WWII 1911

[D-rek07]

So my grandpa was in the Navy in WWII but not issued a gun. Somebody was in need of some money so my grandpa bought this gun off him. According the serial number it was made in 1942. Everything is original, except for some of the ammo in the magazines.

My aunt has had it since he died, which was a few years ago. She had finally decided to pass it down to me.

If you have any questions or want any pictures, let me know!









The original grips. My grandpa had them switched out.



Issued boxes of ammo.

[beetle]

would love to see some more, all I see are grips. is this a tease?

[Cool Custard]

Nice! If you need more info on it ^ beetle is the guy to ask!

Pics work fine for me.

[PachecoFTW]

Damn that's cool.

Post some more pics please like the barrel rifling and internals.

Also if i got one that old I would have it sent off to be QPQ treated.
Just my taste.

[D-rek07]

Does QPQ treating make it stronger? Or just make a nicer finish?

[Bainter1212]

Don't treat it or fix it or change it.

Just clean it thoroughly and gently. Oil it and put it back together.

These are now in the realm of collectors items and any alterations at this point will ruin the value.
If you want, go ahead and shoot it. Just don't run 3,000 rounds of +P or anything crazy through it. Treat it kindly and gently, like an old man who still deserves respect but has had enough abuse in his life and deserves to be treated nicely.

Rant over

[norcalAF]

What an awesome piece with a cool story, pass it down to your kids someday after telling them the history of it

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

[D-rek07]

Thanks for all the positive feedback. I plan to shoot it tomorrow. I'm cleaning it and oiling it tonight.

[Dezrat]

Damn that's cool.

Post some more pics please like the barrel rifling and internals.

Also if i got one that old I would have it sent off to be QPQ treated.
Just my taste.

Sorry, but that would be kinda like sending a gold medal off to be bronzed IMO.

[finn40]

That's cool. Hope it shoots good for you. Congrats on the heirloom.

[Fishslayer]

Sorry, but that would be kinda like sending a gold medal off to be bronzed IMO.

<Like>

[flhxxx]

As previously stated take good care of it and do not modify it in any way shape or form. Enjoy that fine piece of history and make sure you have a plan to hand it down to somebody in your family that will cherish it for the heirloom that it is.

[epwegmann]

As much of an advocate of the QPQ/melonite/tennifer treatment as I am, this would not be one I would opt to do it to.

If I was absolutely dead set on getting it refinished, I'd drop the coin and send it Turnbull; they can actually restore, not just refinish.

Damn that's cool.

Post some more pics please like the barrel rifling and internals.

Also if i got one that old I would have it sent off to be QPQ treated.
Just my taste.

[highpower]

Just leave the old girl alone and resist the urge to mess with it. ANYTHING you do to it besides preserve it as-is will reduce the value and add nothing to the gun that it needs.

I am a huge fan of US Property marked 1911's and I like the history and family connection that yours has.

BTW, the walnut grip panels that you showed are not original to your gun. The right side looks like an earlier (up to about 1919) type and the left side is clearly some sort of homemade grip.

A WWII production 1911-A1 would have come with brown plastic grips like the 1942 Colt pictured below. It is the gun at the top and if you look closely, you will note that the reinforcing ring around the screws is larger than those on the Remington Rand (middle) and the Ithaca (bottom)

[1911ShooterPhil]

That's a great family heirloom...

So my grandpa was in the Navy in WWII but not issued a gun. Somebody was in need of some money so my grandpa bought this gun off him. According the serial number it was made in 1942. Everything is original, except for some of the ammo in the magazines.

My aunt has had it since he died, which was a few years ago. She had finally decided to pass it down to me.

If you have any questions or want any pictures, let me know!









The original grips. My grandpa had them switched out.



Issued boxes of ammo.

Nice piece of history! You can't replace an heirloom like that. Hold onto that pistol! --1911ShooterPhil