Norwegian M1914 M-1914 Kongsberg Colt 11.25mm Semi-Auto Pistol, 1926 C&R

SOLD FOR: $5825

LSB#: 210419MB30

Make: Kongsberg Vapenfabrik, Norway, under license from Browning through Fabrique Nationale

Model: 1914, known as the “Kongsberg Colt”

Serial Number: 11459

Year of Manufacture: 1926

Caliber: 11.25×23 ACP (.45 ACP)

Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine

Markings: The left side of the slide is marked “11.25m/m AUT. PISTOL M/1914  No 11459”, a crowned shield with a “7” in the center and a “Crown / Script K” proof mark. The left side of the frame is marked “11459”. The slide release, trigger, hammer, safety, grip safety, ejector, guide rod, recoil spring plug, mainspring housing, firing pin plate, barrel bushing, and the right side of the magazine release are marked “.459”. The right side of the slide is marked “1926” over an inspector marking. The barrel is marked “B / .459 / B” and behind the link lugs with an “E”. The top rear of the slide behind the rear sight is marked “E”. Most of the exposed markings have been filled with a white paint.

Barrel Length: 5”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is rounded blade fixed to the slide. The rear sight is a “U” notch dovetailed into the slide.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered hardwood with smooth diamond shapes around the grip screws, and the left grip is cut-out at the top front for clearance for the slide release. The grips were painted black with strong paint on the inside surfaces and in the cuts of the checkering. The raised surfaces on the exterior of the grips have mostly worn to show the wood grain. The grips have light-moderate handling wear with some scattered nicks, scuffs, scratches and a more notable ding on the right panel in front of the bottom diamond. There are no chips or cracks. The checkering is generally well defined. Overall, the grips are in about Good-Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original (the white paint fill was added later)

Bore Condition: The bore is a gray with strong rifling. There is light erosion and some minor pitting scattered through the bore.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 87% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. There is handling wear in the grip straps with a light patina forming on the mainspring housing and grip safety. The action shows light operational wear. There are a few scattered light scuffs and scratches with infrequent minor surface oxidation. The screw heads are tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in about Very Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The slide has very little play to the frame. The trigger pull is crisp. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with one 7 round magazine which has a lanyard ring on the floorplate. The magazine appears to have been tin or nickel plated with some black paint around the floorplate. The magazine shows scattered operational wear, intact feed lips and a strong spring, in about Good-plus condition. Also included is a Robert’s Arms Specialties Protecta-Gun two-piece cardboard box with a hand-written label which has this pistol’s information. The box shows little in the way of storage wear, in Fine-Excellent condition.

Our Assessment: In the early 1900’s, the Norwegians were looking around for a pistol to replace their aging Nagant revolvers. They held several commissions to evaluate pistols, but they all came back recommending Browning-designed Colts, at first the Model 1902 in .38 ACP and finally the Model 1911. The Norwegian parliament kept refusing funding for the pistol, holding out for a “homegrown” design. They finally gave up in 1914 and allowed the 1911 to be adopted. Norway held discussions for Fabrique Nationale, Browning’s representative in Europe, to secure a license to produce the pistols in Norway. Production finally began in 1917 with a few hundred produced. In 1918, a few slight changes were made, which resulted in a slide release that was both extended and lowered, which makes one wonder “Why didn’t we think of that?”. The Norwegian armed forces liked them so much that production continued up to WWII and even during Nazi occupation during the war. Those surviving WWII were kept in service until they were replaced by the Glock P80 in 1985. To add further value to these guns, the Kongsberg Colt and the Argentine Model of 1927 are the only two legitimate licensed copies of the Browning designed Colt 1911 that were produced out of the country. This pistol is a 1926 made example in quite good condition. The pistol has matching serial numbers on all of the numbered parts. This is a very nice find for collectors of European firearms and for those of Scandinavia in particular. There weren’t that many made, making any that survived to today a rare find. Please see our photos and good luck!

Norwegian M1914 M-1914 Kongsberg Colt 11.25mm Semi-Auto Pistol, 1926 C&R
Norwegian M1914 M-1914 Kongsberg Colt 11.25mm Semi-Auto Pistol, 1926 C&R