Make: Colt
Model: 1911A1
Serial Number: 799833
Year of Manufacture: 1942 (https://www.colt.com/serial-lookup)
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine
Markings: The left side of the slide is marked “PATENTED APR.20,1897. SEPT.9,1902 / DEC.19,1905. FEB.14,1911. AUG.19,1913”, Rampant Colt, and “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. / HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A.”, the top of the slide is marked “P”. The left of the frame below the magazine release is marked with a “P” acceptance proof, the left side of the frame above the magazine release is marked with “W.B.” in box. The right side of the frame is marked “UNITED STATES PROPERTY / No 799833” and “M1911 A1 U.S. ARMY”. The rear face of the slide, under the firing pin plate, is marked “799 / 833”. The left of the trigger guard is marked “VP” in triangle and “8”, the right is marked “99”. The top of the frame is marked “G” and with a “flaming bomb” at the disconnector. The left link-lug of the barrel is marked “P”, the left of the barrel is marked “COLT 45 AUTO” above the lug, and the bottom of the barrel is marked “G” in front of the lugs. The top of the floorplate on the toe of the magazine is marked "L".
Barrel Length: 5”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a short, rounded blade fixed to the slide. The rear sight is a “U”-notch dovetailed into the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered brown Coltwood plastic without reinforcement ribs on the inside but with reinforcing rings around the grip screws. There are mold number markings on the inside. The grips have minor handling wear with a few scattered small marks. There are a couple of small losses in the reinforcement rings. The checkering is well defined. There are no cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good to Fine condition.
Type of Finish: Parkerized
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is no erosion in the bore, but there is some stubborn copper fouling. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates a 9 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 87% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. The balance is mostly in light handling wear in the grip areas. There are some scattered minor nicks, scuffs, and scratches. There is infrequent minor oxidation, mostly in the slide serrations. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good Plus condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The trigger pull is crisp. There is minor play between the slide and frame. This pistol has manual and grip safeties. We have not fired this pistol. As with all previously owned firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with one original US WW2 blued 7-round magazine produced by M.S. Little, one of the sub-contractors for Colt. The magazine has light operational wear, with some minor surface oxidation on the left, but exhibits intact feed lips and a strong spring.
Our Assessment:The Colt .45 semi-automatic pistol was designed by the legendary firearms inventor John Moses Browning, and developed for the US Army in 1911 after the .38 revolver failed to stop charging Moro warriors in the Philippines. The US Army issued the powerful .45 during WW2, and it was most frequently carried by officers, NCOs, and machine gunners. This example was produced by Colt in 1942 as the design saw some tweaks and changes. This pistol was made just after the switch to parkerized finishing, but has fairly early Coltwood grips without reinforcement ribs on the inside. It has the earlier-style rounded front sight which would be replaced with a serrated, ramped rear face and a “U”-notch rear sight which would be replaced by square notches. The hammer has the original wide-spur which would soon be replaced by a spur of the same width as the body. The slide stop, thumb safety, and mainspring housing are all checkered, each of which would eventually be serrated. In all, this is a great example of a mid-1942 production Colt M1911A1. It was produced when the slides were still serialized, so it’s nice for the collectors to know that the slide is original to the frame. The pistol is in Very Good Plus condition, retaining about 87% of its original parkerized finish, a great bore, and strong mechanics. It will make a wonderful addition to a Colt or WW2 small arms collection.
Pistol