Query Concerning WWII Service Issue Colt 1911

[Kenneth2816]

Bear with me. My Father served in the Army Air Corps and was stationed as a ball turret gunner at Bari, Italy. He managed to retain his own personal issue side arm which for all my life (54 years) has been holstered in US Army stamped leather.

I know I am reaching without providing pic or at the very least, details of markings.

From what I recall him telling me this was called "lemon squeezer", and I seem to recall "1918" somehwere on the gun as well as the word "LLama". I think "Colt" was in there as well. Again, please forgive my ignorance, as I haven't seen this for many years now.

What he did with this was remove the standard double diamond grips, and replace them with cutsom "plexi glass" grips which he hand shaped and fitted from pieces off a B 52 "windshiled" (for lack of a better term). Using emory cloth and jeweler's rouge, he shaped indents in the grips themselves and polished them to a scratch-free hone. Very impressive when held and viewed, especially when you consider he had virtually no "machining" tools to work with.

I am trying to get pics of this unretouched model (except for the modified grips), and I know for a fact no one else has ever been in possesion of this pistol.

My question is would the grip mods devalue the pistol or not? Also, am I wrong about both Colt and Llama being stamped? What other factors would effect the value?

We are considering selling it, but have no idea of its value, or whether or not it is worth the money to have it appraised. Without going into a lot of detail, due to his health, there is a need for some cash.

I would appreciate any feedback, advice, or if my vague description is enough, some idea of just what it is we have and its value/

Thank you.

[Hawkmoon]

Llama was the brand name of a Spanish-made semi-clone of the 1911. The word Llama would not have appeared on a Colt pistol, and it's exceedingly unlikely that the U.S. Air Force would have issued a Llama pistol.

Yes, the non-issue grips devalue the pistol.

Are you certain his pistol is/was a 1911? I recently read an article that mentioned a pistol nicknamed the lemon squeezer ... and it wasn't the M1911.

[rstrykert]

Several things need to be cleared up here:

No Colt .45 pistols had "1918" on them anywhere.

Llama is a Spanish manufacturer and has nothing to do with Colt.

I assume you meant B-25, B-17 or B-29, not a B-52 which didn't exist until well after WW2.

Grips made out of plexiglass were common forms of "trench art", and while they technically have no intrinsic value I do know lots of individuals who like to collect them. I strongly advise you to get your father to tell you what he can regarding the weapon and have it written down, as it could add some collector's interest assuming it really is a Colt 1911. There is a chance that it is just a foreign-made pistol that your father was able to take home, since non US-issue weapons could be taken home as souvenirs without repercussions. Sneaking a .45 home was a lot more risky, and he may have been confused as to whether the weapon he took home was really his issue piece or just a war souvenir.