Golden State Arm .45

cwo4comm

Picked up a Golden State Arms ,45 cal Knock off of the COLT 1911
maybe put together gun from military parts (???)
Marking: Golden State Arms, Pasadena,CA
2 R over small s 783 8.
what is the meaning of "FS/FT"

Anyone with a serial number date base??
Any info most welcome.

This is an early 1940's company that sold all kind of WW II guns
This one is a high quality 1911.

rufe-snow

Golden State Arms, was in business. Between the early 1950's and 1966, when they went belly up.

They imported, rebuilt, reworked, primarily, various military rifles into sporters/deer rifles. Also imported many surplus handguns of various types. What you describe could have been a 1911 clone from Spain, Argentina, Norway etc. That they rebuilt with surplus parts.

Never run across any 1911's with their name on it. Need quality photos, and at least a partial serial number.For identification and valuation purposes.

cwo4comm

the one line is
2 R over small s 783 8. FS FT
It is stamped
Golden State Arms .45 Cal Santa Fe
regards

rufe-snow

quote:Originally posted by cwo4comm
the one line is
2 R over small s 783 8. FS FT
It is stamped
Golden State Arms .45 Cal Santa Fe
regards



The markings don't ring a bell with me? Probably with photos, it would be more identifiable?

"Santa Fe Arms" was the name Golden State used on the military guns, they sporterized for commercial sale. As I noted previously all of the "Santa Fe Arms" guns, that I have run into over the years have been rifles. Golden State Arms, sold many military surplus handguns. Don't recall seeing any, with "Santa Fe Arms" markings?

rufe-snow

Got this off the net. I don't know specific date? Probably late 50's, early 60's? Hard to believe the prices, until you remember. The ad is well over 50 years old.

cwo4comm

thanks for info, most helpful. Cant beat the prices.
I remember when you could order enfield .303 for $8.88 FOB out of the windy city. circa 1956
I will attempt to post pictures as soon as get equipment.
You confirmed my line of thinking on it as being from parts etc...
regards

gruntled

Went to their going out of business sale. No deals, the people bid all the guns over the regular prices. The prices in those ads seem higher than I recall. I remember Mosins for $5 & barrels of rolling blocks for $9.99. However the $39.95 for the Colt .45 is lower than I can remember except for the DCM pistols but you could get Mauser Broomhandles, Lugers, P-38s & Browning Hi-Powers for that.

machine gun moran

I bought one of those .45's, from Golden State. It came through marked 'Santa Fe' on the frame, with an unmarked slide. It turned out to be a G.I. 45 that had been cut in half and welded back together, with the original markings ground off. The frame cracked in half after a few thousand rounds.

When I looked at the ad that I had bought it from, I noticed that it said '45 Colt Automatics' and not 'Colt 45 Automatics', and in retrospect I had to fault myself for missing that.