Arthur,
There is a story behind the trigger frame.
It is actually a current production Numrich made steel trigger frame.
The steel trigger frames that Numrich sells now is not marked correctly (big surprise there, huh?!) The markings for the "FULL AUTO" and "SEMI AUTO" are correct (or at least fairly close) to AOC markings. The "FIRE" and "SAFE" markings are no good; in fact there is only a faint "F" and "S" stamped on it. And to make it worse, they are stamped in the wrong spot to correspond with the selector switch.
When PK called me (while building the gun), he informed me that these markings would have moved (by "erasing" them and having an engraver engrave them in the correct spot.) I asked him if he could put the early type "down pointing" arrows on it instead of the "double sided" arrow that was on higher number Colts. He said that it wouldn't look correct for the serial number which I am sure you are aware is actually one number above Colt's last gun.
I wanted it just because I like the look of it. As I told PK then, I was wanting a very nice replica of a 21A, not a counterfeit 21A; so I chose the style that didn't match. I even had Dave Janowski engrave "15041" on the bottom of the trigger frame.
As you know, the "Navy" model should also have Cutts comp on it; I didn't want that either. In fact the only reason the gun is marked with "Navy" overstampings is because it was already on the semi-finished (80% finished) 27A1 receiver when I purchased it. This is a Doug Richardson made receiver that was completed by Dave Janowski (07FFL) and PK. Doug said that he had made it for someone that had backed out of purchasing it. At the time (and maybe now) it was hard to get a semi-finished receiver (of any kind) from Doug (due to his travels and problems with his eyes.) I feel lucky that I got the one that I did. It had the Colt markings, and a non-Colt serial number, so I took it and ran with it. It has made the gun a much more authentic looking weapon, and some people who see it today still can't believe that it wasn't Colt made. I went with Doug's receiver because it was highest quality in both appearance and durability.
I wonder what J.C. Devine could get me for it?!
The serial number is proof enough that it is not a Colt. The photo below shows the tell-tale sign that it is indeed a 27A1 -the "step" at the end of the front end of the trigger frame.
I tried to make a 27A1 all it could be, and I think that this one is. It doesn't have any war history or PD tales to tell; it's just a great shooter!
Hell Arthur, it might even get you to like a least ONE 27A1 in this world!
Norm
