Colt copy??

Dave Sanders · 10-05-2008, 10:53 PM

I have a guy who is wondering what the heck he has. It looks and feels Colt all the way, but has no colt markings what so ever. It has some weird writing that I can't make heads or tails to. His uncle brought it home from Korea and put the grips on it. He has the original grips, but forgot to bring them. It has an unmarked blued mag. Have any of you seen this type of writing before? Thanks.
Dave

Dave Sanders · 10-05-2008, 10:54 PM

I can't figure out how to add more than one picture per post, so I'll pick out a few major ones.
Dave

Dave Sanders · 10-05-2008, 10:56 PM

Dave Sanders · 10-05-2008, 10:56 PM

another

Dave Sanders · 10-05-2008, 10:57 PM

one more

Dave Sanders · 10-05-2008, 10:58 PM

Last one. Thanks.
Dave

Edward Tinker · 10-05-2008, 11:24 PM

I would guess it is a korean made colt copy. I used to own one, but sold it. If you are a Napca member there was a write up by John J and myself on the two we each owned. We guessed they were made in the 1950's, but that is just a guess. Johns was NC marked, instead of No like yours.

Reportedly only 500 of these were made in the Pusan area; here is a picture of the one I used to own.

Dave Sanders · 10-05-2008, 11:48 PM

So is the writing Korean? I can't make any head or tails to it. The guy who owns it was wondering about getting parts and fixing it up as the grip safety was a bit loose, but it looked like it would shoot alright to me. What kind of money are they worth? Not much or somewhat? I would prefer to have a colt, but perhaps to collectors the oddity of them might be appealing. Thanks for the input.
Dave

alanint · 10-06-2008, 06:21 AM

You can remove the mainspring housing by punching the pin out. Then slide the mainspring housing down, which will expose the flat spring, which actuates the grip safety. This spring looks like a fork with three legs to it. One of these legs returns the grip safety. By gently bending out the spring which works the grip safety, you can return it to a more functioning condition.
Judging from the outer appearance of this gun, I'm not sure GI parts would be a drop-in fit. I do believe, however, that this particular flat spring would probably be compatible. A replacement would solve both the grip safety issue but improve trigger return as well.
An interesting piece that I would not alter in any way.

Edward Tinker · 10-06-2008, 09:03 AM

Some to many, parts drop right in; they are more of a curiousity than anything, worth $450-$600

The writing is hangul (korean)

Ed

10-05-2008, 10:53 PM	#1
Dave Sanders User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Hamer, Idaho Posts: 284 Thanks: 28 Thanked 44 Times in 23 Posts	Colt copy?? I have a guy who is wondering what the heck he has. It looks and feels Colt all the way, but has no colt markings what so ever. It has some weird writing that I can't make heads or tails to. His uncle brought it home from Korea and put the grips on it. He has the original grips, but forgot to bring them. It has an unmarked blued mag. Have any of you seen this type of writing before? Thanks. Dave Attached Images

10-05-2008, 10:54 PM	#2
Dave Sanders User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Hamer, Idaho Posts: 284 Thanks: 28 Thanked 44 Times in 23 Posts	I can't figure out how to add more than one picture per post, so I'll pick out a few major ones. Dave Attached Images

10-05-2008, 10:56 PM	#3
Dave Sanders User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Hamer, Idaho Posts: 284 Thanks: 28 Thanked 44 Times in 23 Posts	next Attached Images

10-05-2008, 10:56 PM	#4
Dave Sanders User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Hamer, Idaho Posts: 284 Thanks: 28 Thanked 44 Times in 23 Posts	another Attached Images

10-05-2008, 10:57 PM	#5
Dave Sanders User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Hamer, Idaho Posts: 284 Thanks: 28 Thanked 44 Times in 23 Posts	one more Attached Images

10-05-2008, 10:58 PM	#6
Dave Sanders User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Hamer, Idaho Posts: 284 Thanks: 28 Thanked 44 Times in 23 Posts	Last one. Thanks. Dave Attached Images

10-05-2008, 11:24 PM	#7
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,966 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,595 Times in 2,116 Posts	I would guess it is a korean made colt copy. I used to own one, but sold it. If you are a Napca member there was a write up by John J and myself on the two we each owned. We guessed they were made in the 1950's, but that is just a guess. Johns was NC marked, instead of No like yours. Reportedly only 500 of these were made in the Pusan area; here is a picture of the one I used to own. Attached Thumbnails

10-05-2008, 11:48 PM	#8
Dave Sanders User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Hamer, Idaho Posts: 284 Thanks: 28 Thanked 44 Times in 23 Posts	So is the writing Korean? I can't make any head or tails to it. The guy who owns it was wondering about getting parts and fixing it up as the grip safety was a bit loose, but it looked like it would shoot alright to me. What kind of money are they worth? Not much or somewhat? I would prefer to have a colt, but perhaps to collectors the oddity of them might be appealing. Thanks for the input. Dave

10-06-2008, 06:21 AM	#9
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,193 Posts	You can remove the mainspring housing by punching the pin out. Then slide the mainspring housing down, which will expose the flat spring, which actuates the grip safety. This spring looks like a fork with three legs to it. One of these legs returns the grip safety. By gently bending out the spring which works the grip safety, you can return it to a more functioning condition. Judging from the outer appearance of this gun, I'm not sure GI parts would be a drop-in fit. I do believe, however, that this particular flat spring would probably be compatible. A replacement would solve both the grip safety issue but improve trigger return as well. An interesting piece that I would not alter in any way.

10-06-2008, 09:03 AM	#10
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,966 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,595 Times in 2,116 Posts	Some to many, parts drop right in; they are more of a curiousity than anything, worth $450-$600 The writing is hangul (korean) Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV