WWI Springfield Frame Colt Slide Model of 1911 .45 ACP Semi-Auto Pistol C&R
SOLD FOR: $2550
LSB#: 230612EA100
Make: Springfield Armory frame, Colt slide
Model: 1911
Serial Number: 79320
Year of Manufacture: The frame was made in 1914, the slide was made Ca. 1918-1919
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine
Barrel Length: 5”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a rounded blade fixed to the slide. The rear sight is a flat-top “U”-notch dovetailed to the rear of the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered brown synthetic. The left panel has large reinforcement rings around the screws with reinforcement ribs on the interior and a mold number where the ribs cross, indicating Colt production. The right panel has smaller reinforcement rings with mold number and Keyes Fibre star inside the ribs. The grips have minor handling wear with only a few small marks. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in about Fine condition as not original to the gun.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Refinished. The slide is not original to the frame and the barrel is a WWII-era High Standard made part. Several other parts have been replaced.
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright, the rifling is sharp. There is stubborn fouling, mostly in the chamber, but no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates about 9 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 96% of its current metal finish. The finish is thinning at some edges, most notable at the front of the slide. There is a light “idiot mark” on the left of the frame under the slide stop. There is scattered erosion under the finish, most notable on the slide. There are some scattered small nicks and light scratches, most under the finish. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good condition as refinished and not parts-original.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The trigger pull is crisp and the slide has light play to the frame. 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 one WWII-era 7-round magazine, marked “S” on the top of the floorplate.
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. Its design came from John Moses Browning with initial production by Colt. When the pistol was first adopted by the U.S. Army, an agreement was reached that US Arsenals could produce the pistol, but only after orders of at least 50,000 pistols had been received by Colt. The United States cleverly sent an immediate order for 50,000 pistols and set to work on a plan to produce the new model at Springfield Armory.
Oddly, Colt actually didn’t have manufacturing drawings, so Springfield had to take 20 Colt production pistols, measure all of their parts, and average the dimensions of the 20 examples to arrive at their nominal dimensions, with the extremes of the measurements used for tolerances. Production would actually begin in 1914 but, despite the initial intent to produce the majority of the Model at government arsenals, the US entry into WWI caused production to cease in 1917 in order to focus on rifle production. In the end, only about 25,000 of the pistols would be produced by the Springfield Armory.
This Model 1911 has been assembled with a Springfield Armory frame made in 1914, a late-war Colt slide and a mixture of other parts including a WWII-era High Standard barrel. The pistol is in Very Good condition as refinished, showing some erosion under the finish, but retaining a nice bore and strong mechanics. The Model 1911 pistols are always collectible, and this would be a neat addition to a collection or a good source of parts if you happen to have a Colt/Springfield to match this Springfield/Colt. Please see our photos and good luck!
Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud
