Colt Repo's

[lowprone]

I see that Colt is making another WW1 repo that is black , and I see quite a few of the carbona blue 01911 repo's, why don't I see any of the WW2 repo
pistols.
Did they not make as many?

[cliff731]

The WWII M1911A1 "reproduction" is an earlier release that is no longer made. Colt either satisfied their promised production limit of 4,000 IIRC (circa 1999) or stopped early due to dismal sales (I've heard both versions).

The Carbonia Blue WWI M1911 reproduction pistols were the original issue of the "1911" pistol which ceased production last year or so. The Black Oxide finished "1918" is a "continuation" of the M1911 series that doesn't infringe upon the exclusivity of the original.

[rondawg]

I don't know how many of the WWII repros they made, wish I did. I know it wasn't many. Mine is one of the early ones, that doesn't have the "United States Property" rollmark on it, and they made even fewer of those.

Great gun, but I just blew up the barrel on Saturday with a squib load.

[daveohno]

The WW2 repros didn't seem to be as popular as the WW1 repros.

rondawg, watch those squibs, they can be a mess!

[OD*]

Colt discontinued the WWII due to poor sales, with around 2800 of them being manufactured. Their authenticity wasn't anywhere near as good as the WWI and the 1918.

[M2HB]

The Colt WWII 1911A1 repro have become collector items in their own right. With the limited number of them they are scarce and there always seems to be more people looking for them then there are pistols for sale.
They are not as correct of a reproduction as the WY repros, but it was a learning curve for Colt. The early ones didn't even have the US Property roll stamped on the guns.

[OD*]

The early ones didn't even have the US Property roll stamped on the guns.
They also had the 10mm cut-out.

http://mysite.verizon.net/od45/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/10mmcutout.jpg

[rondawg]

Mine is s/n WK01626, and it DOES NOT have the USP rollmark. I'm assuming that's #1626 of roughly 2800? Does anybody know how many were made without the USP, and how many were made with? They told me mine was made in 2001.

I'd like to know for sure which version is the "rarest", not that it really matters. I'm not selling mine, or buying another one. Just sent mine in for a new barrel, that's gonna cost me, I'm sure. But, they won't just sell me a barrel until they look it over, determine that it NEEDS one, and they get to put it in. At least it'll still have a Colt barrel.

[elijdub]

Ron, I've been under the impression that the models without the rollmark were made in lower numbers. That seems to be the case from posts here on the forum.

Edit: Though...if your SN is 1626 of 2800, that wouldn't compute.

While we're on the subject... Got any pics of your WWII? I think they're great looking pistols.

[texagun]

Great gun, but I just blew up the barrel on Saturday with a squib load.

Sure sorry to hear that Ron. Was it commercial ammo that gave you the squib?
Which brand?

[rondawg]

Why, yes I do! :D All posted here before, but happy to take requests.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b150/rinselman/guns/DSCN1079.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b150/rinselman/guns/DSCN1081.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b150/rinselman/guns/DSCN1085.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b150/rinselman/guns/DSCN1087.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b150/rinselman/guns/DSCN1088.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b150/rinselman/guns/DSCN1159.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b150/rinselman/guns/DSCN1324.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b150/rinselman/guns/DSCN1330.jpg

[rondawg]

Sure sorry to hear that Ron. Was it commercial ammo that gave you the squib?
Which brand?
Nope, my own crummy handloads. Actually blew up TWO barrels that day. :mad: http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b150/rinselman/smilies/bitch.gif

[elijdub]

Very nice! As nice as the finish is on the WWI's, there's just something appealing about the WWII; it looks like a hard-working gun. The RIA looks good too!

[rondawg]

Very nice! As nice as the finish is on the WWI's, there's just something appealing about the WWII; it looks like a hard-working gun. The RIA looks good too!
Thanks! I still need to put some more vintage Colt parts on the RIA. I have a hammer, grip safety, and thumb safety for it too, besides the trigger.

[OD*]

Ron, I've been under the impression that the models without the rollmark were made in lower numbers. That seems to be the case from posts here on the forum.

