Colt 1911 Info Anyone?

[itstock]

I just picked up a Colt 1911 (m1911A1) US ARMY from my grandfather, and I'm looking for more info about it.

I'm fairly certain it is from 1944, but not 100%. Any help would be appreciated!

COLT MFG
HARTFORD CT.

UNITED STATES PROPERTY
No. 1701979
M1911A1 US ARMY

and 21 engraved on the trigger gaurd

Let me know if you need any more markings on the gun, I can get better pictures.

Thanks,
Steve

ALSO, the finish is better than the crappy pictures that I took...there was a big glare so it makes it look more worn than it actually is.

[LastManOut]

The 21 may be the last two digits of the serial number it originally belonged to. The serial # will help date the pistol. 1,700,000 is in the 1944 production run. It could be priced from $700 to $1,000 +/-.

I have been wanting to get one myself, if you want to sell.

[itstock]

Thanks, but it's not for sale. Also, the prices that I have been seeing for 1944 1911's are anywhere from $1000-3000, if I can find one for under $1000, I'm buying it!

Do you think you could explain the 21 a bit better? I'd appreciate it!

Thanks again,
Steve

[pred]

The 21 may have been the last two digits of someones arms serial #, Or the gun had some history somewhere else and it was gun # 21, The US. didnt put #s anywhere else on their guns,, And I will say that the fact that the 21 is on the pistol hurts it's value.
I cant tell in the pics if it has been rearsenalized. Or if it has the correct barrel/slide on it.
If any parts are not period correct you are looking at a shooter 600/1000 at best. If all origonal it is worth more, But needs to be checked out by someone very knowledgable.
This one is from 1914, Shipped feb 6th 1914 to NY on it's way to the army along with 299 if it's buddies, All period correct and worth, Well you guess, and I will reply later!
Peter.

[itstock]

The 21 may have been the last two digits of someones arms serial #, Or the gun had some history somewhere else and it was gun # 21, The US. didnt put #s anywhere else on their guns,, And I will say that the fact that the 21 is on the pistol hurts it's value.
I cant tell in the pics if it has been rearsenalized. Or if it has the correct barrel/slide on it.
If any parts are not period correct you are looking at a shooter 600/1000 at best. If all origonal it is worth more, But needs to be checked out by someone very knowledgable.
This one is from 1914, Shipped feb 6th 1914 to NY on it's way to the army along with 299 if it's buddies, All period correct and worth, Well you guess, and I will reply later!
Peter.

It was my great uncles from WWII, not his personal side arm, but he brought it home and it was sitting in a drawer at his house up until about 2 years ago where my grandfather got it. I'm assuming that it is all numbers matching for that reason alone, and for the same reason, I can guarantee that it's 100% period correct.

I can't find any info. on the number 21, so I guess I will keep on searching. Thanks for the reply, and nice 1911!



EDIT: I was searching through google to find out about the numbers, and it appears that MOST 1940's 1911's have numbers...see this link for a couple of examples...
http://www.model1911a1.com/

I still can't find what the number means though.


DOUBLE EDIT: I found out that ITHICA used the numbers where the 21 is as inspection marks.

http://www.pbyrescue.com/weapons/Ithaca/ithaca.htm

Ha, TRIPLE EDIT: It looks like all of the 1944 COLT's also have the inspection marks, so it's certainly not decreasing value (not that value is "that" important anyway)

http://www.pbyrescue.com/weapons/1944%20Colt/colt7.htm

[RocketFoot]

You may wanna poke around www.coltforum.com for some info...

[reels18]

The number 21 may be an arms room number.

Certain units will mark these weapons in this manner for easy sign out from the arms room.

It speeds up the sign out procedures for guard duty or military police shifts.

[itstock]

The number 21 may be an arms room number.

Certain units will mark these weapons in this manner for easy sign out from the arms room.

It speeds up the sign out procedures for guard duty or military police shifts.

Good suggestion, but I'm fairly certain it's just another inspection marking . A number is visible in that area on all of them.


Thanks for the link RocketFoot! I just signed up, will be posting soon.

[brian]

the number '21' that is clearly visible in one of the pics, is the number assigned to the person that originally assembled teh weapon.

where is my prize?

[itstock]

the number '21' that is clearly visible in one of the pics, is the number assigned to the person that originally assembled teh weapon.

where is my prize?

awesome!!!!! Thanks for the info, and for figuring out the "hidden meaning"!

Your prize is the gun!!!

Wait, no, the pictures of the gun will have to suffice.