When the M1911A1 started coming into the inventory in the 1920s, did it eventually completely replace the M1911? If so, what was done with the M1911s?
US Military M1911 Disposition
- Thread starter erikpolcrack
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Ivan the Butcher
Member
The Existing 1911's were left as is, if in good condition. The poor condition survivors from WWI were rebuilt at places like AA (Agusta Armory). I saw some 1911 frames that were tumbled so much that all the original roll marks were gone and were assigned new serial numbers! Eaven a few of these survived combat from WWII.
Ivan
Ivan
OP
Thanks, Ivan! It's something I've always wondered about. I served 36 years in the US Army - 5 enlisted - 20 officer - 11 civilian - and only saw one of them in all that time. It was in my arms room when I was a company commander in 10th SFG at Ft. Devens back in the late 70s. I took special notice of it because it was used by the only person to beat me in our annual pistol qualification, a young LT and fellow gun-nut who voluntarily acted as our arms room officer.
SnidelyWhiplash
Member
Yep...stayed in the system and through rebuilds a necessary. It's not uncommon to find a 1911 frame with a later slide from any number of manufacturers...or a 1911A1 frame with a 1911 slide. As long as the parts fit and the gun functioned it went either back in service...or storage...or eventual surplussing.
DWalt
Member
As is the typical situation for rebuilds at a government arsenal, there was never an attempt made to keep original parts together. If old parts passed inspection, they were refinished and re-used. If they didn't, they were scrapped and replaced with new parts. When I was at the USAF Gunsmith Shop, we rebuilt many thousands of well-used M16A2s. Most of the time, barrels and many internal action parts were replaced with new. We didn't refinish anything. If they passed a function and firing test, they went back into inventory.
In 59 or 60 My 1911 purchased from the DCM was a straight 1911. I think it was something like $19.95. It looked like it had just come out of rebuild.
OP
Six of the seven changes made to create the -A1 were just a matter of swapping parts. All new -A1s were assigned SNs above 700,000, so an original M1911 would have an SN lower than 700,000. The one substantive frame change was milling out the frame on either side of the rear of the trigger guard to make access to the new shorter trigger easier, especially for people with smaller hands. Do any of you guys who regularly ran into the M1911s remember if the frames were modified?
When I was in Kosovo in the early 2000s, I spoke with a Greek army officer who was carrying a 1911.
While in Afghanistan in 2004, a US building contractor found, on the local market, a 1914 1911.
Both of these were US issue.
While in Afghanistan in 2004, a US building contractor found, on the local market, a 1914 1911.
Both of these were US issue.
31FordA
Member
The CMP dispersal of 1911/1911A-1 pistols provides a good idea of all the different fates of the original M1911 pistols. The CMP has original 1911's that had the frame milled and others that were never modified. I think every possible combination of parts you can think of exists in Uncle Sams supply of 1911's.
My M1911 came from DCM in 1961.
Frank Krack was Assistant Foreman of the Inspection Division at RIA from September 17, 1941 until he retired on July 19th, 1946. During that period all small arms inspected under his supervision would be stamped with his initials "FK" as well as those of the Rock Island Arsenal "RIA".
An uncle gave me the old GI wood grips to replace the plastic ones Rock Island put on it when they rebuilt/refinished it. It's been well traveled since then.
Frank Krack was Assistant Foreman of the Inspection Division at RIA from September 17, 1941 until he retired on July 19th, 1946. During that period all small arms inspected under his supervision would be stamped with his initials "FK" as well as those of the Rock Island Arsenal "RIA".
An uncle gave me the old GI wood grips to replace the plastic ones Rock Island put on it when they rebuilt/refinished it. It's been well traveled since then.
I have a 1918 colt that was rebuilt in early WW2 with a WW2 Colt replacement slide and WW2 colt barrel and brown fiber grips with parkerize finish with no rebuild marks,( half had rebuild marks and half no rebuild marks). Colt made near 300,000 in 1918 alone. In Bushs Iraqi war in the 1990's some tank crewmen still had some 1911 framed 45's. And in the CMP releases, there were some 1911 sold also to the public under their program.
I think if you ask for a field grade your chances of getting a 1911 were good. I ask for a service grade because I wanted an A1. That's what I got.
