Adding one photo to show the LACK of finish on that frame.

 

It's an aftermarket cast frame, maker unknown but possibly Essex.

 

I agree, Essex or perhaps Numrich/Auto-Ordnance. Most Essex I've seen had cast in checkering on the front grip, but the cast surface in the finger scallops looks like Essex.

Numrich/Auto Ordnance used to sell 'gunsmith special' 1911 frames. They were machined out of spec, casting marks didn't clean up, porosity in the casting, etc. They were like 3 for $100. You could even get 'incompletely machined' cast steel frames, basically todays 80% frame, and they didn't need Ser.Nos.

 

I suspected but wanted to hear form someone who knew something (not like myself). the slide that was on it is what is is - 1916, but I think ALL the other parts are just parts. There's no lanyard ring so that makes the main spring housing a what? If it's a colt it should have one, yes?

 

Whichever it is the serial number marking seems dubious to me. The Essex as well as the West Hurley frames had box type frame id where the serial number is.
This frame does have the pronounced front strap common on both the Essex and Auto Ordnance frames.
The Essex frames were marked
ESSEX ARMS
ISLAND PD. VERMONT
12345

The West Hurley A O frames were similar.

 

There aint a single marking on that frame except the shifty S/N ... obviously it's a parts gun and looking at them it's a real hodge-podge. The barrel has an S on the lug, but nothing else...? Looking up in the Riesch book I have if it were a Springfield it would have other stamps on the feed end - but no. I'm going to take into my LGS to see what he has to say about it. The only thing I'm certain of is the slide. At least that's Colts (old as hell too and not terrible for 100+ years old, but not pretty by any means).

 

When the Essex frames came out, they opened the door for other makers, and while they didn't exactly flood the market, they were common at gun shows.

All went through growing pains as far as quality was concerned, but later in time, were serviceable.

What they did do was sop up the surplus GI parts and believe me - there were a 'lot' of parts from brand-new to war-weary, but a quick bead-blasting and bluing took care of that quickly.

Might not be able to do that today, what with everyone being minutae-obsessed towards markings, but back then, one walk through a mundane gun show would yield every part needed and 'waa-laa' - another shooter was born...

 

I'll have it surveyed by the local smith. It seems like the action and fit is serviceable. As Pat C. says above - you can tell it was globbed up to fit for sure. There appears to still be residue on it where they used it to make the slide/frame "fit"

 

You can tell it went through some judicious fitting with Dykem steel blue and file marks .

 

Here I go again - so this pistol has me all sideways. It violated ATF rules for them to send it to me, I think that's established. The frame isn't complete so it's not even properly functional. I'm not sure what my recourse is, except I emailed them and asked the to take it back and refund my money. If they refuse? I think minimally, I take it to my local PD and surrender it and contact the ATF OR am I overreacting? All I need is a violation, perceived or otherwise, and then lose my collection (or worse).

Opinions oh sage members? PMs are appreciated too.

 

If the seller sent you the pistol on your C & R then send it back. DO Not contact ATF. Under the current regime that might not be so good, but on the other hand you were sent a "bogus" Colt.
The "suspicious" serial number also brings up other legalities.

 

If the balk at taking it back or refunding my money I will have no choice but to talk to my local PD, if nothing else to get it out of my freaking house. No?

 

Your in a difficult spot my friend. I like you will never do anything knowing I could loose my legally obtained collection. I would put a call into the auction house and speak directly to someone. let them know not only was the item not identified correctly but they broke the law by shipping to you on your FFL and that if they don't take it back and give you a full refund then you have no choice to report them to the authorities. My experience is auction houses don't really care its just business for them, but maybe they wont want to be reported and charged, that would hurt their reputation. Best wishes with this and keep us posted.

 

I doubt the PD will even know what you are talking about. Just contact the seller and tell then it's NOT a C&R eligible firearm, that they violated several BATFE regs (inc. fraud) by selling /shipping it to you as a C&R firearm, you expect a full refund including shipping to/from, and if the seller balks, just tell them you will contact their local BATFE office. Make and keep copies of anything pertaining to this deal.

BATFE doesn't usually get involved in 1 gun cases unless it was used in a crime.

 

Dude, calm down. The ATF is not going to raid your house. The seller is the one responsible for verifying the C&R status, not the recipient.

 

There are mistakes like this every day online.
I see barreled actions and partial guns listed for C&R all the time ,which is a no go. See antique guns listed that clearly are using wrong serial listing. Especially 1894 Winchester.

 

The mistake is not in whether it is C&R eligible, but that the serial number has been altered, and from the photos looks like it has been Bubba'd to junk status.

