Colt 1911 45
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US ARMY issue Colt M1911, made in 1918. Appears all original and correct. I cannot comment on the barrel, as I would need to see the proofmarks on it in order to know if original and correct for this vintage gun.
Based on the condition(on the pictures looks to be around 70% original blue) - I would say the mid-retail value would be about $1250-1500 +/- $200
Based on the condition(on the pictures looks to be around 70% original blue) - I would say the mid-retail value would be about $1250-1500 +/- $200
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That is a nice looking gun. The 1911 was succeeded by the 1911A1, which had a variety of minor changes: shorter trigger, curved backstrap below the grip safety, longer grip safety tang, shorter hammer spur, shallow finger relief cuts on the frame behind the trigger, slightly different sights, etc. That was the main production version in World War II. The original-type 1911's were used as well, of course, but many had old-style parts replaced with new-style ones over time. An all-original 1911, as this one looks to be (I am NOT an expert on them) is a nice find.
The little horse on the rear of the slide is Colt's trademark. Colt made most of the 1911's in World War I, although I think Remington-UMC also made some. There was a much wider variety of makers in WWII.
The magazine are two-tone because of Colt's manufacturing process, which included hardening the top by dipping it in a hot cyanide bath. Many WWI issue mags had U-shaped loops on the bottom of the magazine for a lanyard. I don't know when that feature was dropped - possibly well before 1918. I think a lot of WWII magazine were made by companies other than Colt (General Shaver?) and are not two-tone. Colt changed its process and stopped making this kind of magazine sometime after WWII, I think.
The ammunition appears to be from WWII (1944). It should be non-corrosive and safe to shoot, but it may have collector value in itself. Ammo is expensive to ship, though - the US Mail won't take it.
BTW, thanks for putting up good pictures!
The little horse on the rear of the slide is Colt's trademark. Colt made most of the 1911's in World War I, although I think Remington-UMC also made some. There was a much wider variety of makers in WWII.
The magazine are two-tone because of Colt's manufacturing process, which included hardening the top by dipping it in a hot cyanide bath. Many WWI issue mags had U-shaped loops on the bottom of the magazine for a lanyard. I don't know when that feature was dropped - possibly well before 1918. I think a lot of WWII magazine were made by companies other than Colt (General Shaver?) and are not two-tone. Colt changed its process and stopped making this kind of magazine sometime after WWII, I think.
The ammunition appears to be from WWII (1944). It should be non-corrosive and safe to shoot, but it may have collector value in itself. Ammo is expensive to ship, though - the US Mail won't take it.
BTW, thanks for putting up good pictures!
where would i find these proof marks?
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Top of the chamber, letter H and P
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Yeah, because of the difficulty of cleaning the gas piston on the 30 Carbine, ALL USGI 30 Carbine has ALWAYS been non-corrosive.
You might wanna save this. Handy thing to have. It's a list of when each different USGI ammo type went non-corrosive.
http://www.odcmp.org/1101/USGI.pdf
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pic too blurry, but looks like an H and the P is there probably too..
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