Colt WWII M1911A1 Reproduction

[clughog]

Well, I couldn't pass it up. Went to the gun show Saturday and just as I was leaving a gentleman came in wanting to sell his WWII Reproduction. I'd been wanting one of these, but since they've been out of production for a while I wasn't expecting to get one. Colt tells me that fewer than 4,000 were produced before demand dried up. This is a really pretty Parkerized pistol--I'll try to post better pictures when I can get my lighting to cooperate. The previous owner special ordered it in 2002, and did put a magazine through it so it's not NIB (and priced accordingly). I'm so glad he did! Now I can shoot it without guilt...it's much too nice to keep in the safe. Guess now I'll have to get one of the current production WWI Reproductions to go with it!

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f290/clughog/WWII2.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f290/clughog/WWII3.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f290/clughog/WWII1.jpg

[OD*]

Very nice Creighton, congratulations!

[swampthang]

Gorgeous, good luck with her

[Joni Lynn]

Very nice! great find.

[Rio Vista Slim]

Creighton,
Congratulations on a Great find! I am constantly hoping to "bump" into someone selling his almost-new Colt, but I only see our old buddy, "The Colt Meister", showing off his beautiful guns, and his equally proud prices!

Once again, I am envious. That is a beautiful example of Colt's WWII 1911A1 reproduction. :)

[clughog]

This was one of those finds that almost didn't happen. I was literally stopped at the last table before heading out the door, drooling over a an overpriced Combat Commander, when this fellow walked in. He tried to sell it and/or a lightly used Stainless .45 XSE Commander to the vendor I was talking to, but the vendor was only interested in the XSE (priced a lot more than it was worth) and didn't even let the guy take the WWII Reproduction out of the box. When I finished at the vendor's table, I started thinking about the gentleman and his WWII and decided to try and find him (there must have been a zillion people at that show!). I actually thought that he probably had a Series 70 Reproduction or a used WWI and didn't initially think it was what I would be interested in. Anyway, I finally spied him a couple of aisles away and asked if he minded if I look at it. His asking price was reasonable, but a lot more than I wanted to pay. After a little negotiation, he came WAY down and I walked home with a wonderful pistol!

[OD*]

You did well Creighton, do you have the WWI to go with it? ;)

[clughog]

Nope, not yet, OD*, but after reading about them on the Forum, looking at 'em at the gunshows, and especially now that glockinload has landed one, I'm giving serious thought to getting one. If I do, it'll be peanut butter and jelly for a while (good thing I like Skippy since all the uproar about Peter Pan!).

[OD*]

They look good together. :p

[TattooPaul]

Beautiful indeed. What a timeless, classic look - both the 1911 and the A1 that certain something to 'em! Congradulations on that great find. Sometimes the right place and right time just come along.

[JustinTime]

Very nice Creighton. I'd like to get a WWII repro to go with my WWI. I'd also like to find one thats been shot so I wouldn't feel guilty about shooting it as I do my WWI.

[John]

Time to get out of here, or else I can see this keyboard going south. And on a notebook it's not just the keyboard that get shorted !

Congrats, lovely pistola!

[daveohno]

Ow! I have been wanting one of those myself. You lucky dog you! Very nice find and I am guessing at a very reasonable price! Nothing like a good deal!

[cameroni]

WOW!
I love that pistol!

I'm planning to attend a couple Gun Shows here in Georgia this year.(I'll be selling some custom handmade knives from various "vintage" makers).
Hope I can find one old Colt 1911 that I can't live without. I want a no-shux,genuine Colt.(one just like your WWII would be good:)

GREAT story behind your aquisition,sir. Thank you for the telling of it.
CHEERS!
c

[Lazarus]

Thanks for the photos and the great story. I didn't even know this model existed, especially since all one sees these days is the SA Mil-Spec and GI models. When was this Colt model offered? I noticed that this gun has a wide spur hammer - something I associate with the WWI production. And, can someone tell me from what era the lanyard-loop magazine originated?

One more comment/question. I have read that Parkerizing was originally intended to be a primer for paint, and not as a final finish in itself. Stories I have heard indicate that time constraints forced 1911 manufacturers to skip the final painting process and deliver the goods to the troops. Funny how some folks now specify Parkerizing as their finish of choice.

-Lazarus

[OD*]

When was this Colt model offered?
Into'd 2001, production ended in December 2002

I noticed that this gun has a wide spur hammer - something I associate with the WWI production.
The hammers are incorrect (as are the triggers), they should be the short wide spur, intro'd in 1939.

And, can someone tell me from what era the lanyard-loop magazine originated?
They originated with the first 1911 and were used on the USGI Colt's until 1945 (also used on the Commercial Models). The Colt repro's also have the wrong MSH, they should be course checkered instead of serrated.

One more comment/question. I have read that Parkerizing was originally intended to be a primer for paint, and not as a final finish in itself.
No, it was introduced at Rock Island Arsenal in 1918 and at Springfield Armory in 1919, it was approved for use as an alternate method of finishing around that time frame. Developed by Parker Rustproof Company, Detroit MI.

[JTWard01]

I just bought a NIB WWI replica yesterday. Paid $750, which I thought was reasonable. No pix yet, but that carbonia blue is gorgeous.

[Duck]

I just bought a NIB WWI replica yesterday. Paid $750, which I thought was reasonable. No pix yet, but that carbonia blue is gorgeous.

Does the dealer/guy have any more?! I just emailed a dealer about one that is a c-note higher and thought it was a good price.

[jeff1124]

Great find Clughog!!! Beautiful pistol !! :) by the way, is the nickname of your local high school teams the "mesquitos"?? Enquiring minds want to know! :) ;)

[clughog]

Great find Clughog!!! Beautiful pistol !! :) by the way, is the nickname of your local high school teams the "mosquitos"?? Enquiring minds want to know! :) ;)LOL! Well, ONE of the local high school teams is the Mesquite "Skeeters", but there are also several other high schools in town: North Mesquite Stallions, Ralph Poteet Pirates, and John Horn Jaguars . But I have no loyalty to ANY of them, by the way...I'm a Wildcat from North Little Rock, Arkansas! As they say, "We're the wildest cats alive, we're the class of '65" but that's giving away my age! Check out the link for a really "mean" look'n Skeeter! http://www.mesquiteisd.org/MHS/generalinfo.html Stormy the Skeeter is the school mascot, and the school colors are maroon and white. My understanding is that it’s the only school in the USA that has a mosquito for a mascot!

[jeff1124]

I would've never thought that a Texas high school would have a mosquito as a mascot! Up here they get to be the size of small birds and I believe they look meaner than the one pictured!! LOL