Early WWII Colt Model 1911A1 1911-A1 .45 ACP Pistol With Mags & Pouch, MFD May 1942, C&R
Sold For: $2,600
LSB#: 141022TC01
Make: Colt
Model: 1911-A1
Serial Number: 777258
Year of Manufacture: May 5, 1942 (Clawson)
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action Type: Single Action, Semi-Automatic 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. AUG.19,1913”, “COLTS PT.F.A.MFG. CO. / HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A.” and with the Rampant Colt logo in the center. The left of the frame near the magazine release is marked with a “P” acceptance proof and under the slide release with “WB” (Waldemar Broberg Col., USA Colt, Smith & Wesson Victory Revolvers, Colt M1911A1 .45 Auto Pistols 1941.) The left side of the frame in front of the trigger guard is marked with an “X” and with a “VP” in a triangle. The right side of the frame is marked “UNITED STATES PROPERTY / No 777258”, “M1911A1 U.S. ARMY” and at the front of the trigger guard with “68”. The left side of the barrel above the lug is marked “COLT 45 AUTO”, the underside in front of the lug is marked “G” and the left side of the lug is marked “P”, correctly identifying this barrel as being made by Colt from 1943-1945. The rear face of the slide (under the firing pin stop) is marked “777 / 258”. The flat at the right rear of the slide is marked “U” and “Z”. The top of the frame in front of the hammer is marked with a large “H” and “G”. The top of the slide in front of the rear sight is marked “P”.
Barrel Length: 5”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a short ramped blade fixed to the slide. The rear sight is a square notch dovetail set to the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered reddish brown plastic. The checkering in the left grip is sharp with a minor mar in the center of the grip. The checkering on the right grip is sharp with light wear along the front of the grip and moderate wear along the bottom edge. There is a light mar in the upper front corner, another just below it and a larger mar in the center of the grip. There are neither chips nor cracks. The grips rate in about Fine overall condition.
Type of Finish: The finish is Parkerized. The mainspring housing is checkered.
Finish Originality: All Original
Bore Condition: The bore is dark and the rifling shows light wear. There is light erosion in the grooves the length of the barrel.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 50% of its metal finish. All surfaces show thinning in the finish. The slide shows a few light marks with a few small compression marks on the right side, a mark through the finish in front of the port and a compression mark in the bottom right edge near the front of the frame. There is a very light mark near the bottom of the grip safety. The checkering on the mainspring housing and hammer shows moderate wear. The slide release, magazine release and recoil spring plug checkering is sharp except for their outside row, which shows moderate wear. The slide serrations are sharp with a faint mark in one of the ridges on the left side. The lower right grip screw is distressed and the markings are clear. Overall, this pistol rates in about Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The trigger pull is crisp. The slide is tight on the frame. The action functions correctly. We have not fired this pistol.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with a WWI olive drab double magazine pouch and a total of three magazines. The magazine in the pistol is a blued WWI two-tone magazine. The magazine shows minimal wear, but shows thinning from polishing and light pitting on the body of the magazine and its floorplate. The magazine is in about Very Good condition. The other two magazines are both blued WWII magazines. One shows thinning and light handling marks, and is in about Fine condition. The other shows thinning and spots of heavy erosion and pitting. It is in about Good overall condition. The magazine pouch has two brass LTD fasteners on its top flap. The rear of the pouch is folded over to form a belt loop about 3 3/8” wide (wide enough to go over a web belt). The inside of the pouch’s top flap is marked “F.S.F. / 2685 / 1918”. The pouch shows no tears, rips or surface loss and the stitching is all intact. There are faint stains on the back side of the pouch. It is in about Fine condition.
Our Assessment: > The 1911 and 1911-A1 pistols served the military of the United States from 1911 to 1985, through both 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. This is a WWII manufactured 1911A1 pistol made by Colt. It is in about Very Good condition with about 50% of its original Parkerized finish remaining. The bore is dark with light erosion in the grooves. The pistol is marked correctly, and the slide is numbered to the frame. This pistol comes with a total of three magazines, one from WWI and two from WWII and a WWI olive drab double magazine pouch with a 1918 date. This package is a great find for the Colt collector or collector of WWI and WWII weaponry. It is always nice to see an old gun that has obviously been shot a lot but has also been cared for well. The thinning is even, with only a few handling marks, and no signs of erosion.