Edit: Though...if your SN is 1626 of 2800, that wouldn't compute.

While we're on the subject... Got any pics of your WWII? I think they're great looking pistols.

I got this from a fella who was researching an article on the WWIIs,

The WK SN ran from 01001 to about 01930 and the WMK SN started at 01001. I got this info from Mark Roberts in 2004 (on this forum he is Mark1648). I believe the original plan was to make about 4000 guns and then just under 1000 guns the production design was changed and then the total run was to have been just under 3000 guns but I think only about 1000 of the WMK guns were made. I believe today Mark is the marketing area of Colt. Ask him about the serial numbers. My gun is WK 01694 and was made in 2002; less than 250 WKs were made after mine, according to Colt.

[OD*]

WWII repro with correct for era (1942) parts.

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb274/OD1911/11A1.jpg

[elijdub]

Thanks for the info, OD*. I wonder though, is the first sentence a misprint (or am i missing something?)? It seems to imply that both the "WK" and the "WMK" began at 1001 :confused:. I'm guessing that the "WMK" began at 01931...(?).
If this is the case, the "WMK's" were made in lower numbers, correct?
Were the "WM's" the one's with the USP rollmark?

[OD*]

Thanks for the info, OD*. I wonder though, is the first sentence a misprint (or am i missing something?)? It seems to imply that both the "WK" and the "WMK" began at 1001 :confused:. I'm guessing that the "WMK" began at 01931...(?).
If this is the case, the "WMK's" were made in lower numbers, correct?
Were the "WM's" the one's with the USP rollmark?
I believe you are correct on the serial. I'm trying to find the original post the gentleman made as far as the numbers go.

EDIT: Now I'm not sure, I coulda swore he said Colt did begin the WNK's at 1001.

[cliff731]

Eli,

I think you're spot on here... "WMK" starting at 01931... could be wrong though, but rondawg's photo shows a "WK" serial number prefix at 01626.

Cliff

[OD*]

Found this post from Mark;

01-27-2006, 07:49 AM
Mark1648
Member Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: CT
Posts: 622

We are currently at 2332 into the 4000 piece run and we are projecting making 200 a month for the balance of the year. The last number rolled was WMK3332, the run started at WMK1001.

[elijdub]

Thanks for the followup OD*.
I wonder where that puts the "WK's" though..? ..Considering, as Cliff mentioned, that Ron's pistol has the "WK" prefix.

A question:
Do the SN prefix's correspond to the pistol having/not having the USP rollmark?

[OD*]

A question:
Do the SN prefix's correspond to the pistol having/not having the USP rollmark?
That is my understanding, Eli.

[M2HB]

They also had the 10mm cut-out.

http://mysite.verizon.net/od45/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/10mmcutout.jpg
You are correct. As I said, it was a learning curve for Colt.

[azreloader]

I don't know how many of the WWII repros they made, wish I did. I know it wasn't many. Mine is one of the early ones, that doesn't have the "United States Property" rollmark on it, and they made even fewer of those.

Great gun, but I just blew up the barrel on Saturday with a squib load.
Ouch...did it damage the slide too? :scared:

[Hill]

I wouldn't worry about an incorrect and invisible cut on a reproduction pistol. They're 'correct' enough.. oops, I left some correct goo on the pistol before it's phot.......TSK! :Dhttp://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p263/twagger/firearms/Ithaca2.jpg

[Hill]

Is this the same pistol as above??

Point is that the 1911a1 is a sort of generic pistol with minor variations and post manufacture slight alterations such that the reproduction 1911a1 reproduction built to the generic standard but with variations is correct as well. IMO, of course.

I do not feel this way about the WW1 reproductions and wish Colt had taken a couple more bits of care with the finish. It would have gone a long way to making them true reproductions. Parkerized pistols gave them the lleway to make a few differences as much as unnoticable and you should like your pistol fine, Rondawg, without any feeling that it lacks something desirable. (rant off)

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p263/twagger/firearms/RemingtonRand.jpg

[OD*]

Is this the same pistol as above??
No.






....................

[Hill]

The grips? Or do you have better resolution than I do? :)

I should've kept you out of it, OD*:lm:

Here's the other side of the Ithaca, but do you all see my point?
A repro is a repro but the 1911a1 has enough differences between makers, or pistols by the same maker that it takes an expert to tell them apart. So why worry about correctness if the repro has a decent appearance and is configured so that it could fit somewhere within the range of variations that exist with the originals at this late date. Most every 1911a1 has been back through the arsenals many times before they were released to civilian sales anyway, and was changed in some way each time.

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p263/twagger/firearms/Ithaca1.jpg

[rondawg]

Ouch...did it damage the slide too? :scared:
Nah, just made the barrel look like a well-fed snake. The top one is the Colt, bottom is the RIA.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b150/rinselman/guns/DSCN1784.jpg

[OD*]

The grips? Or do you have better resolution than I do? :)
Yeah, the finish doesn't look the same, to me anyway.
Also, the stocks, triggers and grip safeties.

[coltcmdr1980]

I got one (WWII repro) WMK serial number and I absolutely love it--- I recently purchased a couple of repro series 70 Government models and I prefer the WWII repro. I have been looking for another to buy or trade for but haven't found one yet. I check every few weeks for one.


Hope you are OK!! .... the barrels look a bit "thick" :) - about 4 years ago my agency sent me to a Glock firearms instructor school where we shot 900 rounds in 2 1/2 days and one of the guys shooting was shooting old ammo (may have been reloaded - I can't remember) and he had a squib followed by a full round down the barrel.... his barrel looked like yours. The amazing thing is it took him four or five more rounds to realize the problem. The Glock wouldn't go fully into battery without a tap on the rear slide plate... then he would shoot it and again the same thing..... first time I had ever seen a "bulged" barrel and the "ghost ring" inside the barrel....

Though I have to carry a Glock (or other double action) on duty, my first "love" is a Colt 1911.......

[M2HB]

Even though most people call the Colt WWI and WWII pistols, "reproductions" they are still made by the original manufacturer.
If GM made a Camaro and then discontinued that model and reintroduced it years later would they call it a "reproduction"?
Reproductions are usually made by a different manufacturer. When the same manufacturer makes the same model years later wouldn't it be considered just that - a continuation of the same model?
No matter how someone wants to look at it the WWI and WWII "repros" are real Colt pistols.

[The Wizard]

Maybe we should agree to call the Colt WW1 and WW2 pistolsd "reissued"!

[clughog]

Maybe we should agree to call the Colt WW1 and WW2 pistolsd "reissued"!If Colt calls it a "reproduction" that's good enough for me! :)

http://www.coltsmfg.com/cmci/downloads/Manuals/LoRes/WWI%20Reproduction%20Pistol%20Model%20M1911.pdf
http://www.coltsmfg.com/cmci/downloads/Manuals/LoRes/WWII%20Reproduction%20Pistol%20Model%20M1911A1.pdf

"This firearm is a WWI reproduction of the Colt M1911 pistol and does not contain a firing pin safety mechanism as found in our Series 80 models."

[Hill]

Yeah, the finish doesn't look the same, to me anyway.
Also, the stocks, triggers and grip safeties.

I don't have one of the Remington that was taken in the nicer outdoor light that the Ithaca was photo'd in but even so the finishes ARE quite different between those two. There's more usage evident on the Remington and the Ithaca is darker colored.

I was relying on the crummyness of the Remington photo to show them as similar to the Colt reproduction (Their term.....Clubhog:appld: )

[OD*]

If Colt calls it a "reproduction" that's good enough for me! :)

http://www.coltsmfg.com/cmci/downloads/Manuals/LoRes/WWI%20Reproduction%20Pistol%20Model%20M1911.pdf
http://www.coltsmfg.com/cmci/downloads/Manuals/LoRes/WWII%20Reproduction%20Pistol%20Model%20M1911A1.pdf
Me too, as they were never issued. :p ;)