Interesting WW1 1911 Find

[Taroman]

This one showed up locally.
Tipped off a buddy who jumped on it.
looks to be all correct.
I had never seen an original 1911 from the great war.
Came with a 1917 holster with a town in france inscribed under the flap.

[1saxman]

Nice original M1911. I like the hand-file marks in the ejection port - my 1918 has that too. In fact, I think the same guy hand-finished both of them. I'd guess yours is about 50% finish - mine is about 10% if you count the parts . Does the barrel have a good bore? Very many were pitted from the corrosive ammo of the day. I think yours could be valued at about $2000.

Yours is #328xxx, mine is #382xxx - I believe 382xxx is about July, 1918.

[CIB]

$2000!?

[oldcanuck]

$2,000.- ?????? Gotta be a typo.....

[CIB]

Originally Posted by oldcanuck

$2,000.- ?????? Gotta be a typo.....

That is what I thought. If they are bringing $2000, I have a couple I will let go.

[rox15636215]

With that finish maybe 800 tops.

[CIB]

Maybe a bit more than $800. There are a lot of people with no knowledge throwing around money on USGI stuff lately.

[dsk]

Realistically, more like $1100-1200. If you were to put that one down on a table at a gun show for $800 it wouldn't last more than an hour. But yes, I agree $2000 is a bit rich!

[CIB]

Yep, I concur. $1200.

[CJS57]

About the OP's pistol. The slide's left side roll markings look odd to me, maybe pantographed over the roll markings to deepen it?

[greco]

CJ, that was my exact thought when I looked at the picture. Does the lettering look that way from the camera angle, or is it pentagraphed???

[supervel]

Not 2k 1,200 I could see maybe. Nobody answered my question on slide scallops yet. Since the gun in the picture has the style I will ask again. I have seen some 1911 WW1 models that have the newer syle slide scallop. When did they change and was there a reason? PS: 100-150 for the two tone maybe.

[oldcolts]

Originally Posted by supervel

Nobody answered my question on slide scallops yet. Since the gun in the picture has the style I will ask again. I have seen some 1911 WW1 models that have the newer syle slide scallop. When did they change and was there a reason? PS: 100-150 for the two tone maybe.

The pictures of the two guns posted provide examples of the two styles. The gun with the lower serial number has the earlier style slide scallops, while the gun with the higher serial number has the later style. Both slides appear correct for 1918 production, as they both have the rampant colt in the middle of the patent information.

However, Clawson, in the small book, says the old style was on guns below the 275,000 to 290,000 range, while the new style was on guns from about 290,000 onwards. That raises the question whether the gun with the 328,xxx serial number should have the newer style slide. Personally, I probably wouldn't be too concerned about it; I suspect that either could be correct for that serial number.

[38 Super +p]

It kinda looks like the first pistol could have some cold bluing done to it. I could be wrong, but that's how it looks to me.

[Matt P]

What an excellent observation 38 super. I even went back up to the image and looked again after your post. It sure looks that way to me, more so on the very back of the slide behind the serrations. Where there is blue on that Colt seems odd given those areas should see much contact. Maybe it is a rust like patina that darkens it?

[supervel]

Originally Posted by oldcolts

The pictures of the two guns posted provide examples of the two styles. The gun with the lower serial number has the earlier style slide scallops, while the gun with the higher serial number has the later style. Both slides appear correct for 1918 production, as they both have the rampant colt in the middle of the patent information.

However, Clawson, in the small book, says the old style was on guns below the 275,000 to 290,000 range, while the new style was on guns from about 290,000 onwards. That raises the question whether the gun with the 328,xxx serial number should have the newer style slide. Personally, I probably wouldn't be too concerned about it; I suspect that either could be correct for that serial number.

I was not concerned with any of the guns pictured, I just was trying to find a date or range of when they switched, which you answered. The other question of why or was there a reason seems to be an unsolved mystery, because I cannot find it any where?I thought it might have something to do with the 1911 dated slides and the later ones with the 1913 patent dates, but I have seen exampames of both with the later date and the early date I beleive also? Need More Help PS:What I meant was I have seen the old style with only1911 pat. dates and with the 1913 also I guess the serial is between the two patent dates also?

[38 Super +p]

There is a weird kind of shadowing around the rollmarks on the slide that led me to the observation that it may have some cold blue touch up.

[1saxman]

Guys. You know what? I think you're........right. I spoke too soon, and I also am seeing possible augmentation of the LH side markings, including the slide rollmark. I can't see the USP well enough to tell for sure, but something is funny. As you know, the periods in the rollmark are actually square. They are fat and round in the picture, and the lettering and pony are all the same - heavier line and rounded - the mark of the Pantograph. And, I guess I was over-optimistic on value, even without the augmentation. So, in light of all that, I have no idea on value. I think whoever did the overwriting destroyed what value it had.
Pass the Texas Pete - this crow tastes awful!

[oldcolts]

Originally Posted by supervel

I was not concerned with any of the guns pictured, I just was trying to find a date or range of when they switched, which you answered. The other question of why or was there a reason seems to be an unsolved mystery, because I cannot find it any where?I thought it might have something to do with the 1911 dated slides and the later ones with the 1913 patent dates, but I have seen exampames of both with the later date and the early date I beleive also? Need More Help PS:What I meant was I have seen the old style with only1911 pat. dates and with the 1913 also I guess the serial is between the two patent dates also?

It had nothing to do with addition of the 1913 patent date. That date was added years earlier, at about No. 83856. Hope this helps.