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1911 .455 Webley raf

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1911 colt ww i
5K views 16 replies 5 participants last post by  Old Guns 
#1 ·
I purchased this 1911 recently and I’d like to get some information on it. I believe it was made in 1917. The slide is marked “455 calibre” and the frame is stamped by the raf. The grips and trigger have been replaced. At some point the frame got cut and a 45 barrel was added. Any and all information is appreciated
 

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#5 ·
Without looking at every mark in a book to check it I would say the gun is for the most part correct with a barrel and grip change. It has been refinished as previously stated. Any true collector value has been destroyed but still it is a British RAF 1911 and would be of interest to some not looking to spend thousands of dollars. It " should " sell in the 800 dollar range but with the online auctions today who knows? 1200 to 1500? A correct barrel and original grips would cost as much if not more then the value of the gun.
 
#7 · (Edited)
I cannot add anything on the value - as been already said, the pistol has been refinished and modified from original condition. You think it was made in 1917? According to my Colt's Dates Of Manufacture here is a brief summary of Colt's production:

Start of production - 1917 year: Serial Number 137401
End of Year production Serial Number 216587

Hope this helps. Sometimes buying a Colt 1911 can be a bewildering experience. I bought a Colt 1911A1 and I had 3 or 4 people tell me it was a mismatch parts gun. I sent the serial number and complete description to Colt's and found it WAS an authentic 1943 Colt 1911A1, and that a letter was available to confirm it. For a while I thought I'd 'been taken'.

I got the gun for 475 so it couldn't have been too bad of a deal. I thought it was a neat piece and was still a shooter. I was aware of the gun being refinished, but still liked it. Thanks for the information
$475 for a Colt 1911? Did you wear a mask when you bought it to make the robbery official? That was a great deal on a .45. The cheap copies sell for more than that.
 
#14 ·
The frame is a Colt see below. The number should be preceded by a W

3) Colt M1911 British Contract: S/N W29117 to W97000 and S/N C29 to C74,200 = May 1912 to April 1919 (Approx. 17,500 pistols were shipped to England. Serial numbers that begin with a "C" were .45 ACP and serial numbers that begin with a "W" were .455 Webley calibers.

4) Colt M1911 British RAF Contract: S/N W91,100 to W110,696 = Jan. 22, 1918 to April 28, 1919 (Approx. 10,000 pistols were shipped to the Royal Air Force from this serial number range and were .455 Webley caliber.)
 
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