Colt Model 1911, Pre-WWI US Army Marked, EARLY & MATCHING Blue 5” SA Semi-Automatic Pistol, MFD 1914 C&R
SOLD FOR:$2,500.00
LSB#: 160511RI01
Make: Colt
Model: 1911
Serial Number: 86073
Year of Manufacture: The pistol was shipped on June 5, 1914 to the Adjutant General of the State of New Hampshire (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” inspection mark (Major Walter G. Penfield Colt M1911 Pistols 1909-1914). The right side of the frame is marked “No 86073”. 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 left side of the barrel lug is marked “J” and the top of the chamber is marked with a horizontal “PH”. According to JC Harrison, This Type 3 barrel was used from 25,000 to about 120,000 (mixed with type 4 barrels after 85,000). 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 “4” at the front and with a small six pointed star at the rear. “H”, “2” and with a small diamond. The top of the right rail is marked with a small square.
<> 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 “double diamond” grips that are dark with oil staining. The smooth diamonds show a few small marks including tool marks around the screw heads. The checkering shows moderate wear tending to heavy wear at the bottom edges of the grips. There is a small marred spot at the bottom rear of the left grip and a larger marred area at the bottom front of the right grip. The grips rate in about Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: The finish is blued and the mainspring housing is smooth. The trigger, safety and slide release have an almost fire blued finish.
Finish Originality: The finish is original.
Bore Condition: The bore is gray and the rifling shows moderate wear. There is very light erosion in the grooves.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 60% of its metal finish. There is surface loss at the front of the slide, on the underside of the frame and on the front strap and mainspring housing. There is also surface loss on the edges of the slide and frame, with a spot of surface loss on the right side of the frame above the trigger. There are spots of extremely light pinprick surface erosion sprinkled over the top left shoulder of the slide. There is thinning in the top of the slide, the grip safety and the trigger guard. There are a few tiny handling marks in the front strap, light marks in the mainspring housing and several tiny dings in the edges of the frame on either side of the mainspring housing. There are also tiny dings in the underside of the slide and the trigger guard. The serrations on the slide are sharp, the hammer and magazine release knurling shows light wear and the knurling on the slide release and safety is sharp. The recoil spring plug knurling shows moderate wear on its outside edge. Three of the grip screws are disfigured 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 light with a tiny amount of creep. 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 with a lanyard ring in the floorplate. From the light scratches under the finish in the spine, we think the magazine was refinished, possibly with cold blue, in its distant past, and that is original finish was the correct two-tone finish with the top half left “In The White”. The magazine shows a mottled finish with numerous light handling marks. The floorplate shows a light plum colored patina with thinning on its edges. The magazine is in about Very Good 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 June of 1914 just before the outbreak of WWI in Europe. The pistol was shipped from Colt to the Adjutant General of New Hampshire for use by the New Hampshire National Guard. The pistol is correctly marked for its vintage. The pistol still has its original finish and is in about Very Good condition with about 60% of its finish remaining. The U.S. Army issued Colt pistols are very collectable and those issued prior to the war that still have their original finish are even more highly prized. This pistol should be a big hit with Colt collectors and with collectors of US pistols used in the World Wars.
