Norwegian M1914 Kongsberg Colt 11.25mm Semi-Auto Pistol 1926 C&R
SOLD FOR: $2,125.00
LSB#: WY240716GO010.1
Make: Kongsberg Vapenfabrik, Norway, under license from Browning through Fabrique Nationale
Model: 1914, known as the “Kongsberg Colt”
Serial Number: 9186, we believe that a “0” was added prior to import to most of the serial markings.
Year of Manufacture: 1926
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 9186 0”, a crowned shield with a “7” in the center and a “Crown / Script K” proof mark. The left side of the frame is marked “9186 0”. The slide release, thumb safety, guide rod, barrel bushing are marked “9186 0”. The right side of the slide is marked “1926” over an inspector marking. The top rear of the slide behind the rear sight is marked “A”. The trigger, hammer, grip safety, ejector, recoil spring plug, mainspring housing and extractor are each marked “9186”. The firing pin plate is marked “186 / .”, the magazine catch and firing pin are each marked “. 186”. The barrel is marked “E” behind the link-lugs and “Z” or “N” in front. Under the left grip panel, the frame is import-marked “CO INC OMAHA NE” through the finish
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 checkered wood with smooth diamond shapes around the grip screws, and the left grip is cut-out at the top front for clearance for the slide release. The grips have light-moderate wear with scattered nicks and scratches. There is some finish loss, most notable in the diamonds around the screws. 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: Refinished, likely Arsenal Refurbished. The barrel has been replaced. Serial markings were machine-finished to remove excess material. The “0” markings have raised edges with finish inside the markings, indicating that they were applied after the original serial’s machine-finish and before the new blued finish was applied. The import marking is through the finish, indicating that the “0” markings were applied prior to import.
Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with sharp rifling. There is some minor erosion and stubborn copper 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 current metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. There is some scattered finish wear, most notable is handling wear in the grip areas. There are fairly evenly scattered tiny spots of minor oxidation with a few more notable spots There are scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches, some under and some through the 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 refinished.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The slide has barely perceptible 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. The rear of each 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 1926 made example in Very Good condition as refinished. The pistol has matching serial numbers on all of the numbered parts, though the barrel has been replaced and someone added a “0” after the serial marking on several parts. It is not clear why this was done, but it is clear that the “0” markings were added before its new metal finish was applied and certainly before being imported as its import marking is clearly through the finish. 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!
Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud
