Got a gift from my Dad today, who died 24 years ago.*FINISHED UPDATE IN OP*

I picked up my Dad's 1911 from the gunsmith today and I couldn't be happier!

A project that my Dad had started about 30 years ago is finally complete. First, I need to correct my story on the gun. After talking with my Mom some more, I found out my Dad and the gunsmith that originally started the work didn't have a falling out. Turns out the gunsmith passed away, unexpectedly, in the middle of the job. What my Dad was pissed about was that this gun was caught up in the man's estate because his kids were fighting over who wanted what with the business. It took almost three years for my Dad to finally get it back and shortly after that, he unexpectedly passed away in 1991. The rest of the story is the same. One of my Mom's boyfriends was going to have it finished and put back together for me but never got around to it. They broke up, years went by and I had since then forgotten about the gun and when Katrina hit, I had assumed the gun was still at my Mom's house in Chalmette and had gotten lost, with everything else in the house.

So here it is: A 1974 Colt 1911 Series 70 National Match Gold Cup, the way my Dad envisioned it!

Slide release, safety, hammer, thumb grip safety and barrel bushing have been replaced with Wilson polished stainless pieces and a stainless extended mag release has been added. Frame and slide have been retouched in spots where there were scratches and gouges and both were then re-blued. I'm very happy with the work and I think my Dad would be proud of the way it turned out. He also had some ivory grips that he was planning to put on it, I guess. I'll keep those stored safely away, though, and acquired a pair of original rosewood Colt grips with the gold medallions like what would have come with the gun originally.

I'll be running some rounds through it this Sunday before my shift at the range. CAN'T WAIT!













Minor update:

IT'S READY! Gunsmith called me this evening to let me know it's ready. I'll be going to pick it up Friday. I work a shift at the range Sunday afternoon so will be running some rounds through it that morning before my shift! Yall just can't imagine how I feel right now...

C'mon Friday!

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Met a local gunsmith at the Slidell Gun Show this past weekend. He had some examples of his work and I was impressed. He currently has the gun and is working on it. He called me last night to tell me he's striking out on finding a replacement Gold Cup sear but can use a standard 1911 sear and with a trigger job he can get the trigger pull to what the gold cup was originally or even less. I also was able to get a set of original rosewood Colt grips off eBay for it. I'll post more updates as I get them...



Update for title change and more pictures...

On my way home with a Series 70 Colt 1911 National Match Gold Cup that's in heavy need of TLC... But I couldn't be more happy to have one of my Father's guns back in my possession.



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You may be asking yourself... "I wonder what's in that envelope?" Well the answer is: all the small screws, springs and internal parts... AND THESE!



Yes, that's ivory, dragon engraved grips. I guess my dad was into that. It's not my style but I'm keeping them for obvious reasons. I'm going to get a set of original wooden grips for it once it's refinished and reassembled.

It needs a good bit of TLC. The front site is all scoured from what looks like someone trying to remove it with pliers. And there's scratches/gouges in the typical 1911 spots(the slide release and safety lever).

Anyone have some gunsmith recommendations? My Brother-in-law gave me the info on one he's used. Just wondering if there's others out there... Maybe one that is more 1911 specific... (KingRanch? Bapple? Any input?)

Original post below.
To make a long story short, the gun is technically mine. I gave (not "gave" as in transfer possession) it to one of my mom's boyfriends many many years ago because it was in pieces and he said he could get it put back together for me. I was a teenager and didn't know anything about reassembling firearms. This one was completely stripped. It was my father's and he had it at gunsmith for customizing and the gunsmith fricked him over on something. Dad got pissed and just went and got it back from the guy but it was in pieces and that's how it was when he died in 1991.

I had completely forgot about it until yesterday... Mom's ex called her and told her that he came across it in his house the other day. He wants to get it back to me cause he knows what it would mean to me to have one of my dad's guns after losing all but 2 of them to Katrina, but he lives near Atlanta.

So can it just be shipped back to me via fed ex or will I need to have it transferred via an FFL?

I'm thinking of just driving to go get it...

I'll reveal the kind of gun once I get it back and finished/reassembled. But the OB is gonna love it.