1911 w/ 1914 production date any help?

[brookej]

I was wondering if anyone out there could help me. I have a colt 1911. I called Colt and they looked up the serial number and informed me that it was produced in 1914. I looked at several pics and all show the gun with the same checked grips. But mind has bone or something. I know I may saound stupid, but I'm a 21 year old female and know very little about older guns. The grips are cracked and turning yellow-ish. Can anyone give me any info on worth or why the grips may be different. The gun was my husbands grandfathers and it's always had the grips since he got it from him. Any info would be much appreciated. XOXOXOX

[John]

We have to assume that these are some grips that your husband's grandfather installed on the gun, as an after-market accessory to make the pistol look different/nicer. They can be from various materials, we have someone here who has grips made from the tooth of a mamooth, but ivory, or stag can be what you have. My English are not that good to give the proper names of all these materials, others will jump in with more details, I am sure.

I am not sure if you came here to stay or just to ask this question for your husband's pistol, but in any case, welcome to the M1911.ORG forums site.

Rgds

[brookej]

thanks for your reply Im here to stay awhile. Im interested in the gun he never has been to much so I figured Id find out what i can

[brookej]

I dont know if this will help. It has United States Property on the side with the serial and then the last patent on the other is 1913.

[John]

This is typical of the production dates we are talking about. I am not sure if it has all the original parts or not (apart from the grips), but if it has them, and if it is in good condition and never being restored, then you have a valuable piece of history in your hands.

Rgds

[brookej]

thanks for the info... everything appears to be orig. except the grips do you suggest keeping or replacing them? if so what should i replace them with? no one ever shoots it but me. Should i or not?

[John]

Not easy to answer your question. If it is in excellent condition, and all that is missing to have a perfect 1914 pistol are the grips, and if you want to sell it some day, you'd better try to find some original grips and replace those on the pistol.

If on the other hand, the pistol is in so-and-so condition (finish-wise) it might not be worth making it a beauty queen. In that case, the broken grips can be replaced with contemporary grips from any vendor, and have an excellent pistol to shoot.

I think it is time to move this thread to a more appropriate forum, where people who are very knowledgeable on the old 1911s frequent. In that way, you'll get advise from the experts on this subject, I am not one of them.

CUL

[Doran]

I dont know if this will help. It has United States Property on the side with the serial and then the last patent on the other is 1913.

A 1914 service pistol should have the United States Property mark on the left side of the frame toward the front and the serial number above the trigger on the right hand side of the frame.

It would have had checkered walnut grips with diamond shaped uncheckered areas around the grip screws.

[brookej]

everything is as you described except the grips. they look ivory or bone?

[Scott Gahimer]

Brooke: As far as value goes, it is difficult to say unless some more detailed information is provided. Posting or e-mailing photos would be a big help also.
There is much to consider when authenticating a 1911 pistol.
I agree, your grips sound like ivory to me because they have yellowed out and cracked, which is typical for old ivory.
I would also suggest finding out exactly what you have before continuing to shoot the pistol much more. If it is all original and correct, replacemnt parts could be very difficult to find should something break. Or...some have even lost their sights due to recoil and a poorly staked sight. Worse yet, some have reported cracks for develop in the slides and frames in some isolated cases.
Some detailed photos would be the best place to start.
Thanks.
Scott
BTW, I got your e-mail. But, apparently my e-mail server is down right now. You should be receiving my reply as soon as the server is back online.

[brookej]

like i said earlier it was my husbands grandfathers. he had two one went to my husband and the other to my brother in law. he was a sarg in ww2 with the 417th tank destroyers i believe and later became a major. the other gun has the standard grips i see on all the others. i have a serial # 81193 any info anyone?

[Scott Gahimer]

It is also a Springfield Armory pistol, as the other one you provided the number on. However, this one was procured a couple weeks earlier than the other one.
Congratulations on your good fortune. The pistols are quite valuable from a monetary standpoint. But hopefully they are much more valuable from a sentimental position and will stay in your family. Money comes and goes, but a rare pistol passed down through a family can be enjoyed by generations to come, and preserves the history and memories of the one(s) who served.
UPDATE:
Based on info Brooke just supplied me in an e-mail, the slide is a 1911A1 slide with P proof and the barrel is marked Colt .45 Auto on top of a shiny surface through the port. We haven't even discussed finishes yet.
While the monetary value of the pistol is greatly diminished with a mismatch (and probably refinished rebuild), the real value of these pieces does not diminish at all to her family. They are still a part of her husband's family history and can be passed down and enjoyed for years to come.
Congratulations!