Colt21

I have a 1928 Colt Water Cooled parts kit that I purchased from Ohio Ordnance over 20 years ago. It's been sitting packed away and I am going to make a display plate for the right side and want it to look original. My understanding when I bought it was that the guns had been brought back from Argentina possibly. I have seen two engraving patterns on pictures of right side plates from the internet. One version has a simple couple line device at the rear of the right side with Colt Model 1928 as one of the lines. The other has a much bigger block at the rear with Colt in large letters and what looks like the crest of Argentina in the middle. My trunion has the serial number 662 and I'm not sure if that's a partial serial number from the original plate which is long gone or is it the full serial number. The left side plate has a mount for an optic device. The flash hider is the long cone type and the water jacket end caps and trunion are brass. The back plate has a pistol grip. I am looking for some clear close up pictures of the correct engraving on the plate and what the full serial number would have been. I have an engraver that should be able to transfer the images to the display plate when I make one. I also need to know which engraving is appropriate and what the full serial number might have been. I can also tell you that it is not a 1917 or 1917A1 Any help or pictures would be appreciated Thanks Nick

Dan, Thanks ,Do you have a number that I can call you at? Nick

I am looking for some assistance in building a display Colt 21. First some background, I am building a display Colt 21 with a low serial number trigger frame. The display receiver that I am using had heavy end mill marks on top and rough marks from a facing mill on both sides. I hand polished it and Bob at Phila ordnance engraved the right side having problems with the New York and the bottom patent number not being deep enough to get the full engraving depth. I have an engraver who can fix these characters, So I'm not as worried about them as the left side. I did some more polishing on the left side and sent it back to Bob who contacted me and stated that it was not flat and he did not want to try to do the left side engraving. I am imagining that Bobs engraving fixture might be based on the corners of the receiver being square as from top to each side. He stated that his engraving is only 2 thou deep. He was concerned that the characters would be faint and did not want to attempt it. The problem that I have is thus, I am looking for someone that can provide me with a drawing of the Colt engraving for the left side of the receiver showing letter size and spacing and set back distances for each row. This would be for the 5 line device toward the rear of the receiver and the two line model number and serial number block towards the front center. My engraver could lay it out and do it with this information or if someone on here can direct me to a person who is set up to do it, That would be fine. I have polished the receiver by hand to look like the Colt finish. I also need someone to drill the comp for the cross pin. The comp is a richardson made repro and I have a sight and cross pin as well. I also have a richardson repro display actuator knob that has a smooth shaft under neath of it. I am looking for it to be threaded so that I can place a flat piece of steel under it and a nut to make it look authentic. I also need a display buffer pilot for the rear of the display receiver. I may need someone to blue the display receiver once it's done. I used to do blueing years ago and am trying to avoid buying supplies and equipment just to blue one or two pieces. Any help or direction would be appreciated. Thanks Nick

Thanks, I am sure on building the display gun. I had another lower that I sold a few years ago. I saw a low serial number 28AC for sale on GB last year and wish I had the money for it. I like the early frame guns as they call them with the Aut Ord Co logo on top and the square actuator slot. Did your 28 have a mismatched lower? Thanks Nick

I want one for sure. Will reach out to you

I'm putting together a display Colt with lower # 2024. Referencing the serial number research in the Ultimate Thompson book, #2024 was sold to the USMC in 1928 and purchased for the 2nd battalion in Nicaragua. I wanted to make it a 21 AC but from the shipping date I would believe that the gun was probably sent over as a 28 Navy. Does anyone have any thoughts or advice to offer? It would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

The idea of doing away with it entirely sounds good.

Maybe in this day of the computer age, They could change the fee for SBRs and SBS s to 5.00 and have some type of E file where you get an answer back in 48 hours. This won't help people in neo nazi states like NJ or CA but it would streamline the process for the rest of Us and JoJeep I hope you get to experience the pleasures of residing in a free state soon.

Yeah, I hear what you're saying but sometimes we ( gun owners) are our own worst enemies. A house divided cannot stand . I stay off of social media because of the idiocy that's on those venues. I'll try to stay on topic.

Looking to purchase the following original items if anyone has any they would part with, Mills 1921 carry case Rusco 1921-28 Carry case Colt patent date XX mags Colt 18 round shot mags Mills L drum web case (original) Original FBI hardcase

PM me , I'll help you out.

Sure would like to see some pictures of that 21 on here. Some things to consider while You're waiting for someone local with knowledge to possibly visit is to use a thin piece of leather or card over any tool that you decompress the pivot plate springs with for takedown and also use card stock or a playing card under the tab of the ejector if you decide to unscrew it. I was a Police officer for 29 years and we had Colt Thompsons. They displayed one of ours in the Museum with the bolt retracted but removed the recoil spring while doing so. I personally would advise not to take parts out of the gun ( they have a way of getting lost) and leave the actuator forward for display, even with a drum magazine in place.

Really nice. That's a niche in the Thompson model line that's not seen often.

I am pretty sure that receiver depth between the TSMG and the semi auto is different with the Semi receiver being about 1/10 inch shallower which was done so that a TSMG bolt couldn't readily be used. I have an early West Hurley 27A1 that I can measure the bolt travel in if you want.

That's a good analogy. I'd bet on a replacement barrel job. Either another colt barrel or a Richardson barrel.

Nice gun. I agree with Normal 1959 on gunbroker. You should have no problem finding 30 rounders and drums in various condition and prices. The drums on there are a little high but some of them have been on for a year. You might be able to contact the buyer and make an offer.

OCM and Ron, Make the interest in outlaws a club of 10 then. I have a lot of paperwork from the Porter County-Dillinger Thompson and have gone down there to disassemble and clean it for them. I got to shoot it also which was a great memory in itself. I was in Tuscon last year but didn't have time to try and see the guns there.

Nice pictures OCM. That would be the ultimate 1907. Is that one of the Lebman mfg weapons?

Nice weapon! You will get even more satisfaction with it because you are loading your own ammunition. Conjures up images of "the Son" mini series this past spring.

Gijive, I tried to post some pictures on here but couldnt get it to work. Do you have an email address that I can send them to?

A beautiful example of old school Colt workmanship.

You might try Doug Richardson at 310-457-6400. He should be back from Belize and here in the states as of friday. I know a local person that collects parts and I will make an effort to get in touch with him. I believe He has a complete colt buttstock. Nick

Thank you sir, How about on that Rusco case? All of the hollow rivets on the strap tips are split on the back side. Most of them in one spot and maybe one or two of them in two spots. They seem to be peened over ok other than that. I am looking at that Rusco case on GB in particular .

Thanks Phil, I noticed that in D Alberts forum on repros, He speaks about the hollow rivets being split. If anyone else on here can throw in their opinion, It would be appreciated. If the case is original, how much is it worth? and if a repro, how much?

Sir, would you mind sending me a couple pictures of it? I would most like to see the snap on the back that goes through to the cleaning rod strap and also the back side of the metal strap ends where the hollow rivets are peened over? Also a shot of the front of the case. Thanks