THE COMPLETE BOOK OF THE - Turnbull Mfg. Co.

WHEREOld NewbecomesagainThis was the official “before” picture taken of the author’syounger Model 1911 (MFG. 1918) submitted to Turnbull Mfg.for restoration. It had been subject to at least two arsenalrebuilds and was a host of mismatched parts.“It can only be original once,” my dadwould often say. As early examplesof the U.S. Model 1911 start turningthe century mark, those of us whopossess a heavily used, refinished or obviouslyrebuilt 1911 struggle with the decisionwhether to preserve its weatheredcondition or restore it.“If it’s not documented to be historicallysignificant,” says Keith VanOrman,president of Turnbull ManufacturingCompany, “you should go ahead and let usrestore it.”I sent serial number 340611 and 605521to the expanding New York shop, anda few days later reality set in. There wasnothing particularly special about mypair of 1918-manufactured Colt 1911s,something VanOrman’s team of researchersverified at the conclusion of the no-costevaluation and work estimate. In termsof value, I had a high opinion of my olderexample since it retained better than 85percent of its bluing and was found to beoriginal except for one part. But, like somany collectors who want to believe thatthey possess a rare and unique treasure,I thought they would be valued for morethan they’re actually worth.SHOP HISTORYDoug Turnbull and two employees beganrestoring antique, American-manufacturedfirearms in the back room of CreeksideGun Shop near Bloomfield, NewYork. They were starting to build a namefor themselves by accurately returningParker, L.C. Smith and Fox shotguns aswell as Winchester rifles made after 1873Once the U.S. entered World War I, productionof the 1911 increased dramatically. Atabout serial number 510,001 to the endof military production in 1945, the “UnitedStates Property” marking moved to the rightside of the receiver, just behind the slidestoppin.to factory-new condition.The operations moved to a4,000-square-foot facility in 1998 andexpanded by 3,000 square feet in 2001 toaccommodate the growing business drivenby their reputation and word of mouth. Asdemand from inside the industry for Turnbull’sfinishes increased, Turnbull ManufacturingCompany was created and brokeground adjacent to the original building tocreate a 6,400-square-foot facility with anew showroom. Today there are currently14 employees, including seven full-timegunsmiths and an in-house engraver.Turnbull Restoration obtained a federallicense to become a manufacturer offirearms and started creating its own lineof Colt-style single-action revolvers andWinchester-style rifles. Every gunsmithholds each piece to a strict hand-fittingand -polishing process before subjecting itto Turnbull’s highly respected, periodcorrectfinishes. Much of its business istied to the vault-kept bluing and colorcase-hardening formulas, coveted by othermanufacturers and counterfeiters, usedfor specific serial-number ranges. Withrespect to the 1911 market, Turnbull hasfamously contributed the color case-hard-8 BOOK of the 1911gunsandammo.com