CMP WWII US Colt 1911A1 1911-A1 .45 ACP Semi-Automatic Pistol, 1943 C&R

SOLD FOR: $1,450.00

LSB#: LSB250726RR016

Make: Colt

Model: 1911-A1

Serial Number:  879172   (This serial number falls into a range which was used by both Colt and Ithaca. The presence of a faint Verified Proof mark on the trigger guard confirms Colt manufacture.

Year of Manufacture: 1943 (https://www.colt.com/serial-lookup/)

Caliber: .45 A.C.P.

Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto fed by Removable Magazine

Markings:  The left side of the slide is marked: “PATENTED APR.20.1897.SEPT.9.1902 / DEC.19,1905.FEB.14,1911.AUG,1913 , “COLT’S PT.F.A.MFG.CO. / HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A.” with a Rampant Colt logo.  The right side of the frame is FAINTLY marked “UNITED STATES PROPERTY / No. 879172” and “M1911 A1 U.S. ARMY”. The side of the frame above the magazine release is marked with “GHD”.  The left side of the trigger guard is marked “VP” in a triangle below a “K” inspector proof mark.  The rear of the slide is marked SN “738136”. The magazine is marked “19200 / ASSY 5508694 / MFR. 1M291.  The right side of the barrel lug is marked “HS”. 

Barrel Length: 5”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is an early short blade fixed to the slide. The rear sight is a rectangular u-notch sight dovetailed to the rear of the slide.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The checkered brown plastic grips are mixed WWII era with the left side grip being a factory Colt grip and the right side being a Keys Fibre WWII grip with reinforcement rings around the screws and reinforcement ribs on the inside. The grips have some scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches with minor tool marks in the reinforcement rings. The checkering is well defined with slight dulling of the checkering and there are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good to Fine condition as replaced.

Type of Finish: Parkerized

Finish Originality: Arsenal Refurbished (The slide does not match the frame and the barrel is a High Standard replacement)

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and shiny with sharp rifling. There is minor fouling in the lands near the muzzle. This writer would rate the bore at 9/10.

 Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 90% of its arsenal Parkerized refinish. The gun has a WWII era replacement High Standard 5” Barrel.  The frame has a generally strong gray parkerized finish with thinning on the leading edges. There is minor operational and handling wear on the trigger, around the magazine release and slide stop. The slide and frame has scattered light nicks and scratches. The action shows light operational wear. The screw heads are slightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings range from clear to shallow, but legible. Overall, the pistol is in Very Good to Fine condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. There is light play between the slide and frame. The trigger is crisp. This pistol has a manual thumb and grip safeties. We have not fired 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 serial-matched CMP Certificate of Authenticity, Army Technical Manual and a single 7-round magazine. The magazine has minor operational wear with intact feed lips and a strong spring. The certificate has had the original purchaser’s name.  The pistol also comes in a modern plastic case.

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.

During the inter-war years, the design was further refined with an arched mainspring housing, relief-cuts behind the shortened trigger and some minor changes to other small parts, resulting in the 1911A1. This new model would be the US sidearm during WWII, and saw production by a few different companies. As in the previous World War, Colt and American Arsenals were not able to produce everything that would be required for this war, and production would be contracted to a typewriter company, Remington Rand, a company which made switches and signals for railroads, Union Switch & Signal, and one firearms manufacturer, Ithaca Gun Co. This example was made by Ithaca in 1943, and is one of the earlier guns produced by the Ithaca, New York based company.

It stayed in US inventory for some time, eventually being sold to the public by the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) in January of 2019 as a Service Grade. It was reconditioned with all WWI era slide, barrel and grips when it left CMP.  Based on the VERY faint markings on the frame, it is possible that it has been refinished more than once. The pistol is currently in Very Good to Fine condition with its good bore and strong mechanics. This would be a nice addition to a collection, especially for those who missed out on the CMP’s release of these pistols. Please see our photos for a better understanding of condition and good luck!

BF