The Colt Model 1911 semi-automatic pistol is a gun that’s withstood the test of time. The U.S. military issued the 1911 to its servicemen for a century. That’s a mighty strong testament to its reliability and staying power.
Despite what the name of the Model 1911 would imply, the idea of a semi-automatic replacement for service-issue revolvers was developing as early as the 1890s.
The History of the M1911
In 1906, the U.S. military selected Colt and five other firearm companies to design new semi-auto pistols, the winning design becoming the new service pistol for the armed forces.
In one of the last tests of the new gun in 1910, testers fired 6,000 rounds from a single Colt 1911 over two days. The 1911 made it through testing without a single reported malfunction, while the competing semi-auto designs suffered 37.
The U.S. Army adopted the M1911 in the year 1911, and the Navy and Marine Corps followed suit in 1913.
The Model 1911 was re-designated as the M1911 once it entered the service. The military issued M1911s to servicemen in both World Wars, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The M1911’s century-long status as a standard-issue pistol came to an end in the 1990s with the introduction of the Beretta M9. That’s not to say that the Colt 1911 is totally out of circulation, since U.S. Army Special Forces Units still carry M1911s to this day.
Colt 1911 for Sale
A Colt Model 1911 U.S. Army pistol will make an appearance in an upcoming firearms auction during Pistols at the Prison. This event is a two-day gun show at Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary starting on October 9th.
Compass received this 1911 without much knowledge from its consignor about the gun’s history. Compass has reached out to the top four 1911 restoration companies ( Turnbull Restoration, Custom Shop Inc., Patriot Gun Polishing, and Old South Restoration ) to attempt to verify who restored the pistol. These four companies have no records of ever working with this gun.
Manufactured in 1914, this M1911 is still in great condition. The pistol comes with a factory letter from Colt authenticating its manufacture. According to this letter, this gun was 1 of 500 Colt 1911s shipped to the U.S.M.C. Quartermaster in Philadelphia, PA in 1914. After conducting due diligence, Compass is unable to confirm or deny that the condition of this gun is original.
Please feel free to come by our facility and inspect this amazing pistol during our hours of operation. Don’t miss out on a chance to bid at a live firearms auction at 6 p.m. on October 10 at Pistols at the Prison for a potentially once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a pistol of this rarity.
For more information, please email Info@SoldOnCompass.com or call 800-729-6466.