Colt Early & Matching US ARMY Model of 1911, Blue 5” Pre-WWI Semi-Automatic Pistol, MFD 1914 C&R

SOLD
LSB#:
160501GS08

Make: Colt

Model: 1911

Serial Number: 90805

Year of Manufacture: 1914 (Clawson)

Caliber: .45 ACP

Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine

Markings: The left side of the frame is marked “UNITED STATES PROPERTY” and behind the trigger with a circled “WGP” proof mark (Major Walter G. Penfield, Colt M1911 pistols 1909-1914). The right side of the frame is marked “No 90805”. The right side of the slide is marked “MODEL OF 1911. U.S. ARMY”. The left side of the slide is marked “PATENTED APR.20.1897.SEPT.9.1902 / DEC.19.1905.FEB.14.1911.AUG.19.1913”, “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. / HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A.” and with a Rampant Colt logo at the rear of the slide. The underside of the barrel just in front of the lug is marked “N”. The top of the barrel at the rear is marked “P / H”. The rear face of the slide above the firing pin retainer is marked “H” (inspection mark of Frank Hosmer). The flat on the underside of the slide is marked with a “4” at the front and a tiny 6 pointed star at the rear. The right slot on the underside of the slide is marked with two arrow heads. The flat on the top of the frame in front of the hammer is marked “H” and “b” and the top of the right rail and the dished area to its left are marked with a tiny diamond.

Barrel Length: 5”

Sights / Optics: The pistol is mounted with a “U” notched rear sight dovetailed into the slide and a short rounded blade front sight fixed to the slide.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered walnut with smooth diamonds around the grip screws. The grips are dark with oil staining and show light marks and a few tiny dings in the diamonds. There are also tool marks around the bottom right grip screw. The checkering shows moderate wear, tending to heavy wear at the bottom edges of the grips. There are no mars except for the uneven wear in the center of the right grip. The grips rate in about Good to Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: The finish is blued and the mainspring housing is smooth.

Finish Originality: The finish is original.

Bore Condition: The bore is gray with light wear in the rifling. There is light to moderate erosion the length of the bore.

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 75% of its metal finish. There is surface loss on the mainspring housing, front strap and the edges of the frame and slide, with thinning on the slide. There are a few tiny isolated spots of pinprick surface erosion in the top of the slid, a strip along the left edge of the slide and a large spot at the bottom of the front strap. There are a few dings and scratches in the mainspring housing, and in the underside and left side of the slide. There are a few scratches to the left of the front sight and several tiny ding scattered over the top of the slide. The serrations on the slide show light wear and are spotted with extremely light erosion. The hammer knurling shows light wear and the knurling on the slide release and magazine release is sharp. The safety knurling and mainspring plug knurling show moderate wear. Two of the grip screws are distressed and the markings are clear. Overall, this pistol rates in about Very Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. It has both a manual and grip safety and the trigger pull is a little stiff but crisp. The slide is tight to the frame. We did not fire this pistol. The pistol has a lanyard ring on the bottom of the smooth mainspring housing.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with one 7 round magazine that has a lanyard ring in the center of the floorplate. The magazine shows surface loss, and the rivets that hold the floorplate are slightly loose, resulting in a tiny gap between the front of the floorplate and the bottom edge of the magazine. The magazine is in about Good overall 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. This is a U.S. Government issue Colt 1911 pistol made in 1914. Its markings and barrel are correct. The pistol is in about Fine condition with about 75% of its original blued finish remaining. Normally, U.S. Army issued pistols from WWI mismatched and a lot more worn than this one. Nice Gun!

Colt Early & Matching US ARMY Model of 1911, Blue 5” Pre-WWI Semi-Automatic Pistol, MFD 1914 C&R
Colt Early & Matching US ARMY Model of 1911, Blue 5” Pre-WWI Semi-Automatic Pistol, MFD 1914 C&R