Colt WWII reproduction

[Piexcel]

Hi everybody. I wanted to share some pics of my Colt WWII repro. I've owned this pistol for several years but haven't been able to take pics and share them until now.

Hope you enjoy!

http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb480/Piexcel/Colt%20WWII%20reproduction/IMG_1530.jpg

http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb480/Piexcel/Colt%20WWII%20reproduction/IMG_1531.jpg

--Piexcel

[jmark]

Nice. I am looking for one.

[ColtCustom45]

Very nice pics!! Here is mine.

http://mysite.verizon.net/vze25tkh/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/cr1b.jpg

[Piexcel]

jmark, I see these WWII repros pop up every now and then on GunsAmerica. The price range is around $1500. I think the Blue Book value is about $950. I purchased mine back in 2002 for about $1100 (that's with the tax in the state of Washington). It was an impulse buy. I later learned that many of the details were not correct such as the trigger and hammer, but I still like the pistol, and it's still a Colt.

ColtCustom45, how did you do the lighting for the pic of your WWII repro? Did you set up the pic outdoors? The pic looks very nice. I took my pic indoors under halogen lighting, and it's not the best technique.

--Piexcel

[Spyros]

Piexcel, check your (I assume) digital camera for light settings, re- different light sources. You may find some setting specifically for halogen. It's not ideal, but it works.

[Landman]

Those are beautiful pistols. I'd love to find one of those but so far they have eluded me.

[Piexcel]

Piexcel, check your (I assume) digital camera for light settings, re- different light sources. You may find some setting specifically for halogen. It's not ideal, but it works.

Thanks, Spyros!

--Piexcel

[ColtCustom45]

ColtCustom45, how did you do the lighting for the pic of your WWII repro? Did you set up the pic outdoors? The pic looks very nice. I took my pic indoors under halogen lighting, and it's not the best technique.

--Piexcel

I use a floodlight umbrella kit.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/largeimages/308804.jpg

[Ric4509]

Here's my WWII 1911A1 Colt Repro with WWI Colt Repro. My WWII Repro does not have the US Property marking.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/Ric4509/DSC00855.jpg

[kenhwind]

The "United States Property" marking should be on the other side of the frame on the A1 repro.

[OD*]

The "United States Property" marking should be on the other side of the frame on the A1 repro.It's from the first run, Ken, they didn't have the US Property marking on the pistol at all, they had the standard Commercial address rollmarking above the right side stock panel.

[kenhwind]

OK, I'll buy that.

[coltshooter]

Nice pics... I own 2 of them - bought one in 2003 and then another last year for my son. I have 4 Colt 1911s and carry one for work... I was amazed that my WW2 repro shot as well as it did/does and has never malfunctioned or needed any "tweeks" and it has appx 2000 rounds. My other 1911s I made some minor adjustments (extractor tension etc) but the WW2 repro has been perfect - the only issue is hammer bite but I am not going to change anything on it..... again nice pics!

[Piexcel]

Coltshooter, what are your other Colts?

--Piexcel

[Ric4509]

WW2 repro has been perfect - the only issue is hammer bite but I am not going to change anything on it..... again nice pics!

That's the same issue I have, hammer bite.

[Landman]

... I was amazed that my WW2 repro shot as well as it did/does and has never malfunctioned or needed any "tweeks" and it has appx 2000 rounds....

My WWI Reproduction is the same way. It has the nicest trigger breaks of any of my Colts and it came that way.

[Q56_Monster]

That's a beauty Piexcel. Perfectly Classic:)

[Chubbo]

Here is pictures of my John M Browning commerative Colt.
Wouldn't this be a Copy of a WW1 1911? Other than the gold plating, would this 1911 be the same as the other repos.?
There is an odd story about this gun. I bought this gun at an OGCA gun show in Cleveland OH, less the fancy walnut presintation case. The seller stated that It was lost in some moves. Years later at a small show in Hilliard, OH, I found and bought the case for it from a seller that was using it to display parts in. What would the odds be in finding it after several years?
Chubbo
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v461/Chubbo/DSC01683.jpg[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v461/Chubbo/DSC01681.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v461/Chubbo/DCP_0926ColtJohnBrowingcom.jpg

[coltshooter]

Piexcel - they are all Colt Government models - all blue except for one in stainless steel.. Long ago I had a combat commander that I traded away and really regret it!!!!!!

[Piexcel]

Long ago I had a combat commander that I traded away and really regret it!!!!!!I sold my Colt Defender a few years ago and now regret it! That thing was a nice carry piece!

--Piexcel

[medic7984]

Very nice..I would like to get a GI style some day, but might go with an Auto Ordinance model instead due to the price point. My nieghbor has one, he has had no issues with it. Its a "Kahr Era" AO

[Piexcel]

Very nice..I would like to get a GI style some day, but might go with an Auto Ordinance model instead due to the price point. My nieghbor has one, he has had no issues with it. Its a "Kahr Era" AO
Those Kahr era Auto Ordnance 1911s are mighty affordable, and I have heard they have more reliability nowadays. Have you thought about one of those Armscor 1911s? I found one at my local gun shop for $396. It looked enticing because of the price, but I didn't buy it.

--Piexcel

[Justin]

Good looking repros guys. I sold my WWI repro because I didn't like shooting it (the gun function fine). I would like to pick me up a WWII repro though.

[Landman]

Just for your information, the Kahr Auto Ordnance 1911 pistols are a little different than a true 1911 in the grip area. They are a little wider for some reason. I never noticed it until I held one. If you look closely at a picture of one you can see it around the grip panels.

[Piexcel]

Good looking repros guys. I sold my WWI repro because I didn't like shooting it (the gun function fine). I would like to pick me up a WWII repro though.Why did you not like shooting the WWI repro?

I would like to have a WWI repro, but the ones I've seen available have really high prices at $1600 and up. For that price I might as well save money for a little while longer and purchase a genuine Colt 1911 in the $3000-$4000 range.

--Piexcel

[Piexcel]

I would like to pick me up a WWII repro though.There is a WWII repro available from Simpson's LTD for $995.

--Piexcel

[Justin]

Why did you not like shooting the WWI repro?

I would like to have a WWI repro, but the ones I've seen available have really high prices at $1600 and up. For that price I might as well save money for a little while longer and purchase a genuine Colt 1911 in the $3000-$4000 range.

--Piexcel

Hmm, I sold mine for $900.00. It shot great. I just didn't like the small sights on the WWI. It wasn't that enjoyable so I sold it. I'd rather have the WWII repro. It has larger sights and It's more rare.

[MajorD]

the ww2 sights were only marginally larger than the ww1 sights- not enough difference to matter having shot both in original specimens

[medic7984]

Those Kahr era Auto Ordnance 1911s are mighty affordable, and I have heard they have more reliability nowadays. Have you thought about one of those Armscor 1911s? I found one at my local gun shop for $396. It looked enticing because of the price, but I didn't buy it.

--Piexcel
I have looked at those too, but the best price I can one for around here is 450, where the AO is 500. The AO appears the be a more accurate repro in comparison of the two..Like I said, "appears to be" so if Im wrong, don't flame me :p

[Spyros]

There are two visual features of the AO that I don't like. The squared frontstrap has already been mentioned. The other is that, for some unclear (to me at least) reason, the are of the frame immediately underneath the slide stop is a little 'shallow', allowing (in some guns) for some overlap between the bottom of the slide stop and the top of the triggerguard.

[Piexcel]

I've never handled an AO, just seen them in the pistol catalogs. As far as 1911s go, I've made a decision to beef up my collection of Colts. Other than this repro, I don't have anything Series 80 and up.

--Piexcel

[medic7984]

Went to the gunshop today..they had an AO, Rock Island, and Springfield GI models..no Colts (not counting the rail gun I have in layaway). Between the 3, the springer was the best (obviously). So unless they get some colts in by the time I get my rail gun, im going to go with the springer. Its priced at 600 even, so that's not too bad. The trigger reset on the springer was incredible by the way! Very surprised by that, being it is their GI model

[Piexcel]

Went to the gunshop today..they had an AO, Rock Island, and Springfield GI models..no Colts (not counting the rail gun I have in layaway). Between the 3, the springer was the best (obviously). So unless they get some colts in by the time I get my rail gun, im going to go with the springer. Its priced at 600 even, so that's not too bad. The trigger reset on the springer was incredible by the way! Very surprised by that, being it is their GI modelI read somewhere that the RIA was actually made in the Philippines; the Springfield GI in Brazil. I don't know anybody who owns either so don't have any info on quality. The Springfield GI does look very sweet.

