Norwegian M1914 Kongsberg Colt 11.25mm .45 ACP Semi-Auto Pistol, 1928 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,475.00
LSB#: LSB251216DH029
Make: Kongsberg Vapenfabrik, Norway, under license from Browning through Fabrique Nationale
Model: 1914, known as the “Kongsberg Colt”
Serial Number: 19544
Year of Manufacture: 1928
Caliber: 11.25×23 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 19544″, a crowned shield with a “7” in the center and a “Crown / Script K” proof mark. The left side of the frame is marked “19544”. The slide release, thumb safety, trigger, grip safety, ejector, magazine catch, mainspring housing and extractor are each marked “544”. The right side of the slide is marked “1928” over an inspector marking. The top rear of the slide behind the rear sight is marked “E”. The guide rod, bushing, hammer, firing pin and firing pin plate are unmarked. The recoil spring plug is marked “967”. The barrel is marked “544 / N” in front of the lugs. There is no import mark.
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 black-painted checkered wood with smooth diamonds around the grip screws, the left grip is cut-out at the top front for clearance for the slide release. The grips have light-moderate wear with much of the black paint worn off. There are scattered nicks and scratches. There are no chips or cracks. The checkering is generally well defined. Overall, the grips are in Good-Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original to the parts. As noted in the Markings section, some parts are not serial-marked and were likely replaced. The areas with serial markings on the slide stop and magazine catch have been polished bright, possibly force-matched.
Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with sharp rifling. There is infrequent minor erosion and scattered stubborn fouling in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 7+ out of 10.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 70% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There is some scattered finish wear, most notable is handling wear in the grip areas. There are some scattered spots of minor oxidation, primarily toward the front of the slide. There are scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. The serial-marked portions of the slide stop and magazine catch have been polished bright. The hammer appears to be in the white, it may be a faint phosphate finish. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in about Very Good condition as not all parts-original.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The slide has light play to the frame. 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 one 7-round magazine which has a lanyard ring on the floorplate and phosphate finish. The rear of the right feed-lip has a very small crack.
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 Browning-designed 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 Norwegian armed forces liked them so much that production continued up to WWII and even during German occupation during the war. Those surviving WWII were kept in service until they were replaced by the Glock P80 in 1985. 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 that were produced out of the country.
This pistol is a 1928 made example in Very Good condition as not all parts original. Most numbered parts are matching with a non-matching number on the recoil spring plug and some parts unmarked which would typically have a serial marking. In any case, this is a neat find for collectors of European firearms and for those of Scandinavia in particular. There weren’t that many made, making any that survived to today a rare find. Please see our photos and good luck!
-Bud