Expert 1911 USGI Colt Collector's Advice Needed

calibrator · 01-20-2011, 05:03 PM

Hoping to sell these as a set at a local gunshow soon. Would appreciate it if a knowledgable collector (or 2) could please provide a fair market value. I know these are a pair of Colt Contract mags made by Ridson and are WW II vintage. Each has a M1921 DUMMY round (from the Evansville Ordnance Plant) inserted. The pouch is a Russell dated 1918 (hard to see in pic). It's unique feature is the Unit Marking on the inside of the flap, CO. "A" 187th TK. BN. . TK. BN. stands for Tank Battalion. I researched several years ago and had info but have since misplaced it. There was such a unit in the ETO during WW II. I would think the marking would provide some provenance and make it more attractive to an Advanced collector. Thanks in advance for any input !! Best Regards !! Joe

alanint · 01-20-2011, 07:32 PM

What you have are two Risdon made magazines, which can be identified by a small letter R stamped on the TOP of the floor plate tab. Don't confuse these with Raymond Engineering contract magazines, which have the letter R stamped on the BOTTOM of the floor plate.

Samples of Risdon magazines are marked respectively "C-R" on the BOTTOM of the floor plate. Collectors believe that indicated that these magazines were made under subcontract to Colt, to put in Colt's WWII production M1911 pistols. Presumably, the markings stand for "Colt-Risdon".

They are worth about $40-$50 each. The magazine pouch, while interesting due to the unit marking, is worth only about $25, since thousands were made and curiously still suvive in mint condition. Unless of course, you find someone with a decided interest in the unit and is willing to pay a bit more for it.

The Risdon magazines are scarse and collectible.
Hope this helps.

MFC · 01-20-2011, 11:47 PM

Dumb question... What is the purpose of the dummy round?

alanint · 01-21-2011, 12:12 AM

If you are referring to the dummy round in general...it was used to train troops unfamiliar with both the 1911 and the Thompson SMG, you know....loading..feeding..ejecting, etc.

I have dozens of these GI dummy rounds here. They used to be quite cheap.

MFC · 01-22-2011, 12:53 AM

Thanks Doug,
Were they issued with the mags and pouch?

alanint · 01-22-2011, 04:35 AM

No, these were only available and used in basic training. They were never issued with equipment.
The GI dummy rounds have a standard bullet, but then a stell case with two holes drilled diametrically opposed to each other and no primer. Surplus stores used to have these by the bucket full but I have not seen them lately

calibrator · 01-22-2011, 11:03 AM

I was an E5 GMG when I got out of the Navy and was LPO for 2 different ship's armorys. We used these rds for testing feed and extraction when our 1911 and 1911A1s were given scheduled maintenance or to test mags for reliable feeding. The two holes are the right size to pass a small ball chain (like the one on your Dog Tags) through. Alot of guys liked to hang these on a short chain from the zipper of their work jacket.

01-20-2011, 05:03 PM	#1
calibrator User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cave Creek Posts: 315 Thanks: 55 Thanked 244 Times in 93 Posts	Expert 1911 USGI Colt Collector's Advice Needed Hoping to sell these as a set at a local gunshow soon. Would appreciate it if a knowledgable collector (or 2) could please provide a fair market value. I know these are a pair of Colt Contract mags made by Ridson and are WW II vintage. Each has a M1921 DUMMY round (from the Evansville Ordnance Plant) inserted. The pouch is a Russell dated 1918 (hard to see in pic). It's unique feature is the Unit Marking on the inside of the flap, CO. "A" 187th TK. BN. . TK. BN. stands for Tank Battalion. I researched several years ago and had info but have since misplaced it. There was such a unit in the ETO during WW II. I would think the marking would provide some provenance and make it more attractive to an Advanced collector. Thanks in advance for any input !! Best Regards !! Joe Last edited by calibrator; 05-03-2015 at 02:28 PM.

01-20-2011, 11:47 PM	#3
MFC User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 183 Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts	Dumb question... What is the purpose of the dummy round? __________________ Mike C.

01-22-2011, 12:53 AM	#5
MFC User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 183 Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts	Thanks Doug, Were they issued with the mags and pouch? __________________ Mike C.

01-22-2011, 11:03 AM	#7
calibrator User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cave Creek Posts: 315 Thanks: 55 Thanked 244 Times in 93 Posts	I was an E5 GMG when I got out of the Navy and was LPO for 2 different ship's armorys. We used these rds for testing feed and extraction when our 1911 and 1911A1s were given scheduled maintenance or to test mags for reliable feeding. The two holes are the right size to pass a small ball chain (like the one on your Dog Tags) through. Alot of guys liked to hang these on a short chain from the zipper of their work jacket. Last edited by calibrator; 05-03-2015 at 02:28 PM.

01-20-2011, 07:32 PM	#2
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,193 Posts	What you have are two Risdon made magazines, which can be identified by a small letter R stamped on the TOP of the floor plate tab. Don't confuse these with Raymond Engineering contract magazines, which have the letter R stamped on the BOTTOM of the floor plate. Samples of Risdon magazines are marked respectively "C-R" on the BOTTOM of the floor plate. Collectors believe that indicated that these magazines were made under subcontract to Colt, to put in Colt's WWII production M1911 pistols. Presumably, the markings stand for "Colt-Risdon". They are worth about $40-$50 each. The magazine pouch, while interesting due to the unit marking, is worth only about $25, since thousands were made and curiously still suvive in mint condition. Unless of course, you find someone with a decided interest in the unit and is willing to pay a bit more for it. The Risdon magazines are scarse and collectible. Hope this helps.

01-21-2011, 12:12 AM	#4
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,193 Posts	If you are referring to the dummy round in general...it was used to train troops unfamiliar with both the 1911 and the Thompson SMG, you know....loading..feeding..ejecting, etc. I have dozens of these GI dummy rounds here. They used to be quite cheap.

01-22-2011, 04:35 AM	#6
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,193 Posts	No, these were only available and used in basic training. They were never issued with equipment. The GI dummy rounds have a standard bullet, but then a stell case with two holes drilled diametrically opposed to each other and no primer. Surplus stores used to have these by the bucket full but I have not seen them lately