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Riddle me this-

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854 views 28 replies 23 participants last post by  kitchencounsel  
#1 ·
What's your best guess of a round count through the below pistol? I can offer more hints later but let's start with the pics for now..

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#4 ·
Don't look like much rounds through. But you cannot really know round counts by looking at it. You can pull a new recoil spring and place side by side with the old one to give you a sense of how long the previous spring has been in that pistol. But that will still not give you a good measure of round counts if prior owner keep up this maintenance schedule with spring changes.

If you have concern, always replace recoil spring and firing pin spring with no ways of knowing prior round counts. Other thing is check barrel lockup etc.
 
#6 · (Edited)
I think it looks to be in fairly decent shape (what Mr. Cuber points out above looks like a crack on the right barrel foot doesn't seem to show from the rear view). Not much blue wear on the receiver deck, barrel seat, or the bow-tie.

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The breech face looks rough but it's hard to know whether those are Colt tool marks or not. Pitting around the firing pin hole, possible scabbing where the barrel hood contacts. I would imagine the face would have more of a polished appearance the more rounds through it.

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If I may, why is it you are asking?
 
#26 ·
I think it looks to be in fairly decent shape (what Mr. Cuber points out above looks like a crack on the right barrel foot doesn't seem to show from the rear view). Not much blue wear on the receiver deck, barrel seat, or the bow-tie.

View attachment 777251 View attachment 777252

The breech face looks rough but it's hard to know whether those are Colt tool marks or not. Pitting around the firing pin hole, possible scabbing where the barrel hood contacts. I would imagine the face would have more of a polished appearance the more rounds through it.

View attachment 777253

If I may, why is it you are asking?
Just thought it’d make for a bit of fun. I’ve always found posts showing honest wear interesting and figured I’d contribute while I had it out.

I think that might be a trick of the light but I’ll certainly double check the barrel.
 
#9 ·
Is this some kind of test for us or are you looking at this gun to buy it? Either way we need the following:
While there is no precise method to determine the exact number of rounds fired through that 1911, combining visual inspection, performance testing, and historical context I/we, can provide a reasonable estimate. We need a lot more to give you a reasonable idea of how many rds have been through that gun. Any service records wit the gun?
Why no internal barrel pics—if barrel is indeed original? Need to look for signs of wear or pitting inside of barrel. A smooth shiny barrel indicates fewer rds through the barrel. The photos need better lighting to see the wear on the slide and the frame. I would want to measure and test the spring. Since we can’t see the wear well on them w/o better lighting it s hard to tell. How often was it used? I would want to put it together and rack it numerous times to see if it hangs up, jams excessively which it would indicate if it was shot extensively. If I were buying it I would want to shoot it to evaluate the accuracy at various distances. A decline in accuracy can indicate wear from high usage. BTW, if I want to shoot your gun I pay for range time and ammo for my evaluation… I never put that on owner.
I want to know if the gun has been used for training or competition?If so it may have significantly more rounds through it.
Competitive shooters often fire 400-600 rounds per session. If the owner is a regular shooter, this can add up quickly. Was the gun used in competitive shooting? If yes it is often fired 400-600 rounds per session. If you are a regular shooter, this can add up quickly.
Ifbthis is some kind of test for us then tell us what for? I assume there is some element of involving us in some sort of test? Since your post starts out with Riddle me this. Maybe, your screen name should be “ Joker” instead of “Lucky.”
 
#17 ·
My rookie eyes are fixated on the breech face. First, Colt didn't seem to be concerned with removing the tool marks from it. Second, the breech face doesn't bear the indentations from the case heads that pistols with a lot of rounds on them typically do. Third, who knows the cause of all of the tiny punch-like marks at the top of the breech face? I don't recall ever seeing those.
 
#24 ·
If you go back to the first set of photos posted by Lucky, right click on the photo, then left click on 'open image in new tab'. Go to the new tab, and you'll see a little + sign when you hover over the image. Left click while hovering and the 'zoomed in' close up will provide much more detail.
Looking at the presumed 'crack' seems to show it as a tool mark. And the marks on the breech face above the FP hole looks to me to have been made by a Dremel Tool stone...pretty clear.
 
#28 ·
Only two of my pistols have been fired 500 rounds or more. Those two - my S&W Compact 9mm and a CZ Compact - have been fired 1,000 rounds or more. Why only those two? Those two are the ones I carry.

How do I know "500 or fewer"? I don't keep a diary to record the rounds fired with each pistol. I shoot my pistols only at an indoor firing range. And at each range visit I shoot a pistol only as many rounds as are in the magazines I've pre-loaded and brought to the range (I hate to burn range time reloading a magazine). I generally have 5 magazines for each pistol. So during each range session I'll shoot each pistol about 60-75 rounds. I normally take three pistols with me (each in its own carry bag), so during each range visit I shoot a total of 225 or fewer rounds.

Knowing I've taken each of my non-carry guns to the range 4 or fewer times, I can confidently say I've shot each of those pistols fewer than 500 rounds.