Pistola Sistema Colt

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Today I picked up what is known as a Sistema Colt. At first I wasn't sure what I'd found, but here's what I what I was able to learn about them. In 1927, the Argentine Commission for Foreign Acquisitions negotiated a contract with Colt for the manufacture of of .45 caliber self loading pistols specially marked and serial numbered in a separate series, and secured a licensing agreement giving the Argentine government the right to manufacture these pistols in Argentina. The agreement specified: 1) Colt would manufacture 10,000 Colt automatic pistols, caliber .45, Argentine Model 1927 for the Argentine Army, 2) that the complete knowledge base for future production of the pistols in Argentina, to include drawings, manufacturing instructions, material specifications, tool requirements, etc. would be transferred to Argentine control, and 3) that Argentine technicians would be trained in manufacturing operations and inspection. Well Argentina didn't start making their own 1911A1s until 1945 and this is one of them.
The pistol had to have been refurbished as the parkerized finish and all parts show no sign of wear at all. It is very tight, tighter than the Colt Series 70 Commander I had, and the springs all feel new. I was surprised to find an original Colt magazine with it and nicely checkered walnut grips. Other than the foreign markings the only way I can tell it's not an American made Colt by the mainspring housing. Instead of the usual cut checkering it has some style of dimpled checkering. I fired a few shots using 230gr. FMJ ammo just to check it's function and all worked well. I even hit the log I was aiming at! I plan to change out the tiny original sights they come with, but not sure what will replace them. I picked up a box of 500 Remington 230gr. FMJ bullets and 100 Rem. cases so I'm very ready to do some shooting with it. I'll also have to get a pair of reliable magazines for it.
Don

[DocHolladay]

Some trijicon sights might be nice. Nice find by the way.

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I have a feeling that next time that pistol gets photographed it's going to look quite different. First I sent an order for two Chip McCormick mags and a Ed Brown frame rebuild kit which includes all springs for the frame and all pins. Then I got another itch and ordered an Ed Brown Videcki National Match aluminum trigger, Wilson Combat disconnector, combat sear and sear spring, Wolf 16# recoil spring. I still have another list that needs to be funded before it's sent. I think it will be a different pistol before long.
Don

[GrampaJer]

AAAAAAAAAAAAGGH How can you distroy an all original find, like that ?

[DocHolladay]

Easy, you start pulling it apart and replacing things... ;D.

[GrampaJer]

Sombody needs to pull me apart, and replace things.. ;D

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Jer,
Any value this pistol might have had as a collector was gone the minute they refinished it. If it was worth anything as a collectible they would have sold it as is rather than parkerize. I doubt it looked like much before they redid it. I've been wanting to build a 1911 from the frame up for years. These had a good reputation seeing how they were built to Colt specs, from Colt plans and with Colt advisors watching. I was only 4 years old when that pistola was built in 1960.
Don

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I just finished the first step in rebuilding the Sistema. I received two shipments today including a new Ed Brown Videcki National Match aluminum three hole trigger, Wilson Combat Factory Plus sear, sear spring and disconnector, Wolff 16 1/2# variable power recoil spring, Ed Brown frame rebuild kit(all springs and pins for frame), and two Chip McCormick match grade 8-round S.S. magazines. Everything was drop in easy except for the trigger which needed to be fitted. I had stripped the gun to the frame(not for the faint of heart) and put it all back together tonight. I still have more parts coming, but I wanted to make sure everything I'd changed so far worked out before I make more changes. I still have a skeletonized ultralight hammer, hammer strut and beavertail high ride grip safety all from Wilson, also an Ed Brown firing pin and hex head grip screws. Once those are installed I think I'll pretty much have the pistol where I want it. Well maybe some new grips too once the Wife gets over the cost of these parts. One thing that came with the frame kit is a new mainspring. I haven't tackled that yet, afraid that once I get it out and it shoots across the room, I won't be able to get the new one back in. They are under some real heavy tension and until I get some answers from experts on how it's done, I think I'll leave the old one in. LOL
Don

[DocHolladay]

Getting exciting. Cant wait on the pics and field report(s).

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I still have a set of Pachmayr wrap around grips coming and I didn't change out the grip screws with the new hex heads yet, but everything else is about done. It's got a new skeletonized hammer, lightweight trigger, beavertail grip safety, sear, disconnector, magazines, rear sight, and all new springs, including a 16 1/2# variable rate Wolff recoil spring and all new pins. The new finish is Brownell's Gun-Kote bake on finish in dark earth. I'm really happy with that finish. It's extremely scratch and chemical resistant yet self lubricating and ultra thin. Tomorrow I'll give it a try at the range, weather permitting. Here's the before and after photos.
Don

[DocHolladay]

WOW! That is looking great.

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Thanks Doc. There are a lot of hours of hand fitting of parts and take it apart and put it together trials involved. I did gain a much greater understanding of the 1911s internal workings from this project. The overall feel of the gun is much tighter than it was and the trigger pull is a dream compared to the original. I haven't added up the cost of the parts and I don't think I want to. LOL
I buy, sell and trade a lot of guns, but I've never gotten rid of a project gun like this or the AK I built. There's just too much of me in the guns.
Don

[GrampaJer]

WHOA " That sure does make a differance.

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I couldn't resist and ordered these today. Don't tell my Wife!
Don

[DocHolladay]

Is that buffalo(bison) horn??