Got a New Service in .45 Colt at a gunshow saturday. Not a mint collector grade gun, but pretty good condition for a 92 year old Colt.
Serial # 39xxx indicates 1911 manufacture.
Marked on bottom of grip frame with serial number and "US Army Model 1909".
On the right side of the frame near the grip it is stamped with "R.A.O.".
Anyone know what RAO stands for?
I`ve got a little pocket reference book that gives dates of manufacture, but I don`t have any reference books that give a lot of details about these old Colts.
This is my 3rd New Service. Other two are a 38-40 made in 1925 and a .38 Special made in 1933.
I`ve always been more of a shooter than a hard core collector. It`s just in the past year or so that I`ve become more interested in the history of some of the guns that have found their way into my collection.
Recently got a copy of "The Standard Catalog of S&W". Excellent reference book. Are there any similar books out there coving Colts that I ought to be looking for?
Serial # 39xxx indicates 1911 manufacture.
Marked on bottom of grip frame with serial number and "US Army Model 1909".
On the right side of the frame near the grip it is stamped with "R.A.O.".
Anyone know what RAO stands for?
I`ve got a little pocket reference book that gives dates of manufacture, but I don`t have any reference books that give a lot of details about these old Colts.
This is my 3rd New Service. Other two are a 38-40 made in 1925 and a .38 Special made in 1933.
I`ve always been more of a shooter than a hard core collector. It`s just in the past year or so that I`ve become more interested in the history of some of the guns that have found their way into my collection.
Recently got a copy of "The Standard Catalog of S&W". Excellent reference book. Are there any similar books out there coving Colts that I ought to be looking for?