Calling All Radom Gurus

[Ganderite]

A family friend invited me over to inspect his Colt 45 that his father brought home from the war.

It was mounted in a display case, along with his medals.

I was hoping to see that they had a WW1 Colt contract 1911.

Nope. I immediately knew it was a Radom by the distinctive grip shape.

On my casual examination:
Slide inscription is small print and faint F.B. RADOM VIS Moc 35

The top grip screws are missing.

The slide stop and mag release are blued - nothing else has been polished and blue/parked.

Trigger guard has a dirty bird. Mag has bird and 189

My guess is that the safety lever is not properly installed. The gun cocks ok, but hammer drops when safety is rotated down.

Family story is that Dad brought it home in pieces, and assembled here.

My guess is that it came from the factory as a gun that was not yet quite finished. It has a serial # and that was used to register it. Serial is K plus digits.

Can you tell me what they have?

 

[polkey]

Late model, that is a de-cocker on the slide and sounds like its working properly.
Serial number for the slide should be stamped on the inside, number behind the de-cocker is not a serial number.

 

[Ganderite]

Late model, that is a de-cocker on the slide and sounds like its working properly.
Serial number for the slide should be stamped on the inside, number behind the de-cocker is not a serial number.

"Late model". This appears to have no polish or bluing. Made this way, or taken from factory?

The de-cocker works fine and the trigger feels good. Heavy, but crisp.

It has no safety in the frame, where the 1911 has a safety. I see by the Google pictures, that the earlier ones had a safety, but the late ones did not.

 

[polkey]

"Late model". This appears to have no polish or bluing. Made this way, or taken from factory?

That was how they left the factory, late models didn't have the takedown lever on the frame, rougher machining and a phosphate finish. Occasionally wood grips but also a reddish coloured bakelite as well instead of the usuall black grips.

If it's serialized and proofed (dirty birds) its not likely to be a lunchbox/parts gun.

A good read for one that is quite similar to the one you posted, seems the K block was likely the very end.
https://www.lugerforums.com/threads...one-of-the-very-last-wwii-vis-pistols.117597/

 

[Ganderite]

That was how they left the factory, late models didn't have the takedown lever on the frame, rougher machining and a phosphate finish. Occasionally wood grips but also a reddish coloured bakelite as well instead of the usuall black grips.

If it's serialized and proofed (dirty birds) its not likely to be a lunchbox/parts gun.

A good read for one that is quite similar to the one you posted, seems the K block was likely the very end.
https://www.lugerforums.com/threads...one-of-the-very-last-wwii-vis-pistols.117597/

Thank you. Makes sense.

K block was assembled in Austria by Styer, apparently. Last ditch.

Where can he source some grip screws?

 

[andycal]

I'm guessing the grip screws maybe the same as in colt 1911.

 

[Ganderite]

I'm guessing the grip screws maybe the same as in colt 1911.

That will be easy to find out. I saw a reference that they used SAE screws. Did not believe it.

 

[polkey]

The earlier versions used threaded bushings in the frame and smaller diameter screws like you'd see on a 1911, the later ones like yours used a large diameter screw essentially the size of a bushing. Repro's are available in the US from places like Jack First, but I don't think they ship to Canada.

 

[Ganderite]

The earlier versions used threaded bushings in the frame and smaller diameter screws like you'd see on a 1911, the later ones like yours used a large diameter screw essentially the size of a bushing. Repro's are available in the US from places like Jack First, but I don't think they ship to Canada.

Yes. These are fat screws. I have American sources. Thanks.