Colt Model 1911 Government U.S. Marked WWI C&R .45 Blue 5″ Semi-Automatic Pistol & Belt, MFD 1918 ACP

SOLD FOR: $3,526.00
LSB#: 
170615MH01

Make: Colt

Model: 1911

Serial Number: 374746

Year of Manufacture: July 1918 (Clawson)

Caliber: .45 ACP

Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine

Markings: The right side of the frame is marked “NO 3747467” and the right side of the slide is marked “MODEL OF 1911. U. S. ARMY”. The left side of the slide is marked “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. / HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A.” and “PATENTED APR.20.1897.SEPT.9.1902 / DEC.19.1905.FEB.14.1911.AUG.19.1913.” and with a Rampant Colt logo in the center. The left side of the frame is marked behind the trigger with an “Eagle / S16” inspection mark and at the front with “UNITED STATES PROPERTY”. The top of the barrel at the chamber is marked with a vertical “P / H”, which indicates a Colt barrel correct for a pistol with this serial number. The underside of the barrel in front of the lug is marked “5”. The rear face of the slide above the firing pin retainer is marked “H”. The flat on the underside of the slide is marked “L” and “+” (could be part of a “4”). The flat on the top of the frame in front of the hammer is marked “G” and “H”, and the right frame rail is marked with an “8”.

Barrel Length: 5”

Sights / Optics: The pistol is mounted with a “U” notched rear sight dovetailed into the slide and a short rounded blade front sight fixed to the slide.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered walnut with smooth diamonds around the grip screws. The grips are dark with oil staining in the checkered areas. There are small dings and short drag lines in the smooth diamonds. The checkering shows heavy wear with a few small dings and two areas at the front of the left grip that are worn almost smooth. The grips rate in about Good overall condition.

Type of Finish: The finish is blued. The mainspring housing is smooth.

Finish Originality: The pistol has been refinished.

Bore Condition: The bore is gray with moderate wear in the rifling. There is light erosion scattered throughout the barrel. .

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 55% of its current metal finish. There are spots of light erosion and a few small dings under the finish scattered over the slide and frame with a few larger pits at the front of the slide. The surfaces show thinning with finish loss on the front edge of the slide release, scratches on the left side of the frame under the slide release, a mark through the finish in the mainspring housing and a few light handling marks. The slide serrations and hammer knurling show light wear. The grip screws are disfigured and the markings are shallow. Overall, this pistol rates in about Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. It has both a manual and grip safety and the trigger pull is crisp. The slide is tight to the frame. We did not fire this pistol. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with single 7 round blued magazine with the top third “In The White”, a M1916 leather holster and a web belt. The magazine is unmarked (typical of Colt magazines). The magazine shows moderate wear with light erosion. The magazine is in about Very Good overall condition. There is a lanyard ring on the bottom of the mainspring housing, but none on the magazine floorplate. The holster is a USGI M1916 leather flap holster made by the Boyt Harness Co. of Des Moines, Iowa. The holster is made from a single piece of leather that is folded over at the front and sewn along the rear edge and around the muzzle. The back of the holster is folded over to the front secured to a brass stud on the outside of the holster. There are brass eyelets installed on each side of the muzzle for a tie-down string. The back of the holster has a separate piece of leather sewn and riveted to it with two vertical belt slits and a steel hanger at the top for attaching to a web belt. The top flap is marked with an encircled “US” in large letters and the back of the holster is marked “BOYT / E.T.C”. The holster shows verdigris starting to grow around the brass rivets and eyelets. There is finish loss around the edges of the top flap with thinning in the top flap and several handling marks and drag lines scattered over the holster. The stitching is all intact and there are no cracks in the leather. The holster is in about Good condition. The belt is khaki drab as used in 1917 and 1918, and the length of the canvas portion is about 35” as currently configured, with another 8 3/8” folded over itself. The fasteners are bronze with a black finish. The holster shows several light stains and finish loss on the edges of the metal parts. The belt is in about Very Good condition.

Our Assessment: The 1911 and 1911-A1 pistols served the military of the United States from 1911 to 1985, through two World Wars and the Korean and Vietnam wars. They gained a reputation as a reliable handgun with plenty of stopping power, and are held in high regard by those who have used them. This is a U. S. Government marked Colt 1911 pistol made in July of 1918. The barrel and magazine are original, the markings are correct for a pistol made in 1918, and the pistol comes with a WWI M1916 holster and a khaki drab web belt, both correct for the 1918 period. The pistol is in about Good condition with about 55% of its current metal finish remaining. The bore is gray with moderate wear in the rifling and light erosion throughout the bore. This pistol should be of interest to collectors, especially with as it comes with the correct holster and web belt. The pistol may also be of interest from someone looking for a gun for home protection or someone wishing to shoot in the SASS Wild Bunch Traditional class.

CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable: This C&R eligible handgun CAN be transferred as a dealer sale in California but CANNOT be sold as a Private Party Transfer (PPT) at our Simi Valley shop. All cartridge firing handguns (even C&R’s and antiques) sold to a California resident must be DROS’d. This does not apply to out of state residents.

Colt Model 1911 Government U.S. Marked WWI C&R .45 Blue 5" Semi-Automatic Pistol & Belt, MFD 1918 ACP
Colt Model 1911 Government U.S. Marked WWI C&R .45
Blue 5″ Semi-Automatic Pistol & Belt, MFD 1918 ACP