WWI Springfield Armory 1911 U.S. Army .45 ACP Semi-Auto Pistol, 1914 C&R
SOLD FOR: $3875
LSB#: 210801GC03
Make: Springfield Armory
Model: 1911
Serial Number: 75186
Year of Manufacture: 1914
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine
Markings: The left side of the slide is marked “PATENTED APR.20,1897 / SEPT.9,1902. DEC.19,1905.FEB.14,1911 / COLTS PT. F.A. MFG. CO.”, “SPRINGFIELD ARMORY / U.S.A.” and with a Flaming Bomb proof at the rear. The left of the frame is marked “UNITED STATES PROPERTY” and at the magazine release with a Flaming Bomb proof. The right side of the frame is marked “No 75186”. The right side of the slide is marked with an American Eagle Springfield logo and “MODEL OF 1911. U.S. ARMY.”. The bottom of the slide is marked “J”. The right barrel link lug is marked “K”, the bottom in front of the lugs is marked “5”, the top of the barrel hood is marked “H” and “P”. The following parts have a small “S” marked on them: Hammer, Slide Stop, Thumb Safety, Grip Safety, Trigger, and Firing Pin Stop.
Barrel Length: 5”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a rounded blade integral to the slide. The rear sight is a flat-top “U”-notch dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. Each corner has a 0.06″ radius, typical of Springfield produced rear sights.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered walnut “Double Diamond” grips. The grips show light-moderate handling wear. There are some tool-slips and light marks in the smooth diamonds. The right panel has a crack from the top mounting screw hole to the top edge. The checkering has some scattered nicks and compressions, but is generally well defined. Overall, the grips are in about Good condition.
Note: Both of the screws for the left grip are seized in their bushings. Turning the screw heads turns the bushings in the frame rather than the screws in the bushings.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Refinished, some parts are not original to the gun.
Bore Condition: The bore is light gray with sharp rifling. There is light erosion scattered in the bore.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 75% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. Most of the balance is handling wear in the grip area. There is some other scattered light finish wear. There are some scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is an arc of wear around the slide stop on both the frame and slide. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are tool marked with strong slots. Both of the screws for the left grip are seized in their bushings. Turning the screw heads turns the bushings in the frame rather than the screws in the bushings. The markings are clear, some have been filled with white paint. Overall, this pistol is in about Very Good condition as refinished.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The trigger pull is crisp and the slide has little play to the frame. We have not fired this pistol. 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 with a lanyard loop on the floorplate, a blue finish in the bottom with the top portion in the white, copper plating at the top-rear, and the body of the magazine folded over on each side across the bottom of the floorplate. The magazine has scattered wear and light surface oxidation, intact feed lips and a strong spring, in about Very Good condition.
Our Assessment: The 1911 and 1911-A1 pistols served the military of the United States from 1911 to 1985, through two World Wars and the Korean and Vietnam wars. They gained a reputation as a reliable handgun with plenty of stopping power, and are held in high regard by those who have used them. Its design came from John Moses Browning with initial production by Colt. When the pistol was first adopted by the U.S. Army, an agreement was reached that US Arsenals could produce the pistol, but only after orders of at least 50,000 pistols had been received by Colt. The United States immediately ordered 50,000 pistols and set to work on a plan to produce the new model at Springfield Armory. Oddly, Colt actually didn’t have manufacturing drawings, so Springfield had to take 20 Colt production pistols, measure all of their parts, and average the dimensions of the 20 examples to arrive at their nominal dimensions, with the extremes of the measurements used for tolerances. Production would actually begin in 1914, but with the US entry into WWI becoming imminent, production was ceased in 1917 in order to focus on rifle production. A total of 25,767 Model 1911 pistols were made by Springfield and they had some interesting features to differentiate them from Colt’s production. The front sights were integral to the slide, rather than a separate part staked in place, the rear sights had a slightly different radius at their corners, and the markings were of course different. This is a Springfield Armory Model 1911 pistol made in 1914, after the start of WWI, but before the US had joined in. Some small parts and the barrel have been replaced, but the slide, frame and several of the small parts bear Springfield markings. The pistol is in about Very Good condition as refinished with about 75% of its new finish remaining. The Springfield made 1911s are always collectible, and this would be a great addition to a collection. Please see our photos and good luck!