Ricky reported that his Dad carried it during WWII, and when he left the Army, was allowed to keep the pistol. That was fairly common in those days. A quick inspection of the gun showed it to be tight and right. All the safeties work, the gun functions as intended, and it's tight.
We took it down and it was tight. Very tight. The bore is pristine, and it looks like a gun that has been carried a lot and shot very little. This is a very nice gun, from a mechanical standpoint. The exterior is a little rough, but we can live with that.
After examining the gun, and pronouncing it safe to shoot, we went to a computer and searched the serial number. Surprise, surprise, this particular gun was made in 1918, so it may have seen service through WWI and WWII. All in all, it's a very nice example of a military 1911 from the early 20th century, and it has a family connection to Ricky, who will keep it in the family as an heirloom.
8 comments:
You don’t see many unmolested 100 year old veterans like that. It be really cool to track its provenance.
I served with a guy in Germany that had been a tugboat crewman before being drafted. He told of taking barges of WWII rifles and pistols and dumping them in the ocean. Still make me misty eyed at the thought of all that waste.
Is the front sight missing?
My oh my, what a find. And a family history to boot. I hope the person who ends up with it cherishes it.
Dad was a M.P at Guam during WWII at tail end of war. He told me he wished he could have brought the M1 carbine he carried he was fond of it. He did not mention a handgun though, the carbine and a nightstick was what he carried.
1911, not a 1911A1! Very nice, and missing the front sight. That is strange...
How good of a friend are you? Did you tell him that it is way past it's expiry, is unsafe, that you'll take that piece of junk and pay him good money for it, at least $20. Because you're his friend.
Mom says dad sold his 1911. I haven't seen it in over 30 years. I continue to think it has to be around the homestead somewhere. He's gone now and I think she doesn't really know. The search continues....
I hope that young man keeps that gun nice and carefully preserved, takes it out and shoots in every year, either on his dad's birthday, or on veteran's day, and then cleans it and carefully stores it again. He should buy a cheap Philipino or Turkish 1911 for himself if he wants to have one to really shoot a lot. Not only is that gun a sentimental gem, it is also going to continue to become more valuable, to the point that it might need to be named on his homeowners insurance. I am glad for him, and glad that his father was able to keep that gun for him. What a happy story.
Damn nice indeed...
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