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Johnny Peppers · 04-12-2001, 03:52 PM

There has never been a military handgun that had the quality of finish of the early 1911 Colt military pistol. The pistols were polished on leather covered wheels and were blued in large gas fired ovens that had a mixture of charcoal and ground animal bone. The frames and slides were finished on the same rack so there would be no difference in the color. They had a mirror quality blue finish and the small parts had an outstanding fire blue finish. The finish was of such a reflective quality that the military complained to Colt and ask that the pistols be given a finish that was less reflective. Only the first 2400 1911 military pistols were finished in this way, and an original example of one of these pistols in 97/98% will be in the $10,000 to $12,500 range today. Up until WWI the 1911 still had a nice finish, but as the United States got into WWI, less and less attention was paid to the final polish and these pistols have a rougher finish.

The last of the military 1911 pistols were made in 1919 and in 1924 the military gave Colt a contract for 10,000 of the improved 1911 pistol which became the 1911A1. The new pistol started at serial number 700001. The military did not order another 1911A1 pistol until 1937 and from that date until mid 1941 all the pistols were blued in a gas fired oven with charcoal and oil. The pistols in the range from 700001 to approximately 734000 also exhibit a beautiful brushed blue finish. 98/99% examples of these pistols exhist but are rare, and today command prices in the $3500 to $4500 range. In mid 1941 Colt changed to the phosphate finish which continuted for the remainder of production which ceased in mid/late fall of 1945.

Early Remington Rand, Ithacas, and all Union Switch & Signal 1911A1 pistols had a Du-Lite blue over a sandblasted finish. Remington Rand and Ithaca switched to a phosphate finish in

early 1943. A 98/99% US&S 1911A1 will be in the $2000 to $3000 range today, with a like new US&S in it's original shipping box selling for $3800 recently.

The Singer 1911A1 had an almost commercial Du-Lite blue finish, and with only 500 being made on an educational contract, a restored example will bring $7500 to $8500 and a true 97/98% example will have a price tag in the $25000 to $30000 range.

The 1911/1911A1 pistol has been through several wars, but nice examples of them still exist. It appears that most of them are locked up in gunsafes and only come out when a collection is disposed of. When the 1911's and 1911A1's were being sold through the DCM in the early 60's, quite a few new in the shipping box Remington Rands were sold for $17 each. Today these pistols are priced in the $1250 range.

04-12-2001, 03:52 PM	#3
Johnny Peppers User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Calion, Arkansas Posts: 1,042 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Here is an explanation from an old soldier. (long post) There has never been a military handgun that had the quality of finish of the early 1911 Colt military pistol. The pistols were polished on leather covered wheels and were blued in large gas fired ovens that had a mixture of charcoal and ground animal bone. The frames and slides were finished on the same rack so there would be no difference in the color. They had a mirror quality blue finish and the small parts had an outstanding fire blue finish. The finish was of such a reflective quality that the military complained to Colt and ask that the pistols be given a finish that was less reflective. Only the first 2400 1911 military pistols were finished in this way, and an original example of one of these pistols in 97/98% will be in the $10,000 to $12,500 range today. Up until WWI the 1911 still had a nice finish, but as the United States got into WWI, less and less attention was paid to the final polish and these pistols have a rougher finish. The last of the military 1911 pistols were made in 1919 and in 1924 the military gave Colt a contract for 10,000 of the improved 1911 pistol which became the 1911A1. The new pistol started at serial number 700001. The military did not order another 1911A1 pistol until 1937 and from that date until mid 1941 all the pistols were blued in a gas fired oven with charcoal and oil. The pistols in the range from 700001 to approximately 734000 also exhibit a beautiful brushed blue finish. 98/99% examples of these pistols exhist but are rare, and today command prices in the $3500 to $4500 range. In mid 1941 Colt changed to the phosphate finish which continuted for the remainder of production which ceased in mid/late fall of 1945. Early Remington Rand, Ithacas, and all Union Switch & Signal 1911A1 pistols had a Du-Lite blue over a sandblasted finish. Remington Rand and Ithaca switched to a phosphate finish in early 1943. A 98/99% US&S 1911A1 will be in the $2000 to $3000 range today, with a like new US&S in it's original shipping box selling for $3800 recently. The Singer 1911A1 had an almost commercial Du-Lite blue finish, and with only 500 being made on an educational contract, a restored example will bring $7500 to $8500 and a true 97/98% example will have a price tag in the $25000 to $30000 range. The 1911/1911A1 pistol has been through several wars, but nice examples of them still exist. It appears that most of them are locked up in gunsafes and only come out when a collection is disposed of. When the 1911's and 1911A1's were being sold through the DCM in the early 60's, quite a few new in the shipping box Remington Rands were sold for $17 each. Today these pistols are priced in the $1250 range.