Newby with 1911 1918era

[k7grc]

Just had the chance to add a Colt 1911 to my safe. serial #2276xx
a few pics.
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x57/k7grc/DSC07033.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x57/k7grc/DSC07022.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x57/k7grc/DSC07029.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x57/k7grc/DSC07030.jpg

[Scott Gahimer]

Thanks for sharing. It looks right as rain, based on your photos. How is your barrel marked? What about your magazine?

[bgiven]

Too high a serial number for that lanyard loop magazine. They were discontinued at about serial number 125,000 in mid-1915 I believe. Nice looking old girl.....

[Scott Gahimer]

While the last pistol Colt's shipped new with lanyard loop magazines was s/n 125566 in 1915, lanyard loop and other 2-tone magazines remained in use through at least 1943, and well beyond that in many cases.

At the time your pistol was made and shipped in early 1918, the majority of magazines that had been sold to the military were still lanyard loop type. Pistols were regularly issued from military storerooms with different magazines than they were shipped new from the factories with. Several 1916-1918 pistols I've acquired "out of the woodwork" over the years have had lanyard loop magazines in them.

I'm convinced many M1911s came home with WWI veterans, still haivng lanyard loop magazines in them. Change the magazine, now, and you'll know the magazine isn't the one that came home with the pistol. I would not dispose of your lanyard loop magazine, even if you decide to pick up a later-produced non-lanyard 2-tone for display purposes in your pistol.

[1saxman]

Beautiful 1911! Can that be called a 'black Army'?

[lenb]

Really nice 1911, thanks for sharing your photos. I have one that's about 15000 after yours in serial number, and in similar condition, and it's one of my favorites. These are great old pistols. Enjoy it.

Len

[Scott Gahimer]

Beautiful 1911! Can that be called a 'black Army'?

No, that is called "brushed" blue.

On Colt M1911 pistols:

1912 s/n 1-2400- mirror-like "oil finish" with fire-blued small parts.
1912 to 1917 s/n 2401- ca. 170,000 -"fine finish" aka "dull" finish (compared to the earlier oil finish).
1917 to 1918 ca. s/n 170,000-ca. 350,000- "brushed blue finish"
1918 to 1919 ca. s/n 310,000-629,500- "black finish" or "wartime" finish.

There is some overlap at the 170,000 transition and some significant overlap at the 310,000-350,000 transitions.

[bgiven]

Really and truly, how do you know that the magazine that's in it now, really was the one that came home with it...? I would think, it's up to the owner..... put in an original correct representitive like it was shipped with from the factory to ordnance, or leave the earlier version in the gun that may, or may not have ever been together , for any amount of time. I see alot of M1911 owners trying to source lanyard loop magazines at guns show because they think all M1911s came with them.

[Scott Gahimer]

Read my post again. I don't think anyone can know what magazine came home with the pistol, unless they are the one who brought the pistol home.

But if the magazine is changed now, the owner will know beyond any doubt it isn't the one that came home with the pistol. Both types of magazines were still being used all the way through WWII.

I agree, it is up to the owner to decide. It is up to us to give him all the facts to make an informed decision. I think we've done that. Now it's up to him.