Make: Colt

Model: M1911A1

Serial Number: 746988

Year of Manufacture: 1941 (https://colt.com/serial-lookup), and was sent to Springfield Armory on October 31, 1941.

Caliber: .45 ACP

Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine

Barrel Length: 5”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a round blade fixed to the front of the slide. The rear sight is a flat-top "U"-notch sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered "Coltwood" brown plastic panels with thin reinforcement rings around the grip screws, hollow-backs, and mold numbers in the hollows. The grips have light handling wear with some scattered light nicks and scuffing. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good Plus Condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Some remaining finish is Original, some worn areas have been Refinished with cold blue. The slide is serial-matched to the frame. The barrel is parkerized, indicating replacement or refinishing.

Bore Condition: The bore is dark gray. The rifling is worn, but visible. There is light erosion and pitting scattered through the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 4 or 5 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 20% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There is scattered finish wear and surface erosion. Some areas have an iridescent appearance. There are tool marks at most pin-heads. There are scattered nicks, scuffs, and scratches with a couple more notable nicks in the frontstrap. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The United States Property marking was removed and has since been re-applied by hand. Other markings range from clear to worn, but legible. Overall, this pistol is in about Good Condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire 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 vintage but not factory original Colt 7-round blued magazine stamped "COLT / 45 AUTO" on the bottom floorplate, denoting a commercial mag.

Our Assessment: The Colt 1911 .45 ACP semi-automatic pistol was designed by the legendary firearms inventor John Moses Browning, and developed for the US Army after the .38 LC revolver failed to stop charging Moro warriors in the Philippines. The US Army issued the powerful .45 to officers, NCOs, and machine gunners in the Punitive Expedition, World War 1, and World War 2. In 1926, the 1911-A1 iteration introduced the arched mainspring housing, shorter trigger, and relief cuts behind the trigger on the frame.

This US Army Pre-WW2 Colt Model 1911A1 was made in 1941, and was sent to Springfield Armory on October 31, 1941. This was just as the “Arsenal of Democracy” was gearing up, but before the United States officially entered the war. It’s in Good Condition, with the “United States Property” marking having been removed at some point, and the marking reapplied by hand. That was fairly common in the 1940s-1960s, as some were concerned that owning a gun with that marking could indicate it had been stolen. This pistol features a 5” barrel, 20% of its original blued finish (some worn areas have been refinished with cold blue, and the barrel is parkerized, indicating replacement or refinishing), fine two-piece checkered "Coltwood" brown plastic grips, martial markings, strong mechanics, and a dark gray bore with worn but visible rifling (there’s light erosion and pitting scattered throughout), and is a classic "RS" (Robert Sears) inspected example. Some collectors prefer pristine examples, but if you're looking for a pistol that has likely “been there and done that”, this pre-WW2 Colt M1911A1 would make a nice addition to your collection.