Info needed on 1911A1 British Proof marks - The Firearms Forum

npbra · 01-15-2010, 11:00 PM

I have a 1911A1 United States Property M1911A1 US Army ser.#765,xxx with British proof marks, Birmingnam Proof House with crossed swords marking NB which I know means proofed in 1962. I know the year is 1942 for the pistol. The slide and frame are blued, the barrel is HS with G mark on it, has the WB in a square, P in an upsidedown triangle on the frame. What do I have?
Thanks
Barry

deadin · 01-16-2010, 09:14 AM

Nice looking M1911A1!
The proof marks are standard Brit Commercial proofs. The other marks are various inspectors marks from the US.
British proof laws require that all guns sold commercially, regardless of where they were made, be proofed in one of the British proof houses.
I would suppose that this gun was surplussed, lend-leased or walked away from the US Army during WW2 and later entered the English commercial trade and therefor run through the Birmingham Proof House.

npbra · 01-16-2010, 10:05 AM

Thanks Deadin, but the blueing has me kind of baffled. Is this most likely a rebuild? and if it is, was it possibly an arsenal job or private.

deadin · 01-16-2010, 10:37 AM

Definitely a refinish and probably not arsenal. The gun would have originally been Park'ed and would have been re-Park'ed if rebuilt by a US arsenal. (Can't speak for the Brit's, but I doubt their arsenals refurbished M1911's)

TheGunClinger · 01-16-2010, 11:34 AM

http://www.coolgunsite.com/pistols/lendlease.htm I dont know if this helps but it is a good site.

npbra · 01-16-2010, 05:02 PM

Thanks guys for the responses, helps me understand what I have a bit more.

Jim K · 01-17-2010, 10:35 PM

The polish and blue job took it from maybe a $1000 pistol to a $400 pistol. And the owner at the time paid to have it done!

Jim

01-15-2010, 11:00 PM	#1
npbra Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Grande Prairie Alberta Posts: 8	Info needed on 1911A1 British Proof marks I have a 1911A1 United States Property M1911A1 US Army ser.#765,xxx with British proof marks, Birmingnam Proof House with crossed swords marking NB which I know means proofed in 1962. I know the year is 1942 for the pistol. The slide and frame are blued, the barrel is HS with G mark on it, has the WB in a square, P in an upsidedown triangle on the frame. What do I have? Thanks Barry Attached Images --> Last edited by npbra; 01-16-2010 at 12:45 AM.. Reason: add picture

01-16-2010, 09:14 AM	#2
deadin Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 858	Re: Info needed on 1911A1 British Proof marks Nice looking M1911A1! The proof marks are standard Brit Commercial proofs. The other marks are various inspectors marks from the US. British proof laws require that all guns sold commercially, regardless of where they were made, be proofed in one of the British proof houses. I would suppose that this gun was surplussed, lend-leased or walked away from the US Army during WW2 and later entered the English commercial trade and therefor run through the Birmingham Proof House.

01-16-2010, 10:05 AM	#3
npbra Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Grande Prairie Alberta Posts: 8	Re: Info needed on 1911A1 British Proof marks Thanks Deadin, but the blueing has me kind of baffled. Is this most likely a rebuild? and if it is, was it possibly an arsenal job or private.

01-16-2010, 10:37 AM	#4
deadin Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 858	Re: Info needed on 1911A1 British Proof marks Definitely a refinish and probably not arsenal. The gun would have originally been Park'ed and would have been re-Park'ed if rebuilt by a US arsenal. (Can't speak for the Brit's, but I doubt their arsenals refurbished M1911's)

01-16-2010, 11:34 AM	#5
TheGunClinger Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: SW Florida Contributor Posts: 2,383	Re: Info needed on 1911A1 British Proof marks http://www.coolgunsite.com/pistols/lendlease.htm I dont know if this helps but it is a good site. __________________ New England Patriots Rule Next year.

01-16-2010, 05:02 PM	#6
npbra Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Grande Prairie Alberta Posts: 8	Re: Info needed on 1911A1 British Proof marks Thanks guys for the responses, helps me understand what I have a bit more.

01-17-2010, 10:35 PM	#7
Jim K Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 6,408	Re: Info needed on 1911A1 British Proof marks The polish and blue job took it from maybe a $1000 pistol to a $400 pistol. And the owner at the time paid to have it done! Jim