My father in law just gave me this as a belated birthday gift. It looks entirely correct to me, but I don't pretend to be an expert on old 1911s. Some of you may be, though. What are your thoughts on it?
Sharing my 1911
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Nice USGI M1911…….
AJ
US Veteran
According to the Colt Shipping Records, S/N 159549 was shipped from Colt on 6/13/1917 to the Springfield Armory. This was in a block of 1000 pistols. It does not show up on the copy of the Springfield Research Service that I have. HTH.
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No expert here, that but looks mighty nice to me. Congrats!
I would also say you've done very well in your father-in-law. (You oughta buy him a nice bottle of booze, box of cigars, or whatever he would like. He deserves it!)
I would also say you've done very well in your father-in-law. (You oughta buy him a nice bottle of booze, box of cigars, or whatever he would like. He deserves it!)
SGT ROCK 11B
Member
World War 1 and Colt. Looks great for its age.
SGT ROCK 11B
Member
I am thinking a bottle of Johnnie Walker Black.
OP
Good question. I believe most, if not all, original magazines were done that way. I still have a lot to learn though.
I found the info below here.
https://coolgunsite.com/pistols/Magazines.htm
The earliest magazines (Step Base Bottom) do not appear to be two toned, but were heat treated and the halves show a slight difference in color. The type 1 magazine shows part of the bottom plate in the side view. These were used from serial #1 through about serial #4500. The second type magazine had a cut-out in the rear wall that allowed the sides to flex and avoided cracking the upper rear corners. The type II was used from about serial #4500 to serial #30000. The third type magazine had a lanyard loop as did the previous two types. The type III was used from about serial 30000 to about serial #130000. The type 4 magazine had no lanyard loop. And was used from about serial #130000 to the end of WWI. the All magazines where two tone until approximately 1940. Full blued magazines started shipping around serial number 719,753. Reference Charles Clawsons “Colt .45 Service pistols”.
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the half tone on the magazines had to do with the metal hardening process Colt used if I recall correctly.. also some times shows up on the slide, a different color on the front couple of inches.. only shows up on early 1911's..
and yes the father in law deserves a special something as a thank you.
and yes the father in law deserves a special something as a thank you.
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Now you need a 1912 holster, Eagle Snap pistol belt with magazine pouch and early bandage pouch.
OP
Like this?
Here is my grandfather's unit in Germany just before the shipped out for home. All the enlisted men are wearing this same gear.
Here is this gun on my grandfather's uniform with his helmet and an excerpt from his journal.
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Nice M1911! It's one that I would be proud to own. Your FIL is awesome for gifting this to you. Everything looks correct to me, except maybe the feed ramp. Can't tell because it's in shadow, but I think the feed ramp should be unfinished? After the parts were blued, Colt would grind the feed ramp, removing the finish. A blued feed ramp doesn't have good lubricity.
OP
Thanks for the info. Upon closer inspection I found that the feed ramp is blued. More to research here.
Looks like it is still probably an original finish. This is what I found on coolgunsite.com:
https://coolgunsite.com/pistols/finish.htm
Parkerized/blued bullet feed ramp finish:
Bullet feed ramps where blued in receivers to serial number 710,000, then at SN 710,001 they where machined after the receiver was blued or parkerized, leaving this area of the gun in the white and unfinished. This area should show machine marks and not be polished. In mid-1944 Colts bullet feed ramps where parkerized, this began at approximately SN 1700000.
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Yendor357
Member
I think you have the coolest dad in the world.
The 1911 is nice too.
The 1911 is nice too.
StrawHat
Member
Hell, he took the guys daughter off his hands, he deserves the pistol, and probably more!
Kevin
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Like this?
Here is my grandfather's unit in Germany just before the shipped out for home. All the enlisted men are wearing this same gear.
Here is this gun on my grandfather's uniform with his helmet and an excerpt from his journal.
1912 is the hanging one, kinda hard to find these days. Eagle snap accessories have a “ Eagle button” instead of the lift the dot. Gave all mine to my son when downsizing.Early pistol belts have larger buckles.
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SAFireman
Member
Happy Birthday to you sir!
Very nice example of an early 1911
Very nice example of an early 1911
BillBro
Member
Wow, that makes ME want to shake that mans hand.
Very beautiful.
Very beautiful.
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