from your commanding officer permitting you to buy it, you could. But the idea that any and all could walk out the gates of the discharge center with their discharge in one hand and their Model 1911 in the other is very naive indeed.

01-24-2010, 05:40 PM	#5
Goneracin V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 151	Re: my free 1911 thats just plain AWESOME. nice snag __________________ Long time Marine, Novice pistol shooter, First time 1911 owner and proud of it. Looking for advice and tips on it all. Going to war without the French is like going hunting without an accordian, you leave a lot of useless noisey bagage behind - Donald Rumsfeld