WWI Colt Model of 1911 U.S. Army .45 ACP Semi-Automatic Pistol, 1918 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,300.00
LSB#: LSB250528DG022
Make: Colt
Model: 1911
Serial Number: 333062
Year of Manufacture: 1918 (https://colt.com/serial-lookup)
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine
Barrel Length: 5″
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a rounded blade staked to the front of the slide. The rear sight is a square-notch dovetailed to the rear of the slide. There is a small fill screw behind the rear sight where there is a drilled and tapped hole (does not go through to the firing pin channel).
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered wood with smooth diamonds around the grip screws. The grips have no notable wear or damage, only light handling marks. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Excellent condition as not original to the gun.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Some remaining finish may be original. Most surfaces show treatment with cold blue. The barrel is a post-WWI Springfield replacement. Some other parts may have been replaced.
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with shapr rifling. There is infrequent light erosion in the grooves in front of the chamber and some stubborn fouling. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 7-8 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 15% of its current metal finish. Strongest finish is on the extractor, ejector, slide stop and thumb-safety. There is infrequent other finish in well protected areas. Most surfaces show treatment with cold blue that has mostly worn to a gray patina. The grip areas are mostly worn to white. Therre are some scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches with infrequent minor oxidation. There is an “idiot mark” under the slide stop on the left of the frame. There are tool marks at the rear sight. There is infrequent minor erosion. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are tool marked with strong slots. The markings range from clear to worn and incomplete. Overall, this pistol is in about Good condition as not parts-original.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. It has both a manual and grip safety and the trigger pull is crisp. The slide has light play to the frame. We did not fire 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 total of two 7-round magazines, one M.S. Little and one unobserved (left in packaging).
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. The design was the end-result of a series of developments by famous gun designer John Browning, starting with the Model 1900. The advances made by Browning were revolutionary at the time, and were so successful that they are considered commonplace today. Browning not only developed first a pivoting and then a tilting barrel to allow for a locked system, he developed the concept of “the slide”, which is now synonymous with semi-automatic handguns.
This is a U. S. Government marked Colt 1911 pistol made toward the end of WWI in 1918. The pistol is in Good condition, showing wear consistent with its age of more than 100 years. Most surfaces show treatment with cold blue and there are some replaced parts, but the bore is in decent condition and the mechanics are strong. If the collectors pass, it may also prove to be a fun shooter. Please see our photos and good luck!
Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud
