US Army 1911A1 Pistol History ?
- Thread starter Loyer
- Start date
Probably not, unless the pistol is accompanied by original paperwork from when it was issued. For a fee, you can order a letter from Colt's that will tell you when it was sold, and to whom (at least with Government Models, not sure about military pistols).
If you order a letter from Colt it will take atleast 6 months to get the letter and will cost $75 or $100 can't quiet remember what 1911 cost to letter, but may cost more if it come back to an important person or further reseach is required for this. The letters are pretty plain compared to S&W letter and cost 2X as much? Ussually miltary guns comeback as bulk shipments , but you never know, It is sometime's worth the 100 bucks to find out, goodluck, Dale Z!
100 bucks. Didn't think it took that long, the letter for my 1914 was about 2.5 months. And yes, it will say if it was in a bulk shipment of X number of pistols. As I said, for a military pistol it may not give any useful info.
You can check at the following link for serial #s, date and mfg. The rest of the site is completely dedicated to the m-1911.
http://www.m1911.org/full_dates.htm
http://www.m1911.org/full_dates.htm
USGI 1911A1's....
IIRC for the USGI 1911A1 pistols, both Colt mfg and other contract pistols [ie. Singer, Union Switch & Signal, Remington Rand, Ithaca mfg] there generally is shipping info available that may show where bulk lots went for original distribution after passing final inspection(s) but usually that's it.
Where specific pistols ended up is usually only determined when an individual piece has some providence that goes with it. Some were issued out & used for the duration of conflict then went home with a vet or otherwise found it's way into civilian hands post-war. Some were issued but stayed in military possession, went back to military arsenals for refurbing, then storage and subsequent redistribution etc. Some went to other countries on lend-lease and were subsequently destroyed or later sold as "surplus", may have been reexported to other countries and ended up in civilian hands that way. There is a whole gambit of ways a particular pistol ends up where it presently is.
Unless you have documentation that says your particular pistol was issued in 194_ to XX, then issued to Lt. YYY & used for the duration of WWII, then came home with him, stayed in the "family" and was passed down to a grandson, etc, then later acquired by you.... it's anyone's guess where your pistol has been in it's 60+ year journey from manufacture.
If they could only talk, eh?
NAA.
IIRC for the USGI 1911A1 pistols, both Colt mfg and other contract pistols [ie. Singer, Union Switch & Signal, Remington Rand, Ithaca mfg] there generally is shipping info available that may show where bulk lots went for original distribution after passing final inspection(s) but usually that's it.
Where specific pistols ended up is usually only determined when an individual piece has some providence that goes with it. Some were issued out & used for the duration of conflict then went home with a vet or otherwise found it's way into civilian hands post-war. Some were issued but stayed in military possession, went back to military arsenals for refurbing, then storage and subsequent redistribution etc. Some went to other countries on lend-lease and were subsequently destroyed or later sold as "surplus", may have been reexported to other countries and ended up in civilian hands that way. There is a whole gambit of ways a particular pistol ends up where it presently is.
Unless you have documentation that says your particular pistol was issued in 194_ to XX, then issued to Lt. YYY & used for the duration of WWII, then came home with him, stayed in the "family" and was passed down to a grandson, etc, then later acquired by you.... it's anyone's guess where your pistol has been in it's 60+ year journey from manufacture.
If they could only talk, eh?
NAA.
Right now Colt Arcives are taking 3-6 months right now, I know just talked to them as ordered a letter, cheers Dae Z
