How to Trace Nazi Serial Numbers?

[rocketeng]

I have a friend that has a Colt officially licensed Nazi 1911 (1914).. Serial numbers match and date code(1945)...Pretty awesome piece of history. I found information that it was delivered to the Nazi High Command in 1945. Only 920 were made. Its Pretty rare. My friends Uncle removed it from a high ranking Nazi Officer. His Uncle past along time ago. The question is this, how do I track who it was issued to? Any help would be appreciated.
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[Snoopy47]

[Snoopy47]

You know enough that 920 were issued in 1945.

Next would be which units were issued them.

From there maybe you can narrow down your research.

[cannon]

I believe those were being made in a foreign country under license by Colt. Until the German army invaded and took over the factory.

If Beetle drops by I'm sure he'll give you the facts about the gun.

[Tacit Blue]

Interesting, never knew 1911s made them for the Nazi party.

[Eddie1965]

I believe these were made in Norway under Nazi occupation.

[uhlan1]

I believe these were made in Norway under Nazi occupation.

Correct, Norway. A Calgunner has one and wrote up a fascinating history. forget who it was but maybe he'll chime in.

[compulsivegunbuyer]

Very good chance any records would have been destroyed even if they were kept. Cool pistol though.

[Condorguns]

Correct, Norway. A Calgunner has one and wrote up a fascinating history. forget who it was but maybe he'll chime in.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=512066

Here it is. Beetle is a Calguns treasure.

[BigPimping]

Interesting, never knew 1911s made them for the Nazi party.

That is exactly what I was thinking. I have never heard this before. I did not even know German munitions plants made 45acp ammo.

[rocketeng]

I read Beetles post and sent pm. Thank you. Any more information would be greatly appreciated.

[rocketeng]

[johnthomas]

After comparing the slide release on both the American and the other, I have concluded, I like the other.

[beetle]

I responded to the OP in PMs but I'll summarize here. As far as I know there is no way to tell who the gun was issued to. The best that you'll be able to get is a letter from Kongsberg Museum which will show the manufacture date and the organization it was issued to (either the Army or Navy forces in the area):



While it is certainly possible that the gun was captured from a Nazi official in Germany, I don't think it would have been issued to him unless said official was returning from the Norwegian operations area. As far as I know no Kongsberg Colts were issued to High Ranking Party officials as an official sidearm -- the Walther PPK played that role. I don't think the Nazis would issue an American designed, Norwegian manufactured gun to high ranking Nazi leaders

OP's gun falls into the right range for a Waffenamt stamp and still shows traces of it on the slide. Unfortunately the entire gun has been refinished which affects value. The gun should have a phosphate finish -- this one appears to have been reblued. In addition the grips are incorrect. Regardless it is still an interesting gun -- a "1911" manufactured by use for the Nazis.

[I Swan]

Goring carried a S&W 38 revolver so it's not impossible a higher up Nazi had a 1911. However high ranking officers seemed to be less likely to carry the full sized pistols. Usually you see PP or PPK's or various 25 autos attributed to them.