The 'Modern' M1911...

[St. George]

In late 2003, the Colt Custom Shop commenced limited production of a replica M1911 pistol like those made for the US Military during the Great War.

The end result is a striking and attractive Service Pistol that very closely replicates the originals.

From the location and type of markings Colt chose to use - production would be around mid-1918.

The 'H' inspection stamp of Frank L. Hosmer is present on the rear of the slide as well as on the chamber hood and on the frame in front of the disconnector hole.

On top of the frame there is also a 'G', a 'T', and an '8' - all replicating original assembly marks.

The Ordnance acceptance stamp of Major John M. Gibert is perfectly replicated on the left side of the frame.

Even the slight chamfers applied to the front edges of the slide are present.

The 'Carbonia' brush-blued finish is really beautiful. 'Carbonia' blue is applied with the parts and chemicals heated inside a gas furnace. The result is a gorgeous deep-blue finish on the carefully brush-polished metal surfaces.

Colt had to farm this out to a professional restoration shop in order to get the 'Carbonia' Blue finish, and it was worth the trouble. (Paul Lippold - Ron's Guns)

Fit and finish of all the parts is excellent, and mine has an excellent 4.5LB trigger - out of the box.

The sights are identical to the originals, with a front blade in a half-moon shape, properly tapered.

The rear sight has the proper U-notch profile as well.

The barrel has the correct feed ramp profile and H marking on the hood as mentioned previously. It is also marked with an 'H' on top as well as a P (proof mark), so it resembles a correct 'P H' barrel.

However, the barrel is also marked 'Colt 45 Auto' just above the lower lip of the ejection port. (BATF rules require that the caliber be visibly marked on the barrel of new-production firearms, so Colt tried to make the marking as discreet as possible.)

The slide stop has correct checkering on the top surface and a milled 'step' below the thumbpiece.

The thumb safety lock and grip safety look 'right' as well.

The safety lock is checkered and has the tiny thumb shelf of the originals.

The magazine catch is also checkered.

The hammer is the proper long wide-spur type with checkering. The trigger is of the correct long, smooth type, using a stamped steel bow brazed to a steel trigger pad.

The grips are checkered black walnut panels, with the familiar large diamond around each screw hole. Colt has used more than one vendor for the grips, so the color and appearance will vary with each example. On my example the grips have a beautiful tone, although the number of rows of checkering and overall shape of the grips don't perfectly match those of the original guns.

(I replaced mine - as they came in a really pretty 'Golden' color - with a darker pair of American Black Walnut that more closely replicated my originals.)

The markings are as historically accurate as possible. The left side of the slide has the original patent dates through 1913 stamped in Gothic characters, and the 'Rampant Colt' symbol is stamped at the left rear of the slide behind the cocking serrations. The 'UNITED STATES PROPERTY' rollmark is in its proper location on the left side of the frame.

The circular 'JMG' acceptance stamp placed appropriately and is crisp. On the right side of the slide is the marking 'MODEL OF 1911. U.S. ARMY', which is in keeping with the rollmark of the originals.

As to the serial number - on originals, they were marked with 'No.' (with the 'o' underlined) and then the serial number just behind the slide stop pin.

These also have the 'No.' - but the serial number is xxxxWMK (with the 'X'  designating the serial number, and 'WMK' being for Colt's CEO  General William M. Keyes (Ret'd.).

Included with each pistol are two full-blued 7-round magazines, and they 'should' be half-toned, but this is an easy fix.

(Originals were first blued, then dipped part-way in a chemical solution to harden the feed lips and hole for the magazine catch. The process dissolved the bluing, leaving the top halves of the magazines in the white, and while there are those who think that the magazine should also have a lanyard loop - but by 1918 - they were discontinued).

There's a reproduction disassembly tool - basically an L-shaped flat screwdriver with a pin punch at the other end.

This 'should' be a high-polish Carbonia Blue - but looks more like a 'Sandblast-Blue'

Also included is a reprint of an original 1914 US Army instruction manual.

Original, tan M1916 Holsters are available - as are a number of reproductions, should you be looking at replicating a Mexican Punitive Expedition Trooper.

Colt made this one 'right', and mine shoots lemon-sized groups at 50 Yards, one-handed - but only on bright days...

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

           Nice write up St George, I'd like to see one of these in person.


               Regards

             tEN wOLVES 

[Charlie Bison]

St. George,

Love the write up. I was lucky enough to find one locally for sale last year NIB. Paid $900. I bought it without thinking twice and I have never looked back. It is by the far the most well made 1911 I have ever held, or owned for that matter. I think I will post some pics of it tomorrow.

[Montana Slim]

St. George,

Love the write up. I was lucky enough to find one locally for sale last year NIB. Paid $900. I bought it without thinking twice and I have never looked back. It is by the far the most well made 1911 I have ever held, or owned for that matter. I think I will post some pics of it tomorrow.

