I picked up this 1942 WB inspected Colt M1911A1 yesterday. It was made shortly after Pearl Harbor and survived the entire war with minor wear and use, I suspect it was stuffed away in an officers duffle bag and probably didn't see much action before sitting until now in an old collection. I've been searching for this early variant in good condition for years. With the value a pistol like this brings these days and the rarity of encountering one in Canada, it can get a little scary determining if the gun is all correct and original as it greatly effects the value. In the United States many fakes are surfacing to trick collectors into paying original prices, and these restorations are getting to look pretty close to the originals. Even here in Canada I have sometimes seen refinished A1's being sold as original, or sellers who are not 100% honest or maybe just don't know better. It's always important to carefully field strip and make sure everything is correct before buying, I wouldn't have bought this one if I wasn't allowed a detailed look and field strip first, or quality detailed photos. Here are a few pictures of my newest Colt and also a few tips.
The two-tone pinned base magazine without lanyard loop is what was issued with M1911A1 pistols until approx. 1943 when full blued magazines replaced them. Colt contracted out most magazine production, and the makers stamp is found on the upper lip of the magazine toe.
This pistol was assembled before the "Crossed Cannon" Ordnance Department final inspection mark was applied on the right side of the receiver. The Crossed Cannon's began being applied from around serial number 830,000 to the end of production.
Behind the firing pin stop on early Colt A1's the serial number should match the receiver. It's correct to see slightly different tones of parkerizing on the small parts on these pistols, something to consider if you are worried perhaps the gun has been refinished.
On the firing pin stopping plate should be a slight faint ghost image of the serial number, this is impossible to recreate when determining if the finish is original:
The original barrels in M1911A1 pistols should ALWAYS be blued and not parkerized, with matching wear the receiver and correct proofs.
The final work/polishing of the feed ramp on most M1911A1's (except some Ithaca's) was done after finishing, so the feed ramp should be in the white as seen in this photo, also visible is a G near the disconnector hole, which is the production order stamp:
Clawson's collectors guide to model 1911 and 1911A1 pistols covers what parts are correct for each variation, and I would suggest someone seriously thinking of buying one of these pistols buys the book first.
-Steve
The two-tone pinned base magazine without lanyard loop is what was issued with M1911A1 pistols until approx. 1943 when full blued magazines replaced them. Colt contracted out most magazine production, and the makers stamp is found on the upper lip of the magazine toe.
This pistol was assembled before the "Crossed Cannon" Ordnance Department final inspection mark was applied on the right side of the receiver. The Crossed Cannon's began being applied from around serial number 830,000 to the end of production.
Behind the firing pin stop on early Colt A1's the serial number should match the receiver. It's correct to see slightly different tones of parkerizing on the small parts on these pistols, something to consider if you are worried perhaps the gun has been refinished.
On the firing pin stopping plate should be a slight faint ghost image of the serial number, this is impossible to recreate when determining if the finish is original:
The original barrels in M1911A1 pistols should ALWAYS be blued and not parkerized, with matching wear the receiver and correct proofs.
The final work/polishing of the feed ramp on most M1911A1's (except some Ithaca's) was done after finishing, so the feed ramp should be in the white as seen in this photo, also visible is a G near the disconnector hole, which is the production order stamp:
Clawson's collectors guide to model 1911 and 1911A1 pistols covers what parts are correct for each variation, and I would suggest someone seriously thinking of buying one of these pistols buys the book first.
-Steve
I guess the days of the $500 minty Remington Rand are long gone, huh? I have a buddy who got a nice US&S back when there were still 1911 imports - I think he only paid a few hundred. I wish those days were still around!
