WWII Occupied Norwegian M-1914 Kongsberg Colt 11.25mm Semi-Auto Pistol, C&R
SOLD FOR: $3012
LSB#: 230208FG001
Make: Kongsberg Vapenfabrik, Norway, under license from Browning through Fabrique Nationale
Model: 1914, known as the “Kongsberg Colt”
Serial Number: 27942
Year of Manufacture: 1942, Under Occupation By Germany
Caliber: 11.43×23 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 27942” and with a crowned “K” proof mark. The left side of the frame is marked “27942”. The left front of the trigger guard has a “JB” monogram inspection mark. The left side of the trigger, slide release, safety, the grip safety, and mainspring housing, are marked “.942”. The underside of the barrel in front of the lug is marked “.942 / N”. The right side of the slide is marked “1942 / B”. The top-rear of the slide has a punch-mark and “A”.
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 two-piece checkered wood. The grips have only minor handling wear with no notable damage. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Fine-Excellent condition as not original to the gun.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The lands are semi-bright, the grooves are gray. The rifling is sharp. There is scattered light erosion in the bore, mostly in the grooves. In this writer’s opinion. the bore rates 7 out of 10.
Many military and C&R eligible weapons have bores that will show erosion. This is not only due to age but to the fact that corrosive primers were commonly used in ammunition worldwide. For example, the U.S. used corrosive ammunition throughout WWII. The U.S. military did not begin to phase out corrosive-primed ammunition until the 1950’s.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 98% of its current metal finish. The new finish is strong throughout with some edge-thinning and light handling marks. The action shows light operational wear. There is some minor erosion and a few nicks under the finish. The markings are clear, but have soft edges. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good-Fine condition as refinished.
Mechanics: The slide stop is a little stiff, not properly engaged by the magazine follower. Otherwise, the action functions correctly. The slide has minor play to the frame. The trigger pull is a little stiff but 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 a single 7 round magazine. The magazine has also been refinished with some erosion under the finish, a crack at the rear of the left feed-lip and a strong spring.
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 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 Germans occupied the Kongsberg factory in 1940 and remained there until 1945. During their occupation, production of pistols ceased in 1943 and 1944, with priorities given to rifles. Under occupation, the pistols made in 1940-1942 were inspected by a civilian inspector, Jorgen Bjornholt, who was forced into service after all of the regular inspectors at the factory refused to serve the Germans. His “JB” inspection mark and an “N” which is believed to be the mark of Oberfuhrer Neumann, the German supervisor at the facility, were marked on these earlier occupation guns and only the few hundred guns made in 1945 were marked with German waffenamts. 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 produced overseas.
This pistol was made in 1942 and is in Very Good-Fine condition as refinished. It has matching serial numbers on the numbered parts. The installed fully checkered wood grips resemble Colt commercial panels. This is a nice find for collectors of European firearms as used during WWII, for those of Scandinavia in particular, but are also a great addition to a 1911 collection. There were only about 30,000 of these pistols made in total, and only about 8,200 during WWII, making them quite scarce today. Please see our photos and good luck!
Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud
