My dad's stolen 1911 is home.

Back in the mid 2000s my father purchased a Kimber Stainless Gold Match II. He shot it every week. One day it stopped running reliably. He had a well known local 1911 smith fully tune up and rebuild the gun and it ran amazing for many years and over 25k rounds since. We spent many days at the range together and the Kimber was his constant companion. In 2017 my father's house was burglarized and it was the only thing stolen. We believe it was the meth addict schizo neighbor but never had any evidence. A couple years later my father died. The pistol was recently recovered and returned to me yesterday. This was the condition I got it in.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...ee9dbd69_o.jpg20240214_110456 by chase, on Flickr




Yesterday I spent about 30 minutes with CLP and a brush and was able to knock the worst off.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...8a513a47_o.jpg20240215_092234 by chase, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...8699cc53_o.jpg20240215_092243 by chase, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...4d21a96c_o.jpg20240215_092304 by chase, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...12e2f318_o.jpg20240215_092252 by chase, on Flickr




Today I did a full detail strip and went after the rust spots with oil and some fine steel wool. It definitely doesn't look pristine but It never was a safe queen. I am beyond the moon that I got this 1911 back in my hands. When my father passed away this gun was the only thing he owned that I really wanted. Im taking it to the range this weekend.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...125eba84_o.jpg20240215_103113 by chase, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...f881ef51_o.jpg20240215_114115 by chase, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e0395b64_o.jpg20240215_114126 by chase, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...2f16f29a_o.jpg20240215_114150 by chase, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...c1ec4c85_o.jpg20240215_114133 by chase, on Flickr

Fantastic! This scenario seldom plays out, good for you man.
Betting your Pop is smiling down on you now.

I am glad to hear your family's property was returned. Albeit a bit worse for wear.

Glad you got it back; you got it cleaned up nicely! Condolences on your father’s passing.

Those G10 grips really look good on it. I’m glad that 1911 made it home.

I had a Stainless 1911 Colt stolen from my jeep decades ago, and got it back after they arrested the fukkbag who was carrying it. It was in a little better shape than yours after I got it back though.

Amazing story. Glad you got it back Brother. My deceased father's old duty piece is one of my prize possessions. I would be sunk if it was ever taken. Looks like a shooter!

Our friend, moderator The Dumb Gun Collector or whatever he calls himself today, got a Wilson CQB and I believe a shotgun stolen in a home burglary. By luck, a couple years later (I think), the police recovered the CQB during an arrest/car search. It looked like hell. He contemplated sending it back to Wilson for a restoration, but he decided to just clean it up himself. I'll see if I can find pictures that he sent me.

I think these are the pre stolen pictures:

https://i.imgur.com/TRc9IHI.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/zXQyRPd.jpg

After recover and before clean up:

http://i.imgur.com/NYMCEVS.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/2glsTzj.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/kQ8dV1A.jpg

I found the info he gave me, he finally took it to a local shop and had them remove the old finish, smooth out the scars and then parkerized it. They also installed a gold bead front sight:

https://i.imgur.com/7hDN5gh.jpg

It is so great you got it back!

Andy

OP- absolutely awesome that you have it back!

That is wonderful news! I am sure it would bring a smile to your father's face. :)

Find a competent refinish shop or Cerro-coat shop and have them re-blast the front and rear straps and it'll look outstanding.

Birdsong Black T, an oldie but a goodie.

Glad you got it back! You have some great memories with that pistol, and even if it's a little worse for the wear, I'll bet it feels great in your hand, and shoots just as good as it did when your dad had it. Enjoy!