View Full Version : Identify this old 1911
Can anyone help me figure out what I have? My grandfather says this was my great grandfathers gun he carried in WWII, but that is All I know about it.
Serial number C 5109
http://i364.photobucket.com/albums/oo84/409CISecondGen/8413c222.jpg
http://i364.photobucket.com/albums/oo84/409CISecondGen/1d542d10.jpg
http://i364.photobucket.com/albums/oo84/409CISecondGen/84c6ceaf.jpg
is that not a prancing pony on the back of the slide near the hammer??
Yes
http://i364.photobucket.com/albums/oo84/409CISecondGen/f8607e2f.jpg
you gotta really cool old Colt amigo...i'll see if i can't find the mfg date for you.
edit:
from proofhouse
Model 1911 Commercial & 1st Mod N.M. .45
Year Serial Number
1912 C1
1913 C1900
1914 C5400
1915 C16600
1916 C27600
1917 C75000
1918 C99000
Interesting that it says calibRE instead of calibER
Moar better lighting pics
http://i364.photobucket.com/albums/oo84/409CISecondGen/9e77108f.jpg
http://i364.photobucket.com/albums/oo84/409CISecondGen/38c7929d.jpg
http://i364.photobucket.com/albums/oo84/409CISecondGen/bf708866.jpg
http://i364.photobucket.com/albums/oo84/409CISecondGen/33f1a816.jpg
Tiny upside down Triangle with something (can't make it out) inside it on the front left side if the trigger guard
http://i364.photobucket.com/albums/oo84/409CISecondGen/13de242b.jpg
"R" on the lower left side of trigger guard
http://i364.photobucket.com/albums/oo84/409CISecondGen/5f88ece4.jpg
1913 C1900
1914 C5400
98 year old gun that I used to shoot every weekend :D
Anyone care to put a $$$ figure on this?
Too bad it has the incorrect main spring housing. I'd bet you could find a 1911 MSH for a Colt.
Amp Mangum
02-02-11, 13:04
It's a Colt 1911 that has a 1911A1 mainspring housing and trigger.
Anyone care to put a $$$ figure on this?
Worth more to a collector than as a plinker! Perhaps a double ass-load of cash to the right guy.
Colt Commercial 1911, early production, original blue finish (non-original grips, trigger, and mainspring housing, it just may have been fitted with GI parts while overseas -- many guys took over personally-owned guns).
Don't know about the "Calibre" vice "Caliber" -- perhaps an export pistol?
Littlelebowski
02-02-11, 13:45
98 year old gun that I used to shoot every weekend :D
Anyone care to put a $$$ figure on this?
Priceless to you. Don't even consider selling it.
Colt Commercial 1911, early production, original blue finish (non-original grips, trigger, and mainspring housing, it just may have been fitted with GI parts while overseas -- many guys took over personally-owned
I have the original trigger around the house somewhere. Don't know why that one was installed
I agree with what The Dude said. "Don't even consider selling it."
ghettomedic
02-02-11, 22:53
Priceless to you. Don't even consider selling it.
Amen. I would keep it exactly as is. That's a piece of American history and more to the point it's a piece of your family history. Keep it clean, shoot it every once in a while and tell YOUR kids about great-great-granddad's pistol.
That's a 1911 - not A1- frame. It appears to be a commercial model judging by the C letter prefix in the serial number. Military frames typically weren't stamped with letters, though there were a couple letters known to get through. Also, the triangle is the Colt "Verified Proof" stamp put on the gun after proof firing. It has the later A1 trigger, grip safety and mainspring housing.
It is the early slide. But not the earliest. The earliest slides had the circle around the Colt pony.
It appears to have been refinished, especially since the grip safety and frame finishes seeem to match from what can be seen in the pics and the top of the pony being thin and top of the serrations of rounded off some.
I disagree it was refinished- the later pics show pretty crisp markings. a commercial 1911 that early (!st or 2nd year production ) would be quite valuable- the few wrong parts even considered. I would shoot it sparingly with light target loads only do not even think of any refinishing or parts replacement. It would be worth it to get a Colt historical letter to verify its production and ship date and where it went after being built.
As others have stated, it's a 1914 Commercial Colt frame, but the slide appears to be a few years later. If you can get a clearer pic of the prancing pony on the rear of the slide I can tell for sure.
Others have already caught the incorrect MSH and trigger, but the grip safety is also an A1.
Interesting that it says calibRE instead of calibER
Colt used the British spelling up until 1950.
It appears to have been refinished
I think so as well, though it is hard to tell for certain from these pics. Based on the finish of the small parts my money would be on a reblue.
Anyone care to put a $$$ figure on this?
As a collector, with the mix of small parts and the potential refinish, it's a shooter grade. Absolutely priceless as a family heirloom though.
MarshallDodge
02-04-11, 19:48
Priceless to you. Don't even consider selling it.
Agreed. That thing is priceless.
Priceless to you. Don't even consider selling it.
What he said. YOUR Great Granddad carried that in the defense of this Country when it was worth defending
Amazing. I'm jealous that you've got this as an heirloom. My grandfather doesn't have his issued pistol, doesn't remember what happened to it. :(
superstratjunky
02-19-11, 15:21
Keep it & keep it safe.
txf15crewchief
02-24-11, 07:44
Excellent Colt; I hope my grandkids/great kids will be looking at one of my 1911s in one hundred years from now. Hold on to it!
I thought I would update this thread with some better pics since it's the 100th anniversary of the gun's build year.
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5517/12624638143_af759151f7_b.jpg
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2860/12624628153_6e03abb9c5_b.jpg
Also, I have found the original trigger but does anyone know where I can find an original MSH?
What he said. YOUR Great Granddad carried that in the defense of this Country when it was worth defending
Last edited by Ironnewt; 02-05-11 at 05:24.
since when did this country become not worth defending ! ?
BigBuckeye
02-20-14, 06:30
Early Colt slides have been known to crack.....do not shoot this pistol any further.
Early Colt slides have been known to crack.....do not shoot this pistol any further.
I haven't been shooting it lately since I picked up my PPQ, are there any signs of this cracking that I can check for before it goes completely?
BigBuckeye
02-20-14, 21:20
Not that I am aware, but you should post this on the 1911forum in the USGI section.
Do not sell it.. I sold one my Dad gave me ... it was made in 1917... all numbers matched..and it was in good condition. I had a brainfart and sold it for a Smith and Wesson 4516 and some cash years ago. I can never get that gun back... as it was a graduation gift my dad gave me for completing Basic Training..
Hold onto that Colt..
It wasn't said before and if I missed it I do apologize but your gun is what was referee to as a "Colt commercial" 1911. Military guns would have has the USP stamp on it. Government Model just refers to its size. All 1911's at that point were blued whither they were Army or Commercial. I would be willing to bet (without seeing first hand) that the bluing is original to the gun.
And this maybe your lucky day but guess what I have in my pars bin.........an original Colt 1911 WW1 style main spring housing that your gun is in need of.
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