New 1942 Colt M1911A1 and a few tips on determining originality.

Mike Webb said:
Very nice Colt. But I don't think the two tone lanyard mags are WW2 issue, mostly WW1 or shortly after. But maybe I'm mistaken.
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Hi Mike, the two tone magazine is correct and what this pistol would have been issued with at time of production. The late WWI style two-tone magazines were actually used up until mid 1943 (Clawson's third edition, page 84). Colt was so desperate for magazines that in late 1942 they even converted the available Government model magazine for military use, by parkerizing the bottoms and re-bluing them. Following the WWI style magazines were early full blued magazines that still retained the pinned bases. In Canada, we mostly only see the late style full blue welded base mags with WWII M1911A1's. The Clawson third edition book covers the different WWI and WWII magazines in great detail.

-Steve
 
Steve1987 said:
Hi Mike, the two tone magazine is correct and what this pistol would have been issued with at time of production. The late WWI style two-tone magazines were actually used up until mid 1943 (Clawson's third edition, page 84). Colt was so desperate for magazines that in late 1942 they even converted the available Government model magazine for military use, by parkerizing the bottoms and re-bluing them. Following the WWI style magazines were early full blued magazines that still retained the pinned bases. In Canada, we mostly only see the late style full blue welded base mags with WWII M1911A1's. The Clawson third edition book covers the different WWI and WWII magazines in great detail.

-Steve
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Just going by the 1911's I have seen on American forums. I had a 44 Remington Rand which had a General Shaver mag which, I think, is correct. They also came with marked with R(Risdon) L(Little) S(Scovil), all 1911 magazine contractors. I just haven't seen a WW2 1911 with a lanyard ring and two tone mag.
 
Mike Webb said:
Just going by the 1911's I have seen on American forums. I had a 44 Remington Rand which had a General Shaver mag which, I think, is correct. They also came with marked with R(Risdon) L(Little) S(Scovil), all 1911 magazine contractors. I just haven't seen a WW2 1911 with a lanyard ring and two tone mag.
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Hi Mike,

The two-tone mag WITH lanyard loop would not be 'correct' for WWII manufactured M1911A1's, however many of these mags were still in use. At the outbreak of WWII, the majority of 1911's in service were M1911's, not yet replaced by the newer M1911A1's. Only two-tone mags WITHOUT lanyard loops are correct for some early M1911A1's.

For a 44 Rand the General Shaver mag is most likely correct, as well as the other mags you mention commonly found with late war pistols. There were many variations of mags used with the 1911's.

-Steve
 
fugawi said:
Steve - with Clawson's book ranging from $400 to $800 itself, what do you think of Joe Poyer's new 2nd edition of The Model 1911 and Model 1911A1 Military and Commercial Pistols?

Amazon reviews are good but its paperback and supposedly poorly bound. Thanks.
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http://forums.1911forum.com/index.php

With any rifle or pistol, no matter what it is, find a real good forum on the internet for your research and questions. The results are almost immediate with all the knowledgeable people out there.
 
I'm sorry to report I was wrong in that the Clawson book is now out of print, and the only way to find it is on the second hand book market. I would try to snag one of e-bay or amazon, hopefully there will be another run of them soon. I suppose Joe Poyers book is currently the best option, as far as stuff in print goes.

-Steve
 
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