Can anyone answer my model "1905" questions?

[James henderson]

I have been willed a EARLY model Colt autoloading pistol that has 1905 stamped on the slide with the wording, "Property of ARMY". The m1911 web site has a table of serial numbers and dates of manufacture, but my piece does not seem to be listed. My Dad picked this up somewhere (a WWII vet) during his lifetime and now that I have it , it still has grease or cosmalene packed into its' mechanisms- he probably never fired it or did anything other than tucking it away.

Further research has me eager to see if this unit is possibly one of a choice few "prototypes" by Colt or Browning which were presented to be tested by the Army PRIOR to the commissioning with mill spec changes in 1911. Can anyone direct me to photos or books on any pre-1911 autoloader pistols by Colt or Browning.

[wichaka]

Make a phone call to Lowell Pauli. He was the past Pres. of the Colt Collectors Assoc. 503-659-9508

He's a real nice guy and will help you find out what you got.

You ought to see his collection.........from the 1903 pocket pistols thru the 1911's. He's even got some of Brownings original prototypes.

[Doran]

www.coltautos.com
has pictures of 1905, 1907, 1909, 1910 pistols.

[cxm]

The 1905 was a sort of prototype for the 1911...developed to meet the Army's solitication for a auto loading pistol for it's troops.

The story is sort of long, but the guns are rare and if in pretty good condition can be worth quite a lot.

NOTE!! DO NOT shoot .45 acp ammo in this gun... the .45 acp is too powerful for a 1905 and will damage the gun... cracked slides are very common on this gun because of the use of .45 acp ammo. Of course cracked slides destroy most of the collectors value of the gun.

Hang on to you pistol... it is a keeper...but not a shooter unless you handload.

FWIW

Chuck

I have been willed a EARLY model Colt autoloading pistol that has 1905 stamped on the slide with the wording, "Property of ARMY". The m1911 web site has a table of serial numbers and dates of manufacture, but my piece does not seem to be listed. My Dad picked this up somewhere (a WWII vet) during his lifetime and now that I have it , it still has grease or cosmalene packed into its' mechanisms- he probably never fired it or did anything other than tucking it away.

Further research has me eager to see if this unit is possibly one of a choice few "prototypes" by Colt or Browning which were presented to be tested by the Army PRIOR to the commissioning with mill spec changes in 1911. Can anyone direct me to photos or books on any pre-1911 autoloader pistols by Colt or Browning.