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My new Colt 38 Super? W/barrel pics
clays
Member Posts: 1,913 ✭✭✭✭
Today I stopped by my local gun shop and found a Colt 38 Super that my dealer made me a (Deal you can't refuse) on. $600 out the door.
Well, it may not have been the deal of the century, but he's needing some quick cash and I thought I would help him out.
Now for some specifics. I know you guys are sticklers for pics so I have included some for your viewing.
First confusing thing is the magzine. The gun says Super 38 automatic, but the bottom of the mag says Colt .38 SPEC. When I first removed it from the gun, I thought someone had left a .22 conversion mag in it as it has the spring compressors on the sides. Not so as it is the size of a 38.
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The next thing would be the DOM?
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Gun has some sort of target sights that have been installed. The front extends about 2" from the muzzle and the rear is fully adjustable.
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Here are a couple of pics of the sides of the slide.
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Also had some very strange looking target grips on it.
[img][/img]
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I am thinking the gun is a 38 Super as the barrel is so marked. Perhaps it is the wrong mag.
[img][/img]
[img][/img]
[img][/img]
Well, it may not have been the deal of the century, but he's needing some quick cash and I thought I would help him out.
Now for some specifics. I know you guys are sticklers for pics so I have included some for your viewing.
First confusing thing is the magzine. The gun says Super 38 automatic, but the bottom of the mag says Colt .38 SPEC. When I first removed it from the gun, I thought someone had left a .22 conversion mag in it as it has the spring compressors on the sides. Not so as it is the size of a 38.
[img][/img]
[img][/img]
[img][/img]
[img][/img]
The next thing would be the DOM?
[img][/img]
[img][/img]
[img][/img]
Gun has some sort of target sights that have been installed. The front extends about 2" from the muzzle and the rear is fully adjustable.
[img][/img]
[img][/img]
Here are a couple of pics of the sides of the slide.
[img][/img]
[img][/img]
Also had some very strange looking target grips on it.
[img][/img]
[img][/img]
I am thinking the gun is a 38 Super as the barrel is so marked. Perhaps it is the wrong mag.
[img][/img]
[img][/img]
[img][/img]
Comments
Well, the real 1911 experts should come along shortly with a lot more information, but in the meantime, it looks to me like what you may have there is a Colt custom-chambered into .38 SPECIAL, not .38 super. These conversions weren't common, but they were done, mostly for bullseye shooters.
The extended front rib sight is to increase the sight radius for bullseye shooting. You've also got a match-adjustable rear sight. The "weird" grips are just standard non-adjustable bullseye grips with thumb rest and palm shelf.
Note the jewelled hammer and trigger. These are signs of custom gunsmith-type work.
If I'm right about the caliber, you "stole" this gun for only $600.
The bad news is, you did not get a .38 Super.
It has most likely been converted from .38 Super to .38 Special (target wadcutter loads only) for the sole purpose of shooting NRA Centerfire. That is where you stand on your hind legs like a man, hold the gun in one hand and shoot at a target 50 yards away.
The grips are made to be supportive of that one hand grasp.
The extended front sight is for a longer sight radius for a precise aim.
The adjustable rear sight is so you can zero for your ammunition, grasp, sight picture, and range (You also get to shoot rapid fire at 25 yards, 5 shots in 10 seconds.)
The magazine only holds five rounds, that being all you ever need in NRA Conventional Pistol (bullseye) target shooting.
The sights are the type made by John Giles of Odessa, Florida (since deceased) and presumably the gun was converted and accurized by him, since I have never heard of him selling parts separately.
Don't understand how your dealer could possibly sell it as a .38 Super, with all the custom work that's been done to it though.
If you can verify that it's a Giles full house conversion, it could be possibly worth big bucks to a collector.
I believe your mag only holds six 38 Spls because of the rim stackup.
If you tire of shooting midrange 38 Specials,
I suspect a 38 Super mag, spring and barrel will revert it back to Super with a question mark for the extractor which can be changed.
You have a convertible on your hands.
There are also 9mm barrels and mags for the 1911 so you've got a few possibilities there.
Since you have that extended sight, theres a guy in Alaska that sold me a 6" 9mm barrel for the 1911.He had four. Mine will eventually get rechambered to 38 Super/9x23.
He may still have some. Email me if you need info.
Thanks
Interesting story. . .deleted by me.
The board doesn't permit offers to buy or sell in this forum, so you can expect this bit to be deleted shortly.
Since you left no contact information, if you'd like to discuss this privately by email, feel free to contact me via the the board email system (click on my username, then use the contact form).
"Beantownshootah"