--Piexcel

[Piexcel]

Here is a pic of my WWII repro next to my 1943 Colt M1911A1. The repro is on the left.

http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb480/Piexcel/Colt%20WWII%20reproduction/IMG_1961.jpg

--Piexcel

[Landman]

Nice looking pair of pistols, Piexcel.

Right before Christmas I found a used WWII reproduction. The price was good I thought but I think it may have been refinished. I have never seen one before in person but looking at the pictures in this thread, mine has a blacker finish and also has black "Keyes" style grips. The one I bought does not have the US Property mark on it. Did the first ones have a blacker finish and black grips? Also, when did they start putting the USP mark on these reproductions?

Sorry I don't have any pictures of it yet. I will try and get some tomorrow.

[Landman]

Below is a picture of it showing the blacker finish and black grips. It came with the original blue Colt Custom Shop cardboard box and the tan "Kraft" style box with the matching serial number on the box. It only had one mag though and it was a late military replacement mag with the following inscribed on the base plate.

19200-
ASSY 5508694
MFR. 1M291

It is a very good mag and not one of the cheap knockoffs. From my research the "MFR. 1M291" designates Checkmate as the manufacturer. Would Colt have used these mags for their WWII reproduction?

I'm thinking this was a Colt WWII Reproduction pistol that someone had refinished and replaced the original mag.

Any thoughts? Thanks.

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h196/onexco/Gun%20Collection/Colt_WWII_Reproduction_01a.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h196/onexco/Gun%20Collection/Colt_WWII_Reproduction_02a.jpg

[OD*]

I'm thinking this was a Colt WWII Reproduction pistol that someone had refinished and replaced the original mag.

Any thoughts? Thanks.That's probably the most likely scenario.

The pistol still looks good though. http://forum.m1911.org/images/icons/icon14.gif

[Landman]

Thanks OD. It is a strange finish. It is not a painted on finish but looks like it is a blued finish but very black. The finish looks to be coming off inside the lettering too. I might have it reparked and put some brown Keyes Grips on it.

What kind of mags did these come with?

[Piexcel]

Below is a picture of it showing the blacker finish and black grips. I'm thinking this was a Colt WWII Reproduction pistol that someone had refinished and replaced the original mag.

Any thoughts? Thanks.

Your WWII repro's finish looks as black as my WWII repro. I don't know about your grips, though. If the grips fit, where them I guess. Here is another pic of mine I took outdoors in the sunlight. As you can see the finish is really black too. I don't see why the previous owner would refinish the pistol unless it went through a lot of use. These pistols are only a tad over a decade old. How much wear does the area above your barrel chamber exhibit?

http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb480/Piexcel/Colt%20WWII%20reproduction/IMG_1959.jpg

There are also a few posts earlier in this thread that talk about your pistol's USP markings. Just surf through the pages and you'll find them. Maybe that will help you out with the USP marking.

--Piexcel

[Landman]

Piexcel,

Even in that picture your pistol looks greener than mine. Mine is almost jet black with some wear in areas. It looks like it has been shot some but not a lot. It does exhibit some holster wear on the high points. I think it may have been carried more than shot but I really don't know any history of it.

Is the finish coming off inside your rollmarks? Like inside the Colt markings on the left side of the slide.

[OD*]

Thanks OD. It is a strange finish. It is not a painted on finish but looks like it is a blued finish but very black. The finish looks to be coming off inside the lettering too. I might have it reparked and put some brown Keyes Grips on it.

What kind of mags did these come with?That would look good, Landman. My magazines are unmarked, but appear to be Checkmate's.

[Piexcel]

Piexcel,

Even in that picture your pistol looks greener than mine. Mine is almost jet black with some wear in areas. It looks like it has been shot some but not a lot. It does exhibit some holster wear on the high points. I think it may have been carried more than shot but I really don't know any history of it.

Is the finish coming off inside your rollmarks? Like inside the Colt markings on the left side of the slide.Under fluorescent lighting, my pistol does have a greenish hue. But the finish is not coming anywhere. It still looks like it did when I brought it home from the gun shop.

--Piexcel