 

Aftermarket frames like this mostly date back no earlier than the late 1970s. So not only are they too young to be C&R eligible but being post-GCA they had to have the maker's name and serial number on them, which have been removed on this example. The cherry on top is that it's a cheap frame and has virtually no value. I would be contacting the seller ASAP and insisting that they take it back. If they resist then threaten to get ATF involved for selling you a non C&R eligible firearm with the original serial number removed.

 

I'm not convinced the serial number is altered , it appears to me the first four numbers struck also have a ghost of same numbers.?

I'm just looking on cell phone though. OP how about a nice close up of the number in focus.

If your seeing two different numbers that's anouther story.

Looks to me the serial number was lightly struck and then went back over ,could have been done at manufacturer level.
No evidence of surface alteration least what I can see.

 

I'm not convinced the serial number is altered , it appears to me the first four numbers struck also have a ghost of same numbers.?

I'm just looking on cell phone though. OP how about a nice close up of the number in focus.

If your seeing two different numbers that's anouther story.

Looks to me the serial number was lightly struck and then went back over ,could have been done at manufacturer level.
No evidence of surface alteration least what I can see.

The numbers are all the same, just done by a chimp with single number stamps and a meat tenderizer (joking, but they are just struck twice). Not a single other marking anywhere on it.

 

No manufacturer is going to serial number a pistol that crudely.

An Essex from the internet:

 

No manufacturer is going to serial number a pistol that crudely.

An Essex from the internet:

Also a perfect example of the 'as-cast' finish on the finger scallops I alluded to!

You can also see how deep the Essex stamping was. Not easily removed.

 

Could have easily been an unfinished frame ,gunsmith or individual finished an marked.Even though poorly marked that number font is of older style seldom seen unless maybe old time gunsmith shop.

 

You bought it on line, either from a gun board or auction house. Trouble is where you find it, usually on line.

 

 

As I stated above it's more than likely either gunsmith made and stamped. Or homebuilt frame from an unfinished .
Obviously who ever did it wasn't very picky as they didn't even remove the dykem.
Reminds me of a work in progress was on someone's bench ,maybe they passed and everything was liquidated.
The style of number font suggests to me old gunsmith shop build.

Between Sarco and Numrich there have been 1000's of these unfinished frames sold.

 

No manufacturer

No manufacturer is going to serial number a pistol that crudely.

An Essex from the internet:

Whoever finished it is the manufacturer , if it was ESSEX factory it would have been marked as such.

If it was unfinished unmarked Essex the gunsmith or person that completed the steps to make it a firearm is now the manufacturer.

In order to sell this type pistol legally it must have a manufacturers name city and state on the frame.

But for personal use this was not required but still recommended.

The clues are leaning toward gunsmith estate sale may not have even been completed.

 

Whoever finished it is the manufacturer , if it was ESSEX factory it would have been marked as such.

If it was unfinished unmarked Essex the gunsmith or person that completed the steps to make it a firearm is now the manufacturer.

In order to sell this type pistol legally it must have a manufacturers name city and state on the frame.

But for personal use this was not required but still recommended.

The clues are leaning toward gunsmith estate sale may not have even been completed.

Wouldn't a REAL gunsmith have installed the Ejector too? There is a pin hole in it for cutting the ejector into it. Someone said it looked like an "80%" frame -- that's pretty much right on there.

 

Speculation is endless, and no one here knows what it is other than a piece of junk. The buyer is due their money back on something that is only asking for trouble.

 

OP here, and THANK YOU sir.

 

Boy, did this thread grow some legs!😆
At this point, I'd begin by dispassionately assessing the viability of this piece actually becoming an operating firearm in your hands and proceed from there.

If it has no future, try to return it even if without a refund. If you are unable and it still vexes you; destroy and retain it in hand. I've done that before with receivers/frames. Eventually they get tossed or otherwise repurposed. (perhaps a gate handle.🤔)

If it really gives you the epizoodics and you want to keep it just give it a holy-water splash by sending it back asking that they run it through to you by a separate FFL.

All in all, you've not colluded in pursuit of a crime (very arguably not even 'after the fact') and to bring unwitting 3rd party LE into it will almost certainly cause serious confusion.

So, ask yourself first, ALL transfer kerfuffles aside... do you really want this frame as it presents to you?
My sense is that you don't so get rid of it and sleep well.

 

My LGS suggested he could send it back them if I didn't - which is probably the best route. After I've had the opportunity to talk to them. I've requested they take it and refund my money. I'm sure dad (the actual FFL there) doesn't need this sort of thing getting around.

 

Kellys Heros

 

Dang Garth , very sorry for your trouble !