Colt 1911 stamped 1CAV NYG 65 ?

[flash]

I have a 1911 colt 45 according to serial # manufactured in 1914 on the grip frame it is stamped 1 CAV NYG 65 does this make it unique or more or less valuable to collectors?

What I found online is the 800 or so 1st Calvary 65 regiment national guard was shipped out of New York to Texas on horseback to Texas/ Mexico Border in 1916 to fight Poncho Villa in the Mexican punitive expedition? Any answer would be appreciated.
The Key to my question is does it make it more or less valuable? I believe it's real as grandpa was in ww1 & it was recently found in his house

[doubs43]

It sounds like a very interesting pistol. Can you post clear, sharp photographs of it showing all of the markings, serial number and especially the grip stamping? Details of the sights, safety, slide stop, mag release (both sides), hammer and the mag would be a big plus. There are very knowledgeable collectors here who can help but they need as much information as possible in order to do so.

[flash]

Thanks I will try to take pictures but it might take a couple days

[Richard Weed]

I have a 1911 colt 45 according to serial # manufactured in 1914 on the grip frame it is stamped 1 CAV NYG 65 does this make it unique or more or less valuable to collectors? What I found online is the 1st Calvary was shipped out to Texas on horseback to Texas/ Mexico Border to fight Poncho Villa in the Mexican American war? Any answer would be appreciated.

I think your talking about the Mexican Punitive Expedition or the Mexican Expedition. This was in retaliation of a raid allegedly made by some of Pancho Villa's men into Columbus, NM it was during 1916 to early 1917. General Pershing commanded American troops that went after Villa and his men achieving limited success. They never caught Villa himself.

The stamping on the grip, unless proven by some other documention, isn't really convincing proof that the pistol was with troops in the unit you have mentioned. In short, anyone could have stamped it. If you can show something, such as who possessed the pistol and that he was a member of that unit, then it might add some value to the pistol. Unfortunately, there are less than honest people how will take an ordinary pistol and try to make more than what it is by doing something like that.

[flash]

I don't know if it went to Mexico border but I believe it's real stamping as it's been in family since gramps returned from ww1
The key to my question is does it help or hinder it's collect ability or value? Could it mean it was rebuilt at an armory? Are others like it out there?

[Richard Weed]

The stamping may or may not increase it's value it depends on who is looking at it. Many, myself included, will be suspect of it. Secondly, almost every pistol was assigned to some military unit or other. So what if this pistol went to a Cavalry unit in the New York National Guard. Was your grandfather part of that unit? Did he participate in the Mexican Expedition? Mine did and somewhere I have a service medal he was awarded for doing so. But, it really doesn't mean much by itself because a lot of troops were involved in that campaign. Some collectors would actually consider it defacing the pistol to stamp unit identifications or other information on a pistol as the U.S. Government did not typically do that. Then other's may get all excited over a unit identification stamp. Generally, unless the gun can be tied to a famous or infamous person, it doesn't have any real value IMO.

[Johnny Peppers]

I think your talking about the Mexican Punitive Expedition or the Mexican Expedition. This was in retaliation of a raid allegedly made by some of Pancho Villa's men into Columbus, NM it was during 1916 to early 1917.
What is alleged about the raid on Columbus, New Mexico?

[Richard Weed]

Most historians agree that it was Villa or his men who conducted the raid in search of arms and for repraisals against someone who sold them movie prop ammo instead of the real thing. However, one theory is that it wasn't Villa's men at all but Carranza's men disguised to look like Villa's men and get the U.S. to go after Villa. That's just a theory. The raid DID take place and which ever group of Mexicans did it, they lost about 90 men in the process after wasting much of the town.