WWII US Army Colt 1911A1 1911-A1 .45 ACP Semi-Automatic Pistol, 1944 C&R
SOLD FOR: $3000
LSB#: 230210JV001
Make: Colt
Model: Custom 1911-A1
Serial Number: 1670710
Year of Manufacture: 1944 (https://www.colt.com/serial-lookup)
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. AUG.19,1913”, rampant colt, and “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. / HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A.”, the top of the slide is marked “P”. The left of the frame below the magazine release is marked with a “P” acceptance proof, the left side of the frame above the magazine release is marked with “G.H.D”. The right side of the frame is marked “UNITED STATES PROPERTY / No 1670710” and “M1911 A1 U.S. ARMY”, it is also marked with the Springfield crossed cannons behind the grip but it is incomplete as is common. The left of the trigger guard is marked “VP” in triangle and “F”, the right is marked “73”. The top of the frame is marked “C” and “B” at the disconnector. The left link-lug of the barrel is marked “P”, the bottom is marked “F” and the left “COLT 45 AUTO”.
Barrel Length: 5”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a short, serrated blade fixed to the front of the slide. The rear sight is a square-notch dovetailed to the rear of the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered brown “Coltwood” plastic with large reinforcement rings around the screws and reinforcement ribs on the interior. There are mold-number markings where the ribs cross. The grips have minor handling wear with a few small marks and there is a tiny loss at the bottom-front corner of the left panel. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in about Fine condition.
Type of Finish: Parkerized
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with sharp rifling. There is some minor erosion in the bore, mostly in the grooves. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates an 8 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 96% of its current metal finish. The balance is mostly in edge-thinning and light operational wear. There are a few other light marks including an “idiot mark” below the slide stop on the left of the frame. The screw heads are sharp. The markings range from clear to worn, but legible. Overall, this pistol is in Fine condition as refinished.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The trigger pull is crisp. There is minor play between the slide and frame. This pistol has manual and grip safeties. 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 a single 7-round magazine marked “R” on the top of the floorplate.
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. Since their introduction, the 1911 has seen a number of design changes, most minor, but the 1911-A1 introduced the arched mainspring housing, shorter trigger, and relief cuts behind the trigger on the frame. In addition to these inter-war changes, Colt began finishing the guns by parkerizing them, a more durable finish than the original bluing.
This example was produced by Colt in 1944 and is a nice example. The pistol is in Fine condition as refinished, retaining about 96% of its new metal finish, a good bore and strong mechanics. It will make a good addition to a Colt or WWII small arms collection, especially for those who want a representative example of each iteration of the design. Of course, it could still prove to be a decent shooter, too. Please see our photos and good luck!
Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud
