Colt M1911

andwaahs · 12-19-2012, 03:27 PM

I finaly got to pick up the 1911 I reserved a few months ago, What a stunner! I had to break the whole thing down and clean it in boiling water as it had been preserved in what looked and smelled like bitumen.
I took it to the range this morning all cleaned and oiled and it is the nicest pistol I have ever used, just a shame the rounds are so expensive here

I searched the serial no and it came back as a 1943-44 issue and on the holster that came with it is stamped "US Enger-Kress 1944" I wish I could have asked the old guy that had it all these years how he got it in the first place

saab-bob · 12-19-2012, 04:18 PM

Interesting,I would have thought you would find a Norwegian made 1911,not a US military 1911A1.From your pics,it looks all correct!
Congratulations
Bob

guns3545 · 12-19-2012, 05:29 PM

Nice example of a WWII Colt Model 1911A1. I wonder when it went through Rock Island Arsenal for rebuild.

andwaahs · 12-19-2012, 05:41 PM

Your right about the Kongsberg 1914 being the most common here. I dont doubt the shop could have sold this gun a dozen times over while its been waiting for me. my luck I was in the store the morning it arrived from the police (it was cleared from the house of an elderly man after his passing).
To some a guns a gun, but I feel very lucky to own this as well as my Luger.
Has It been rebuilt? I see there are some letters stamped in on one side of the frame.

guns3545 · 12-19-2012, 05:58 PM

The RIA Stamp on the right side of the frame indicates it passed through the Rebuild Facility. Now, whether anything was actually done is another question and only close examination of the gun would detect parts changed out, etc.

Also curious is the Ordinance Corps Flaming Bomb stamp, also on the right side of the frame. Final inspection at RIA???

Are the various acceptance and inspection stamps showing the expected burnished look (displaced metal)?? If they are, it would indicate that the gun was not refinished at Rock Island Arsenal.

In any case, its a nice looking example of the classic WWII Model 1911A1

John

padredan · 12-19-2012, 06:21 PM

got your self a real nice one. Congrats

mrerick · 12-19-2012, 06:32 PM

Hi,

Checking records, a William Basti shows up in WW-II military records.

He's in the 1940 census data at age 16:

Age 16, born abt 1924 Birthplace Pennsylvania Gender Male Race White Home in 1940 Monongahela,
Greene, Pennsylvania
Household Members Age Head Stephen Basti 70 Wife Julia Basti 62 Son William Basti 16

And shows up in the death index:

WILLIAM BASTI was born July 16, 1924, received a Pennsylvania Social Security number, 202-14-6898, and died October 10, 2006.

Marc

saab-bob · 12-19-2012, 08:34 PM

Marc
I love it when you can match up a gun with a original owner! I wonder how that Colt ended up in Norway?
At least we know Mr Basti lived a long life! Fun stuff.
Bob

Edward Tinker · 12-19-2012, 09:52 PM

Excellent 1911A1, I love them, carried one 3/4 of my army career.

Ed

andwaahs · 12-20-2012, 12:39 PM

Now I like this, I had not thought it possible to find who the owner was but you guys are detectives.
It looks like the full name is Bastian as this was written under the keeper strap, I guess he ran out of space writing it down the side.
All the stamps seem smooth when I rub a finger over them with no raised edges, although are very crisp. any idea what G.H.D. can be for? this is stamped in above the mag release.

guns3545 · 12-20-2012, 01:53 PM

The initials GHD are the cartouche used by Brigadier Guy. H. Drewry, the Chief Inspector for the US Army Ordinance Corps for the District covered by Springfield Arsenal in Massachusetts.

His cartouche appears on all 1911A1s manufactured from 1943 to mid-1945 and was placed on the pistols by his deputies as part of the acceptance process by the military establishment.

John

alanint · 12-20-2012, 02:28 PM

Here is a useful site for further exploring your 1911;

http://www.sightm1911.com/lib/history/rebuild.htm

John Sabato · 12-20-2012, 03:04 PM

I would venture a guess that your new 1911A1 Colt was a battlefield loss by an American soldier, that was found by one of your countrymen and carefully hidden and preserved all these years. Congrats on a wonderful souvenier of WW2. Perhaps the methods used to discover the identity of Wm Basti... could be leveraged to investigate the birth and death of Mr. Bastian...

tudorbug · 12-21-2012, 11:49 AM

The Social security death index notes a William C. Bastian born October 14, 1933 (too young for World War II) and died February 28, 1997 after living in Hachita, New Mexico, 88040. Hachita is in Grant County. His social security card was issued in Kansas.

Apparently, only one William C. Bastian is recorded in the index.

But, I think forum member mrerick, noting his entry above, may be able to access more information that I found.

David

12-19-2012, 03:27 PM	#1
andwaahs User Join Date: May 2012 Location: Norway Posts: 85 Thanks: 41 Thanked 14 Times in 9 Posts	Colt M1911 I finaly got to pick up the 1911 I reserved a few months ago, What a stunner! I had to break the whole thing down and clean it in boiling water as it had been preserved in what looked and smelled like bitumen. I took it to the range this morning all cleaned and oiled and it is the nicest pistol I have ever used, just a shame the rounds are so expensive here I searched the serial no and it came back as a 1943-44 issue and on the holster that came with it is stamped "US Enger-Kress 1944" I wish I could have asked the old guy that had it all these years how he got it in the first place Attached Thumbnails

12-19-2012, 04:18 PM	#2
saab-bob User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: So Cal Posts: 459 Thanks: 774 Thanked 143 Times in 87 Posts	Interesting,I would have thought you would find a Norwegian made 1911,not a US military 1911A1.From your pics,it looks all correct! Congratulations Bob __________________ "I think,therefore I own guns"

12-19-2012, 06:21 PM	#6
padredan User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: louisiana Now, but from the Rebublic of Texas Posts: 937 Thanks: 429 Thanked 316 Times in 182 Posts	got your self a real nice one. Congrats __________________ In this world nothing is free, except the grace of God

12-19-2012, 06:32 PM	#7
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,907 Thanks: 1,374 Thanked 3,108 Times in 1,509 Posts	Hi, Checking records, a William Basti shows up in WW-II military records. He's in the 1940 census data at age 16: Age 16, born abt 1924 Birthplace Pennsylvania Gender Male Race White Home in 1940 Monongahela, Greene, Pennsylvania Household Members Age Head Stephen Basti 70 Wife Julia Basti 62 Son William Basti 16 And shows up in the death index: WILLIAM BASTI was born July 16, 1924, received a Pennsylvania Social Security number, 202-14-6898, and died October 10, 2006. Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

12-19-2012, 08:34 PM	#8
saab-bob User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: So Cal Posts: 459 Thanks: 774 Thanked 143 Times in 87 Posts	Marc I love it when you can match up a gun with a original owner! I wonder how that Colt ended up in Norway? At least we know Mr Basti lived a long life! Fun stuff. Bob __________________ "I think,therefore I own guns"

12-19-2012, 05:29 PM	#3
guns3545 Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 437 Thanks: 653 Thanked 492 Times in 218 Posts	Nice example of a WWII Colt Model 1911A1. I wonder when it went through Rock Island Arsenal for rebuild.

12-19-2012, 05:41 PM	#4
andwaahs User Join Date: May 2012 Location: Norway Posts: 85 Thanks: 41 Thanked 14 Times in 9 Posts	Your right about the Kongsberg 1914 being the most common here. I dont doubt the shop could have sold this gun a dozen times over while its been waiting for me. my luck I was in the store the morning it arrived from the police (it was cleared from the house of an elderly man after his passing). To some a guns a gun, but I feel very lucky to own this as well as my Luger. Has It been rebuilt? I see there are some letters stamped in on one side of the frame.

12-19-2012, 05:58 PM	#5
guns3545 Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 437 Thanks: 653 Thanked 492 Times in 218 Posts	The RIA Stamp on the right side of the frame indicates it passed through the Rebuild Facility. Now, whether anything was actually done is another question and only close examination of the gun would detect parts changed out, etc. Also curious is the Ordinance Corps Flaming Bomb stamp, also on the right side of the frame. Final inspection at RIA??? Are the various acceptance and inspection stamps showing the expected burnished look (displaced metal)?? If they are, it would indicate that the gun was not refinished at Rock Island Arsenal. In any case, its a nice looking example of the classic WWII Model 1911A1 John

12-19-2012, 09:52 PM	#9
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,925 Thanks: 2,014 Thanked 4,518 Times in 2,087 Posts	Excellent 1911A1, I love them, carried one 3/4 of my army career. Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

12-20-2012, 12:39 PM	#10
andwaahs User Join Date: May 2012 Location: Norway Posts: 85 Thanks: 41 Thanked 14 Times in 9 Posts	Now I like this, I had not thought it possible to find who the owner was but you guys are detectives. It looks like the full name is Bastian as this was written under the keeper strap, I guess he ran out of space writing it down the side. All the stamps seem smooth when I rub a finger over them with no raised edges, although are very crisp. any idea what G.H.D. can be for? this is stamped in above the mag release. Attached Thumbnails

12-20-2012, 01:53 PM	#11
guns3545 Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 437 Thanks: 653 Thanked 492 Times in 218 Posts	The initials GHD are the cartouche used by Brigadier Guy. H. Drewry, the Chief Inspector for the US Army Ordinance Corps for the District covered by Springfield Arsenal in Massachusetts. His cartouche appears on all 1911A1s manufactured from 1943 to mid-1945 and was placed on the pistols by his deputies as part of the acceptance process by the military establishment. John

12-20-2012, 02:28 PM	#12
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,916 Times in 1,192 Posts	Here is a useful site for further exploring your 1911; http://www.sightm1911.com/lib/history/rebuild.htm

12-20-2012, 03:04 PM	#13
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,153 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	I would venture a guess that your new 1911A1 Colt was a battlefield loss by an American soldier, that was found by one of your countrymen and carefully hidden and preserved all these years. Congrats on a wonderful souvenier of WW2. Perhaps the methods used to discover the identity of Wm Basti... could be leveraged to investigate the birth and death of Mr. Bastian... __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

12-21-2012, 11:49 AM	#14
tudorbug Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Georgia Posts: 387 Thanks: 0 Thanked 40 Times in 29 Posts	The Social security death index notes a William C. Bastian born October 14, 1933 (too young for World War II) and died February 28, 1997 after living in Hachita, New Mexico, 88040. Hachita is in Grant County. His social security card was issued in Kansas. Apparently, only one William C. Bastian is recorded in the index. But, I think forum member mrerick, noting his entry above, may be able to access more information that I found. David