They are most certainly a fine 1911. I've handled a number of them at trade shows....But, haven't had a chance to shoot one myself.
Glad you posted your purchase price...the MSRP is around 1300 I believe...nice to know what kind of coin they really go for.

Congratulations!

Regards,
Slim

[Fox Creek Kid]

I looked at at least five in person with the intent to buy but each one had an off drilled recoil spring plug hole. I read on other 1911 Forums where Colt is having trouble with this and I did not want to buy one only to send it back & I really wanted one too. Here´s a thread on this on the 1911 Forum:

http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=265373

[St. George]

Colt's Manufacturing Company LLC has determined that the Slide Lock Safety and the Recoil Spring Guide Pad in certain Colt model pistols were not manufactured to Colt specifications and must be replaced. 

All of these Colt models were sold after March 2007 and the range of serial numbers affected by this product recall is as follows:

1911 WWI Replica (O1911)            From: 4597WMK           To: 5414WMK
1918 WWI Replica (O1918)            From: 1001WWI            To: 3431WWI

Call 'em and ask:

CUSTOMER SERVICE
Colt's Manufacturing Company LLC
Attn: Customer Service
P.O. Box 1868
Hartford, CT 06144 USA
Tel: 800-962-COLT
Fax: (860) 244-1379

SHIPPING ADDRESS
C.M.C.
Attn: Product Service
2 Talcott Road
West Hartford, CT 06110 USA

All 'I' can report is that 'mine' shoots beautifully, as I've stated.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Appalachian Ed]

I own one and they are wonderful copies of the original 1911 Military. I SO wish COlt would copy the early 1911 Commercial. The finish and quality on the 1911 NOT 1911A1 Commercials, especially the Pre-1913 models are second to none. I own 2 and they are truly the highest quality work Colt ever made.


-Eddie

[St. George]

I agree.

With enough customer demand - a commercial could be built, I'm sure.

The only drawback on that high-polish commercial finish is the relative fragility - but metallurgy 'has' changed.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Hedley Lamarr]

Yep, I got mine from Longshot Logan, a year or so before he passed on.
It is beautiful, and only approx. 4000 were produced.
St. George doesn't talk about it, but Colt also did a both WWII and a 1918 replicas, with limited production.
The 1918 is functionally the same as the Carbonia version, just with a "Black Army" finish.

If you find any of them at a reasonable price, buy it. There won't be any more.

Now remember, the 100th anniversary is next year.
I am hoping that Colt will release a pre-WWI Commercial reproduction as their anniversary gun. One can wish...

[Fox Creek Kid]

...Now remember, the 100th anniversary is next year.
I am hoping that Colt will release a pre-WWI Commercial reproduction as their anniversary gun. One can wish...

Rumor is that the anniversary model will be based on this 1911 but other than that there is no other insider info at hand. Colt is keeping a tighter lid on this than Area 51. 

[Jed Cooper]

I bought the first one that my friend got in his shop a year or so ago. looks great, shoots well. I love it.  I think he has one on the shelf now. Don't know how much he is getting for them now though. Be happy to check if someone want's me to.   Jed

[Charlie Bison]

Alright, here she is.

[St. George]

Yup - that's what they look like, all right.

Colt did a great job...

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[RattlesnakeJack]

....  I SO wish COlt would copy the early 1911 Commercial. The finish and quality on the 1911 NOT 1911A1 Commercials, especially the Pre-1913 models are second to none. I own 2 and they are truly the highest quality work Colt ever made.

Not pre-1913, but I do have a 1914 commercial production pistol in my Canadian military handgun collection.  It is one of 5,000 purchased by the Canadian Department of Militia in 1914.  This photo was taken outside in about November ---- note the overhead tree branches reflected in the slide!

[Tascosa Joe]

What was the serial number range for WW1 1911 production?  I am looking at what appears to be an early Colt production Military 1911.  I am thinking it has been messed with because of the price.  Most WW I and WW II guns are selling form $1800 or higher.  This one is a lot less.

Is there a web site to look this up?

Thanks,

[St. George]

What's the serial number?

A WWI pistol is 'blued' - not 'Parkerized' - the one you're looking at may be a rebuild.

WWI guns were built by Colt, Remington-UMC, Springfield Armory (the 'real' Springfield Armory - not the commercial firm of today).

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Tascosa Joe]

The SN is 176196 which from your other listing shows to be a 1915-1918 pistol.  It has been messed with.  The safety lever has been replaced.  The brushed blue is good on one side the other looks like someone used a wire wheel or sand paper to clean it up.

The same store had a walk in yesterday.  It was a 98% Colt/Springfield SN range 130XXX, I did not write the SN down.  It had a holster, pistol belt, and a Model 1918 2 mag pouch with it.  They had not priced the pistol yet.  I bet it is expensive.

[St. George]

Oh, it'll be expensive, all right...

A word of advice - beware of 'complete rigs' - they're easily put together, and folks 'want' to believe, so they don't bother to look too closely at the weapon.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!