WWI US Colt Model of 1911 U.S. Army .45 ACP Semi-Automatic Pistol, 1917 C&R
SOLD FOR: $5025
LSB#: 230703GG001
Make: Colt
Model: 1911
Serial Number: 140584
Year of Manufacture: 1917
Caliber: .45 A.C.P.
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto with 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.19,1913” and “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. / HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A.”, with a Rampant Colt logo at the rear of the slide. The right side of the slide is marked “MODEL OF 1911. U. S. ARMY”. The right side of the frame is marked “No 140584”. The left side of the frame is marked “UNITED STATES PROPERTY” and behind the trigger with a circled “GHS” (Col. Gilbert H. Stewart, Colt 1911 Pistols 1915-1919). The top of the barrel at the chamber opening is marked with “P” and “H”. The top rear face of the slide is marked “H” (vertical, no serif) above the firing pin plate, there is a “3” and a small “z” marked under the plate. The flat on the top of the frame around the disconnector is marked “G”, “H” and “U”, and the right rail is marked with a small square. The flat on the underside of the slide is marked “S”, “W”, “U” and “G”.
Barrel Length: 5”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a short rounded blade. The rear sight is a flat-top “U” notch dovetailed into the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered walnut with smooth diamonds around the grip screws. The grips show light handling wear with a spot of more notable wear at the bottom-rear of the right panel. There are a few scattered small marks. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. The grips rate in Good-plus condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is infrequent very minor erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 9 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 85% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The most notable finish loss is handling wear in the grip areas. There is an odd void in the finish on the bottom-left of the dust cover. There is some scattered very minor surface oxidation. There is some scuffing on the top of the slide and a few other minor marks. The action shows light 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.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The trigger pull is crisp. The slide has very little 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 a total of two two-tone 7-round magazines and a brown leather magazine pouch. One magazine has a lanyard loop, the other does not. The pouch is marked on the back with “Q.M.C. / JEFF. 1923 / H.E.K.” (Quartermaster Corps, Jeffersonville, Indiana, produced 1923).
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.
This is a Colt Model 1911 that was made during WWI in 1917. The pistol has a brushed blue finish that was instigated in 1917 because the Army thought the bright blued finish was not durable enough. The pistol is in Very Good condition with 85% of its original finish remaining. The bore is strong with sharp rifling and the mechanics are still strong. This is a pistol which has light, honest wear, really quite nice for an issued sidearm in one of the most destructive conflicts in history, and will make a nice addition to a WWI small arms or 1911 specific collection. Please see our photos and good luck!
Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud
