This was made in 1923 and appears to be correct in every way. The finish could be better but the way I look at it is I know that it is original. When you go looking for these it seems all you see are perfect to near perfect examples. It's ugly but it is tight and the bore is nice as well. The finish on these from what I have read is somewhat fragile and it doesn't take much for them to end up as this one has. It looks like in some areas the blue just peeled right off. There is absolutely no pitting anywhere, the gripstraps are brown which shows it was handled quite a bit. The mags are correct from what I can see, no markings anywhere. My LGS had just gotten this one in and I got to check it out before it went out for sale. I had them put it back for me on layaway as well as the pre-woodsman that came in with it.
OK, I've been chewin' on this for a while and kicking myself for selling my Clawson book on the 1911 Commercial Models a few years ago. Dang it! Then I remembered that I also have the book by Goddard "The Government Models". Let's see if there is anything about this era of Commercial models in this book. Goddard didn't touch on the Commercial models but he does list several pages of serial numbers, ship dates, and receiving parties. I started looking, found my range and to my surprise found this serial number listed. It shipped on Sept. 12 1923 to a Post Exchange, Lt. O.K. Robbins. Goddards nomenclature for shipping shows that if it has 2 names it means delivery to the first for delivery to the second. I now have a name and will have to have my LGS ask the lady that brought both of these in if Lt. Robbins was her or her husbands Grandfather or Great Grandfather. I'm betting that this is the case and also betting that the pre-Woodsman was delivered at the same time as the 1911. If this happens to be the case it is a shame that these family guns' history have ended in the way they did.
OK, I've been chewin' on this for a while and kicking myself for selling my Clawson book on the 1911 Commercial Models a few years ago. Dang it! Then I remembered that I also have the book by Goddard "The Government Models". Let's see if there is anything about this era of Commercial models in this book. Goddard didn't touch on the Commercial models but he does list several pages of serial numbers, ship dates, and receiving parties. I started looking, found my range and to my surprise found this serial number listed. It shipped on Sept. 12 1923 to a Post Exchange, Lt. O.K. Robbins. Goddards nomenclature for shipping shows that if it has 2 names it means delivery to the first for delivery to the second. I now have a name and will have to have my LGS ask the lady that brought both of these in if Lt. Robbins was her or her husbands Grandfather or Great Grandfather. I'm betting that this is the case and also betting that the pre-Woodsman was delivered at the same time as the 1911. If this happens to be the case it is a shame that these family guns' history have ended in the way they did.
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