colt 1911-1914 factory bluing question. would appreciate any help..

[policeman706]

i recently purchased a true and correct 1914-1911. when i was taking it apart to verify all was correct i noticed that there is a different shade of blueing on the upper grip area, just above the magazine thumb release. i starting researching this and found many true original 1911's had this different shade of blue. i however have been un-able to find anything on line or in my books that tells of this two tone blue. i am still learning and would appreciate help on this, thanks

[bmcgilvray]

A wild guess. Could it be because of the way the frame was heat-treated?

[Abe Anglin]

It has to do with the hand polishing applied prior to bluing ...

look closely and you'll see that there is a different grain, or direction to the way the surface was prepared.

[Oyeboten]

This is a M1911 then...the Government Models at that time had a different kind of finishing which did not tend to leave differential refraction patterns from final final grinding or abrasive operations.

What we are seeing on your M1911 is very similar to what one sees on the M1917 Colt .45 ACP Revolvers, where, final grinding left different patterns of direction in the minute parallel scratches, and, these were not polished out.


I really like that look...especially when it is fairly minty as your example is.

[fitz2]

my 1911 army from 1915 has similar polishing paterns on grip frame.

[policeman706]

Thanks, it is appreciated, i have to say it startled me at first- i thought it was a refinish.