[coneten]

It was painful to behold and to hold. Early first year production with all correct parts that I could see. Even the mag was in shiny nickel. US PROPERTY and SN were still very evident as the buffing must have been on the gentle side. It was priced at $700. I scoffed and offered $300. He then placed his hand fingers outspread on the counter..five. I passed. But then after an overnight epiphany thought..why blame this perfectly good American side arm..it is not the guns fault. It is just part of it's history. So I called them back. Will post pics when it comes home..no flash..I promise.

 

[PRD1]

I feel your pain...

and still haven't decided what, if anything, to do with (about) my 1911A1 Colt, #777777 (that's right, SIX sevens, and the only A1 ever made with an all-7 serial number), which has been perfectly GOLD plated. Nothing was changed, all the parts are original, the polishing is the best I've ever seen on a 1911 military type (the lettering and stamps are all perfect under the plate), and the whole effect is topped-off with a set of Fitz Staglite grips, which are probably contemporary with the plating operation. Oh, yes, the magazine is plated, too.
The original owner probably thought it had to be a lucky number (for him). It shoots as well as any military 1911 type I've ever owned or shot, though the sight picture is a tad 'glary'.
There's probably a Mexican drug lord out there who'd pay a ton of money for this one, if I were willing to sell it to him, which I'm not.
PRD1 - mhb - Mike

 

[curly1]

If only the inventors of chrome and nickle knew what evil they had set loose upon the world

Humanity can't resist shiney things. It's in our genes.

 

[BobM1919]

Over on the machine gun forum there is a thread about de-chroming firearms.

Here it is:

http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?257625-Pimped-out-MG08

You folks might want to investigate, I figure it would be cheaper than getting yourselves all pimped out to match your pistols, what with the price of vintage Cadillacs and all - LOL.

Seriously though, it might be an option and, IMHO, it would be a shame to allow either of these pistols to remain as they are.
I realize it will be pricey but you have both already taken a flyer on the guns so....................

Either that or a thin coat of greyish/black paint (find something removeable) so that, at least, you can shoot them without blinding the other shooters on the line or having to try and explain exactly why you have such a thing.

If applied with an airbrush you would still be able to read all the stampings, might not stand up for very long but, chrome (or gold), really?!!???

 

[coneten]

I might have a friend custom make a holster with some "Fighting 69th" references. My dad was with that unit and would get a kick out of it.

 

[milprileb]

Post WWII, there was a huge desire by GI's, Vets and a ton of civilians for nickle plated / chrome plated 1911 pistols.
They were very common and were a style/ flavor of the times. This even went on into VN war when lots of war trophies
got chromed by GI's.

If I came across a 1911 with such a surface coating and the deal was right, I would just enjoy the weapon and weep not.

If I wanted to flog myself about a 1911, it would be the 99% Lend Lease stamped one I found in Iraq and could not bring home..

.... I still snivel like a rat eating onions about having to give that pistol away when I left Iraq.

 

[PRD1]

Hmmm. Pimpmobile, zoot suit, stable of girls...

it's certainly tempting, but my wife says no (and, at my age... really?).
I have thought about having it deplated and refinished as originally, but there are not too many folks I feel could do it right. Still, it is an option.
Meanwhile, just having it makes me... 'The Man With The Golden Gun'... :->
PRD1 - mhb - Mike

 

[chuckindenver]

not that tough to do, my Norski colt, pimped and unpimped.

 

[coneten]

What a difference..very nice. I'll take those pearl grips!

 

[coneten]

I found a Sistema Colt today with..fake ivory grips...the original grips will be here tomorrow. So the fake ivory grips are now on the nickel plated Rem Rand and look very fitting. I also have talked with someone about the reverse of the nickel plate process and am entertaining that thought.

 

[falm16]

if the plating was a good job, and the prices right, just keep them as is. i especially like a gold one..... had to have been Pattons.

 

[tramp7810]

goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo gamecocks lol

 

[coneten]

pimpalisciuos

Here are the offensive pics.

 

[chuckindenver]

i can bring that weapon back to milspec with no problem.

 

[coneten]

Chuck, This one is pretty early and all of the parts look correct. I think it would be a dullite blue. Keep talking!

 

[chuckindenver]

though i could blue it, and match the du lite color, i use the same formula, the sand blast finish is long gone, and that in itself would be tough to duplicate,
i could park and blue...phoshate the slide, frame, main spring housing, grip safety, and barrel bushing, and beadblast blue the hammer, trigger, safety, slide catch and mag catch, natural blue the barrel, and pins..
i dont use play sand media like was used originally, blast media has changed since..
if your interested in my rates, your welcome to contact me outside the forum..
this pistol was chrome plated as well when it was handed to me.. i have several pictures of weapons that iv restored over the years, some started out as train wrecks, others not bad, just needed some TLC.

 

[mike radford]

Wow Wayne. That is an early Type 1 Remington Rand, one of about 10,000 made, and would have been DuLite blue. The milled trigger would be correct, as would be a fine checkered MSH. Value in 95% condition would have been about $4000 or better. They sure picked a bad one to plate. You will want early Keyes grips with no rings around the screws if you elect to restore it. That pistol is probably worth it IMO.

 

[coneten]

Mike, This one does have the milled trigger, stubby hammer and the fine checkered MSH.This link is pretty good. The earliest Rem Rand SN#916405..mine is 918929..2,524 later. http://www.model1911a1.com/Remington.htm

 

[mike radford]

Mike, This one does have the milled trigger, stubby hammer and the fine checkered MSH.This link is pretty good. The earliest Rem Rand SN#916405..mine is 918929..2,524 later. http://www.model1911a1.com/Remington.htm

You are right.

I remember reading that data in the link a few years ago. There is a little more known now so it is not totally right but still close and helpful. I have a weakness for the DuLite Rem. Rands. They are much more interesting to me than a US&S. The pistol you have is 5 times as rare as a US&S.

 

[Michael Jon Littman]

Here are the offensive pics. View attachment 522604 View attachment 522605

You know, I kind of like it just like it is. This reminds me of the Latin American taste in M1911s from the first half of the 20th century.