What is age of this Colt 1911?

[henry77]

Friend showed me his Father's 1911 today. Colt Model of 1911. US Army. Last patent date in 1913. Serial #C1224.

What would the of manufacture of this Colt 1911. It belonged to his Father.

Thanks

[yellerdawg]

Originally Posted by henry77

Friend showed me his Father's 1911 today. Colt Model of 1911. US Army. Last patent date in 1913. Serial #C1224.

What would the of manufacture of this Colt 1911. It belonged to his Father.

Thanks

Hi pardner....the " c " of course designates a commercial or civilian pistol that was never intended or sent to military....etc....

Colt Commercial Production: Govt. Model:1912 to 1981

Model 1911
Serial Numbers Date Number Made

S/N C1 to C1899 1912 1899
S/N C1900 to C5399 1913 3500
S/N C5400 to C16599 1914 11,200
S/N C16600 to C27599 1915 11,000
S/N C27600 to C74999 1916 47,400
S/N C75000 to C98999 1917 24,000
S/N C99000 to C105999 1918 7000
S/N C106000 to C120999 1919 15,000
S/N C121000 to C126999 1920 6000
S/N C127000 to C128999 1921 2000
S/N C129000 to C129999 1922 1000
S/N C130000 to C133999 1923 4000

http://www.sightm1911.com/1911Production.htm

Of course parts or peices may have been changed/swapped..and you will hear finish will affect value. Would pray this weapon would never be sold by your freind for obvious reasons...but besides family value...tell him he may have a very rare and valuable pistol there.....!

Would appear to be about as early as it gets.....

Tell him to clean it good , but dont touch finish till a smith looks at it for advice per finish , if so desired....

Old steel/new steel...BS.....if pistol appears functional, let him very occasional shoot it....no + or P loads though.......


regards,

[oscarmayer]

not 100% sure only 95% sure. the gov't wanted every 45 colt made, they also allowed officers to buy there own handguns. it's possible a c model did see military service. ok back to the gov;t wanting more and more 1911's. shippments of guns ear-marked for commercial sales were often re-routed back to the gov't

[jondar]

C Models most definitely did see action in WW2. I know a Marine who served in the Pacific during that time. He wanted a pistol, his wife was living in Kansas City, she went down to the pawn shop, bought a Colt, packed it up, sent it to him with the papers and he used it till discharged in 1946. On returning to the States, all of his unit had to lay out the contents of their duffel bags and his pistol was almost confiscated till he produced the papers and it was returned to him.

[yellerdawg]

Originally Posted by jondar

C Models most definitely did see action in WW2. I know a Marine who served in the Pacific during that time. He wanted a pistol, his wife was living in Kansas City, she went down to the pawn shop, bought a Colt, packed it up, sent it to him with the papers and he used it till discharged in 1946. On returning to the States, all of his unit had to lay out the contents of their duffel bags and his pistol was almost confiscated till he produced the papers and it was returned to him.

So he bought it privatley and took it to war.....well duh.....I never said they didnt see action...and was responding to a dated 1912 peice.

Per COLT...that is......uh...COLT..the maker.....a factory serial preceeded by "C" was for civilain deemed purches.....at time of stamping....

if war or precurement dictated...OK...maybe Gov orders were filled with what was onthe shelves.....maybe...I never heard of a gov inspector/armorer stamping a "c" pistol...but OK....


I simply mentioned the pre fix letter. as per "COLT" for this young mans definitions , as he asked.......next time I will wait until the "GODS " of ther 1911 have piped up.......


I dont need words put in my mouth about "seeing action " or anyhting else per facts I relate...

but..thank you very much and have a good day....!

[henry77]

Thanks to everybody for their help. I will relay the information to my friend.

[Alpo]

Originally Posted by johnlives4christ

wow... attitude

I kinda agree with his attitude. Question was asked. He answered the question. People starting jumping in with all these reasons why he COULD be wrong.

The gun is a C prefix. It's a civilian gun, not a military one. Could the government have bought it, because they were short on guns going into the war? Certainly. Could great-grandpa have bought it and took it "over there" with him? Certainly. In either of those two cases it would be have been used in the military, but that does not change the fact that it is not a military gun, it is a civilian one.