Japanese 1911 ?

[markgasmo]

found this while browsing auctions:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=99546469

appears to be a jap captured and scrubbed and marked WW1 vintage 1911


either that or some bubba ruined an origional 1911

anyone know of any captured and reissued jap handguns?

[Tom]

Possibly, but captured when? The U.S. Army started introducing the M1911A1 modifications when, in 1920-something? We didn't go to war with Japan until 1941. So what are the odds that the Japanese could have captured and reworked a non-A1 model pistol?

I guess it could be possible, but it seems to me (in my uneducated opinion) to be unlikely.

I'm curious to read what others say about this "rare" pistol.

[rondawg]

Looks like a copy to me. They were pretty good at duplicating things, at least good enough for their needs. Looks a lot better than the Viet Cong copies! You should see the copies they made of the WWII Harley WLA 45 scout bikes, called the Ryoko, Ryoku, or something like that.

Here's one, a 1958 version.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b150/rinselman/bikes/1958RIRUO_600.jpg

[Jim Watson]

The Japanese made copies of Garand and Pedersen rifles on a prototype basis and Lewis machine guns for deployment by the Navy. They certainly could have made a copy of a 1911 if they had wanted to.

I'd want a pro to look at it to say if it were a copy or an alteration. Then a gypsy with a crystal ball to say if it were a period Japanese unlicensed copy. Why would they alter a captured gun for their own use? The Germans just applied Waffenampt stamps and went about their business.