So I got this 1911 from my dad...

[Paulcrzy]

I was wondering if you guys could tell me anything about it. I think he got from a sgt in korea but i do not know how old the thing is i have done some basic research and see that is was made around 1915-1918. Anything else you guys can tell me would be nice.

http://a96.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/37/l_be95cc3b3ae5b9ccecaaaa38a2f1d8bf.jpg
http://a698.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/69/l_60ce473bbfaa4cfecca468dd2a096471.jpg
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[BT2012]

That's a fine looking Colt you've got there. Check out www.coolgunsite.com (http://www.coolgunsite.com). You can find what year it was made.

[RickB]

The slide and frame are not original to each other. The former is from later production, and appears to have been "wiped" on the right side, where it should read "MODEL OF 1911 U.S. ARMY", or it is a M1911A1 slide, which had no markings on the right side. If you remove the firing pin stop, and there is a number underneath, then that confirms that it's an '11A1 slide. If the rear sight has a square, rather than rounded notch, that would also suggest that it's a WWII-era slide. It looks like the hammer, thumb safety, grip safety, slide stop and stocks have also been swapped for later, WWII-era parts.

[texagun]

VERY nice old war-horse. Though not all original parts, I would keep it as-is and hang on to it forever....until you pass it down to your kids. Nice piece of history.

[Scott Gahimer]

The style of slot cut in the bottom of the slide for the disconnector verifies the slide is an M1911A1 slide. Based on the style of rampant colt in the slide address, I suspect it may be a numbered slide.
However, all M1911A1 Colt slides were not numbered. Those after about s/n 1138xxx were not numbered because the tolerances were relaxed in November 1943 enough that Colt's no longer had to hand fit the slides to the frames.
The slide and several other parts are mis-matched to the frame and the pistol is refinished.
It still looks like a good pistol for shooting and it's nice that your dad had it. I wouldn't change a thing. Keep it like it is, enjoy it and then pass it on to keep it in the family.

[Joni Lynn]

Nice looking 1911 and a great family heirloom.

[luvshooting45]

nice very nice hope it shoots good for ya,,,,

[1saxman]

Many Model Of 1911 pistols were rebuilt for WWII and fitted with some M1911A1 parts, such as possibly a replacement slide, arched mainspring housing and composite grips. Barrels and small parts were frequently replaced as needed. Sometimes these pistols have rebuild marks but I see none on yours. All the changes/replacements on your pistol could have been done at the unit level or at any intermediate maintenance. For that matter, they could have been done after the pistol left government service. The rebuild mark is important in that respect as it provides provenance of a sort that the changes could have been done under government auspices. Such marked pistols are almost always refinished in a uniform zinc-phosphate called 'Parkerizing'. On your pistol the frame is blued while the slide is old Parkerizing. This would indicate to me that the changes/revisions did not take place at an arsenal. You are very fortunate to have it. There simply were no guns to be handed down on my side of the family, although my late father-in-law did give me a Colt .22 from 1925 that his father and mother used and carried on their farm in NY. These family guns are precious, and too many of them get away.

[Paulcrzy]

I have been told to take it to a gunsmith to make sureit will not break when fired. you guys have any idea if there is truth to this? it was stored in the holster on the top shelf of his closet for as long as i can remember (20+ years). any chance if I take this to a range i might end up with 1/2 gun when I leave?

[John]

From its looks, I would say it is safe to fire it. However, I would first replace all the springs in it just to be on the safe side, no one knows how many rounds have been fired through this fine pistol. Keep the original springs, in case you ever want to bring it back to its original condition.

[texagun]

I agree with John. Replace the springs, particularly the recoil spring just to be sure. I recently acquired a 90 year old 1911 and it had a broken firing pin spring, so that was replaced, along with a new Wolff 16# recoil spring. I also put a Wilson Shok Buff in mine just to reduce the pounding. Opinions vary on whether to risk shooting them, particularly the older 1911's. I showed my gun to my gunsmith who has been in the business for nearly 60 years, and he said to go ahead and shoot it with normal ball ammunition. Many will point out that the slides and frames were not nearly as well heat-treated as modern guns and that the steel used in the older guns was softer than modern steels. I plan to shoot mine on a very limited basis.