A Crime or A Lost Sidearm?

[Curious The George]

I found this .45 semi-auto pistol yesterday. I, so far, looks to be a military Colt .45. Had wooden grips and the few fragments remaining of them look to be walnut to me. The magazine is still in the magazine well. I can't see any bullets through the tell tale holes in the magazine but that doesn't mean there isn't one or two there and possibly one in the tube.

I now have it in an electrolysis bath and hopefully in a few days will have it cleaned up a little.

I found it in a large wooded tract of land with no houses currently nearby. It was about 18" down in the ground. I have no idea if it was intentionally buried or lost by someone passing through the woods years ago.

As corroded and deep as it was, if it was lost, it was lost a very long time ago.

 

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[Trezurehunter]

Thats a nice find.

 

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[G.I.B.]

Will electrolysis fire a round that may still be in the chamber?

No.

 

[TheRingFinder]

Waiting for the results - Keep us posted. Thanks!

 

[Curious The George]

Interesting thing going on in the electrolysis tank. I have the negative lead attached to a SS tablespoon. The butt of the pistol was closer to it than the muzzle. The spoon started turning green late last night. Only thing that could be is brass. There are no components of a Mod. 1911 made of brass. So, there must be a round or two in the upper part of the magazine that I can't see. And perhaps one in the chamber but I don't think enough of one in the chamber would be exposed yet so I am guessing in the magazine.

 

[OutdoorAdv]

Interesting thing going on in the electrolysis tank. I have the negative lead attached to a SS tablespoon. The butt of the pistol was closer to it than the muzzle. The spoon started turning green late last night. Only thing that could be is brass. There are no components of a Mod. 1911 made of brass. So, there must be a round or two in the upper part of the magazine that I can't see. And perhaps one in the chamber but I don't think enough of one in the chamber would be exposed yet so I am guessing in the magazine.

SWEET find. I cant wait to see post electrolysis pictures.

You want the NEGATIVE lead attached to the pistol (item to be cleaned) and the POSITIVE lead attached to the anode (ss spoon). Switch those wires around!

 

[Curious The George]

You want the NEGATIVE lead attached to the pistol (item to be cleaned) and the POSITIVE lead attached to the anode (ss spoon). Switch those wires around!

Let me try that again. The bubbles are coming off the pistol. As well as large clumps of rust. So I guess I have the leads the way you say. Or I hope I do. I stand corrected.

 

[OutdoorAdv]

Let me try that again. The bubbles are coming off the pistol. As well as large clumps of rust. So I guess I have the leads the way you say. Or I hope I do. I stand corrected.

It sounds like you have it correct. If clumps of rust are falling off the pistol, then you must have the polarity correct with the negative lead on the pistol and the positive lead on the anode (ss spoon). Bubbles will come off both the anodes and the pistol, but the majority of bubbles should come off the pistol. It is important to make sure the polarity is correct, since if its backwards and the + lead is attached to the pistol, it will use the pistol as the sacrificial anode! My main tank I have a car charger with the leads identified... but my smaller tank I use an old phone charger... I had to use a multimeter to identify the lead polarity for the phone charger since the wires were not labeled.

 

[Curious The George]

For the multi-meter challenged. Can you explain how to identify which lead is which on a small phone or other electronic equipment charger. I tried using a multi-meter and it made no sense to me. I do have a digital meter, not an old analog meter.

 

[NOLA_Ken]

Can't wait to see it all cleaned up. It's been a few years since I dug a gun, and my last one is really just a gun shaped chunk of rust.....

 

[SeabeeRon]

Well, you have hooked as to how this turns out!!

 

[Jason in Enid]

Well, you have hooked as to how this turns out!!

Yep, waiting to see the result!

 

[Curious The George]

I am starting a new post with photos of the .45 cleaned up. It will be, "Mod. 1911 .45 cal. Lost Pistol."

 

[sutphin]

THATS A COOL AS HECK FIND . WONDER WHAT THE STORY IS ABOUT IT.

 

[Worm-Slicer]

My guess is two bank robbers got away with their heist and decided to rendezvous at that place in the woods to give time for things to cool off. Well one robber was a bit greedy and decided he wanted all the loot so he shot his partner and buried him and the pistol was tucked in his pants when he buried him. So if you dig around there you might be able to find robber #2 in that same hole with the gun. lol That depth sounds about the right depth to quickly cover a body too.