1911 question

southriv · 02-14-2006, 08:28 PM

Herb,

I would like to add that your frame is a 1918 "Black Army". The original pistol was delivered to the Ordnance depot in Brooklyn in mid 1918. The slide, however, is from an earlier Commercial/military 1911. These were commercial models proofed at the Springfield Armory. The frame on those had a serial number with a "c" prefix. The tell tale on the slide is the commercial markings on the right hand side of the slide.The MODEL OF 1911, U.S. ARMY stamped behind the COLT AUTOMTATIC over CALIBRE 45 was done at the armory. These slides were, however, mated to commercial frames (with a "c" prefix serial number) in a known serial number range. There only 160 (+-) made. What is interesting is that these conversions were done in May 1918 in the 340xxx range of Colt production - about exactly when your Black Army frame was made. Maybe something the 1911 folks don't know about, though my best guess is that it is (as previously stated and valued) assembled WW1 parts with some 1911A1 mods.

Bob

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02-14-2006, 08:28 PM	#21
southriv User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Countryside New England Posts: 148 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Herb, I would like to add that your frame is a 1918 "Black Army". The original pistol was delivered to the Ordnance depot in Brooklyn in mid 1918. The slide, however, is from an earlier Commercial/military 1911. These were commercial models proofed at the Springfield Armory. The frame on those had a serial number with a "c" prefix. The tell tale on the slide is the commercial markings on the right hand side of the slide.The MODEL OF 1911, U.S. ARMY stamped behind the COLT AUTOMTATIC over CALIBRE 45 was done at the armory. These slides were, however, mated to commercial frames (with a "c" prefix serial number) in a known serial number range. There only 160 (+-) made. What is interesting is that these conversions were done in May 1918 in the 340xxx range of Colt production - about exactly when your Black Army frame was made. Maybe something the 1911 folks don't know about, though my best guess is that it is (as previously stated and valued) assembled WW1 parts with some 1911A1 mods. Bob