Colt Model 1911A1 1911-A1, U.S. Marked, Parkerized 5” WWII SA Semi-Automatic Pistol, MFD 1944 C&R

SOLD FOR: $2,715
LSB#:
160420JC01

Make: Colt

Model: 1911-A1

Serial Number: 1203193

Year of Manufacture: April 1944 (Pg. 401 of Clawson’s “Colt .45 Service Pistols”)

Caliber: .45 A.C.P.

Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine

Markings: The left side of the slide is marked “PATENTED APR.20,1897. SEPT.9,1902 / DEC.19,1905. FEB.14,1911. AUG.19,1913” and “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. / HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A.” and with a Rampant Colt logo in the center. The top of the slide in front of the rear sight is marked “P”. There are no markings under the firing pin stop. The left front of the trigger guard is marked “8” and with a “VP in a triangle. The right front of the trigger guard is marked “55”. The left side of the frame is marked with a “P” below the magazine release and with “G.H.D.” below the slide release (Guy H. Drewry Lt. Col., USA Smith & Wesson .38 Revolvers, Colt .45, 38 and .22 Revolvers and Pistols 1930-1946). The right side of the frame is marked “UNITED STATES PROPERTY / No 1203193” and “M1911A1 U.S. ARMY”. There is a very faint ordnance acceptance mark behind the right grip. The left side of the barrel lug is marked “P” and barrel above the lug is marked “COLT 45 AUTO”, identifying it as a late-war Colt barrel.

Barrel Length: 5”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a short blade with a serrated and slightly ramped rear face. The rear sight is a flat topped square notched dovetailed into the top of the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered reddish brown plastic with sharp checkering and no mars. The grips rate in about Excellent overall condition.

Type of Finish: This pistol has a dark grey Parkerized finish. The mainspring housing and the front face of the trigger are knurled.

Finish Originality: The finish is original.

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is no erosion in the bore.

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 97% of its current metal finish. There is thinning on the front edges of the slide and on the underside of the slide from rubbing on the frame. There are light handling marks on the slide, safety, the sides of the frame and the underside of the trigger guard. There are tool marks around the safety pin on the right side of the frame and several small dings on the top of the slide, in front of and behind the rear sight, and on the left side of the port opening. There are several tiny dings in the edges of the slide serrations on both sides of the slide and scratches in the right side of the frame behind the grip. The knurling/serrations on the hammer, safety, slide release, magazine release and magazine housing are sharp. The recoil spring plug knurling shows light wear around its outside edge. The grip screws are sharp. The markings on the slide are shallow, and lightly stamped. The stampings on the frame are clear. Overall, this pistol rates in about Fine Plus condition.

Mechanics: The trigger pull is crisp. The slide is tight on the frame. The action functions correctly. We have not fired this pistol.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with one black parkerized magazine. The magazine is marked “19200- / ASSY 5508694 / MFR 30745” identifying it as a post 1974 magazine made by the Mason-Rust Co. of Pittsburgh. The magazine shows minimal wear and is in about Excellent 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 Colt Model 1911-A1 pistol made in April of 1914. The pistol is in about Fine Plus condition with 97% of its original parkerized finish remaining. The pistol shows light handling marks in the slide and sides of the frame and the underside of the trigger guard. There is thinning on the front edges of the slide and the underside of the slide from rubbing on the frame. There are tool marks around the safety pin on the right side of the frame and several small dings on the top of the slide. There are several tiny dings in the edges of the slide serrations and scratches in the right side of the frame behind the grip. The grips are reddish brown checkered plastic with sharp checkering and no mars. The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling and no erosion and the barrel is of the right era to be original to this pistol. The magazine is a GI magazine, but made after 1974 (the cage code was assigned in 1974). The finish on this pistol is nice enough that the collectors should be very interested: we would bet there are quite a few Colt collections out there with WWII Colts that don’t have a finish as nice as the one on this pistol. The magazine isn’t original to the pistol, but WWII magazines are not hard to come by.