New addition to MD, a WWI 1911

Mendozaco · Nov 19, 2014

Just wanted to share my birthday present and a new addition to MD. It arrived today from an auction at GB. Overall I'm happy and excited with the pistola.. Is going to the range this weekend and if you see me with it just ask and I share the enjoyment. BYOA please (Bring Your Own Ammo).

I got the holster for $25 bucks at the Frederick gun show two weeks ago.

Dave91 · Nov 19, 2014

Awesome. I like the wear that it shows.

KH195 · Nov 19, 2014

WOW! Awesome buy, I'm VERY jealous!

ken792 · Nov 19, 2014

Cool, it finally arrived. I'll be on RO duty on Saturday, so I can look, but I can't shoot.

screamingeagle · Nov 19, 2014

Also known as a Black Army 1911 due to a quickening of the blueing process . Nice piece .

mcsurgeon · Nov 19, 2014

congrats!

BossmanPJ · Nov 19, 2014

Always did like an old 1911 that was battle worn. Looks great.

brownspotz · Nov 19, 2014

wow! thats beautiful. I picked up a 1911 serial #139### last year. its a great piece of history to own, did you look up the serial number on Colts website for more information?

AssMan · Nov 19, 2014

Sweet!

somd_mustangs · Nov 19, 2014

screamingeagle said:
Also known as a Black Army 1911 due to a quickening of the blueing process . Nice piece .

This one dates from early 1917 and would have the brushed blue finish. The "black army" didn't come into play til mid-1918.

This is a really nice example and looks to be all-correct, with the original barrel which is a big deal.
A classic case of maybe being too nice to shoot very much!

The S/N dates it to a shipment made to Springfield Armory June 30, 1917.

CasualObserver · Nov 19, 2014

Very nice. I got to get me one of those!

K-9COPPER · Nov 20, 2014

that thing is gorgeous!! I don't know if I could work up the courage to shoot it.

Mooseman · Nov 20, 2014

Wow, that is great looking.

Alphabrew · Nov 20, 2014

Freaking nice!

mawkie · Nov 20, 2014

Congratulations of a superb find! I'm jealous. Have always had a thing for the early Model 1911s, not so much for the 1911A1.
Should have added a 1911 to the arsenal years ago and now they've taken off in price. He who hesitates is lost! Will have to just buck up and purchase Scott Meadows' reference US Military Automatic Pistols for the older Colts and do some reading before starting a serious search.

Mendozaco · Nov 20, 2014

mawkie said:
Congratulations of a superb find! I'm jealous. Have always had a thing for the early Model 1911s, not so much for the 1911A1.
Should have added a 1911 to the arsenal years ago and now they've taken off in price. He who hesitates is lost! Will have to just buck up and purchase Scott Meadows' reference US Military Automatic Pistols for the older Colts and do some reading before starting a serious search.

To all members thanks for the complements.

Mawkie, In my past experience I never regretted in buying an item, but I have always regretted from not buying other things. When the opportunity comes and you can afford take it!

Lou45 · Nov 20, 2014

screamingeagle said:
Also known as a Black Army 1911 due to a quickening of the blueing process . Nice piece .

See next quoted post below.

somd_mustangs said:
This one dates from early 1917 and would have the brushed blue finish. The "black army" didn't come into play til mid-1918.

This ^^^.

Ironnewt · Nov 21, 2014

It's a shame about the wear but better than having some Bubba re-blue it!

Mendozaco · Nov 21, 2014

Ironnewt said:
It's a shame about the wear but better than having some Bubba re-blue it!

It is a 97 years old gun and not kept in a box all this time. What were you expecting to see for a WW1, WW2, Korean War (The Korean refurbish mark by the trigger) and maybe Vietnam? A new looking dated 1917 1911? :sad20:

The wear is what make this American made beauty desirable. Correct me if I'm wrong?

somd_mustangs · Nov 21, 2014

Mendozaco said:
It is a 97 year old gun and not kept in a box all this time. What were you expecting to see for a WW1, WW2, Korean War (The Korean refurbish mark by the trigger) and maybe Vietnam? A new looking dated 1917 1911? The wear is what make this American made beauty desirable. Correct me if I'm wrong?

Nah, you're not wrong, the wear is personality.
A minty WWI-era 1911 is a rare bird and will run over $4k-5K if you're lucky. This one is really nice because it's all-original (or at least appears to be) and not tampered with or abused.
I'm a very picky SOB and I wouldn't mind having this in my collection

"Korean refurbish mark by the trigger" - whatchu talkin bout? this gun looks to be original finish from your photos, you can still see the "brush" marks on the frame and slide under the bluing... the mark behind the trigger on left side of frame is the original US inspector mark (stylized "GHS" for Gilbert H Stewart). The barrel also has the correct "P over H" on the chamber which would be WWI, and if it was refurb'd I'll guarantee the barrel would have been replaced. Is there another mark somewhere?

There should also be some inspector markings on top of the frame around the disconnector opening. Mine (S/N 150xxx) has an "H 2" and "G" on the top of frame, and an "M" under the firing pin stop. Same barrel markings, P over H on top of barrel, with a sideways "S" on the left lug and nothing on the right.

You've got a true-blue deal-io there, I believe.

Arsenal marks would more than likely be on right side of frame somewhere around mag catch or in front of the slide release pin ("SA", "AA", etc). Sometimes you'll see sub-inspector markings on the trigger guard but that would be ok.

New addition to MD, a WWI 1911

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