![colt 1911 a1 original colt 1911 a1 original](https://www.full-defense.fr/media/7309/big/acp333.jpg)
That is what "(1944 +/-1155000-1208673)" in Clawson's serial number chart means.Ĭlawson shows the block going up to 1208673 as going through 43 and 44 because there is no definite information on when it was completed. A lot of overlap in late 1944 and ealry 1945. government.īTW, there are original 1945 Colt pistols with what we consider "early" parts, too. None of the L-L pistols were ever returned to the U.S.
![colt 1911 a1 original colt 1911 a1 original](https://image.invaluable.com/housePhotos/julia/46/573346/H0019-L80119514.jpg)
In the end, they were the same as gifted to the other countries because the U.S. And even though the law was titled "Lend-Lease Act of 1941", we never actaully loaned anything. It was at the President's discretion, as the law was written, to determine what was to be given. Each Allied country gave what they could to the war effort. The United States government never claimed any ownership to the items lend-leased once given to the other countries. Thus, the pistols were sold on the commercial market throughout the world from England. But they were generally bought up from the various governments (British Empire, Canada, China, French Forces, U.S.S.R., American Republics, and other Countries) by the same international arms dealer who operated out of England. Lend-Lease pistols were British commercial proofed over a period of years because all the L-L pistols were not released at the same time, nor by the same countries. Then, many were re-sold again to dealers here in the United States. Once the pistols were released by whatever government owned them at the time, they were sold commercially and received the commercial proof house markings. The British proof marks are commercial proof house markings that were required by British common law. The British proof marks have nothing to do with the pistols being "released and returned" to the United States. There are all kinds of British proof marks applied to L-L pistols, depending on when they were released and by whom.
![colt 1911 a1 original colt 1911 a1 original](https://www.dday-overlord.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/arme_americaine_colt-1.jpg)
Several other countries received pistols under the Lend-Lease Act of 1941, and none of those pistols will be marked "RELEASED BRITISH GOVT. But not all Lend-Lease pistols have those markings at all.only the ones released by the British Govt. Some were marked "NOT BRITISH MAKE" and "RELEASED BRITISH GOVT. No Lend-Lease pistols were ever marked "Not British Make 1952". I agree the photography lacks, but the finish looks original to me. I think the stamped trigger is correct and original in this pistol at 1195742 in 1944.Ĭolt's never Du-Lite blued any of their M1911A1 pistols. There is a lot of overlap with the milled trigger and stamped trigger in this range. Everyone I've ever seen was stamped "Not British Make 1952" indicating when they were released and returned to the US.This Colt pistol is a 1944 pistol. In good light it should be a grey green color. At the point in production where this one was made in late 1943, all Colts were being parkerized and they weren't as dark as this one appears to be but that might be just a photographic problem. Also it is also very dark and very late to be a dulite finish. This 1943 pistol has the stamped trigger which I don't think it should have. Also the price appears to be very high from my experience but Collectors Firearms in Houston is pretty well known for having fairly high asking prices on all their merchandise. The British proofs appear on the barrel, slide and frame.
![colt 1911 a1 original colt 1911 a1 original](https://pistolplace.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/191118.jpg)
Everyone I've ever seen was stamped "Not British Make 1952" indicating when they were released and returned to the US. Most that I have seen are in excellent or better original condition showing little if any use. In good light it should be a grey green color.īritish lend lease guns are not rare, they show up periodically and I believe that right now there are two on gunbroker. This 1943 pistol has the stamped trigger which I don't think it should have. As far as my understanding and the pieces I've seen, Colt didn't begin transitioning to stamped triggers, thin hammers, grooved mainspring and slide stops and stamped thumb safeties until the first block in 1944 which started with the 1609529 serial and then all the early features don't appear totally on all pistols until 1945, so there was use of some of the old parts until they ran out. In my opinion, based on what I've seen and guns in my own collection, this mid 1943 Colt should have all early features i.e., wide hammer, checkered thumb safety, slide stop, and mainspring housing as well as the one piece milled and checkered trigger.