Colt issue?

[desertrat]

I picked up what seems to be a Colt Govt issue M1911A1 at a recent gun show. The ser No is: 1172844; marked United States Property
The slide has Colt markings.
The barrel is stamped colt .45 auto
Grips are brown plastic, with a "9" and a "11" in either grip
Holster is brown marked "Granton xxxxxx company....1943
The mag is unmarked
What do I have here??

[Scott Gahimer]

The serial number indicates you have an early 1945 Colt M1911A1. The barrel should also have some other markings; a P on the left lug; and perhaps another letter or number on the bottom just in front of the lugs. It might even have a boxed C on the right lug? If you provide the exact and complete barrel markings, we can tell you more.
The grips, provided they have the wide ring around the screw holes and reinforcing ribs internally, are Colt grips, and correct for your pistol.
Is the magazine welded base, or pinned base? Earlier Colt mags were pinned base and unmarked. The mag that was originally shipped with your pistol would have been welded base, and been marked with an L,R or S on the top of the toe, and a corresponding C-L, C-R or C-S on the bottom of the base, which indicates a mag made by M.S. Little, Risdon or Scovill specifically for Colt pistols. All these mags were full blued.
The holster is a Graton & Knight holster produced in 1943.
Without more specific info and perhaps photos, I can't offer an opinion on whether your pistol is all original or not. The mag apparently has been swapped, but otherwise... so far, so good. Congratulations.

[desertrat]

Scott,
I found a tiny "F" on the barrel upon closer inspection, along with the "Colt 45" marking. The two mags I have have a "C" on the toe of one and an "R" on the toe of the second. Is the additional marking to look for inside? I haven't taken them apart - if possible. many thanks for your response.
Dave

[desertrat]

Now that I think I have a real "no sh-it" collector, I am leary of taking it with me every day. It shoots fine, a 4" group at 25 meters. However, it is BIG. I knew a guy in the former BNDD (Bureau of Narcotits & Dangerous Drugs) in Spain whiling serving with the US embassy. he carried a Colt Commander. I am considering checking the loal gun stores for a used gun like his. Any thoughts? I will carry this to the appropriate threat after any responses. Me thins my WWII Colt is probably not the best for daily carry.
Cheers,
Dave

[Scott Gahimer]

Dave: Okay... Colt used a tiny F marked barrel (among some other markings) in your serial range. So, chances are good your barrel is original to the gun. You could examine the wear patterns on the back end of the barrel and the mating surfaces of the slide to compare for a match.
The "C" you mention is probably actually a "G". A "G" marked mag is a field replacement WWII mag made by General Shaver, which was a Division of Remington Rand. If it is a "G" mag, you should also notice there are spot welds up the back of the magazine, and the polishing marks on the tube of the mag run horizontally, rather than vertically like your other mag.
All the markings (L,R,S and G) are on the top of the toe of the baseplate of the magazines. The C-L, C-R and C-S markings are on the bottom side of the baseplate, on the flip side of where the other markings are. You do not have to take the mags apart to see the markings.
Congratulations. It sounds like you've got a good Colt there. It was not uncommon for mags to get swapped out, both in the military and afterwards.
Concerning whether your pistol is original finish... the GHD and Verified Proof VP marking, the crossed cannons and the inspector and assembler marks on your pistol were all originally struck after the finish was applied. If you look at those markings on an angle with a flashlight, you should see some signs of bare or burnished metal. Sometimes it can be hard to see.
On most WWII pistols, the bullet feed ramp on the frame is bare metal. But, Colt's started leaving the feed ramp finished at about serial number 1,700,000. So, your gun's ramp is probably still finished over.
You can also look for bare metal on the inside of the magazine well, where the grip screw bushings were originally staked into place after finish.

[Johnny Peppers]

The original posted serial number is 1172844 which would make it a late January or early February 1944 shipped pistol, and as such would have a polished to bright feed ramp. The COLT .45 AUTO barrel with small F in front of the lug is still probably correct.

[Scott Gahimer]

Good eye Johnny. I was having a brain fart and thought the number was 1.72M.

[desertrat]

Many thanks guys! I am probably taking this thing to the annual Las Vegas show and maybe sell it; it just seems too good to shoot. I definately am going to look up the Charles Clausen book and get a copy. I am a retired Marine officer after 33 years and never could stand the 9mm - managed to hang on to a Rand until practically charged with theft (grin). I am in the market for a good shooter and will spend the morning today boning up on the other threads here for some advice......this is a GREAT web site - congrats!
DTP