[Whig]

I dug deep in my safe storage and pulled out my 1916 production 1911 Colt pistol. Bought this treasure years ago for a great price and stuck it away for safe "Queen" keeping. I have researched these a little and understand they are quite rare in almost any condition. This certainly has some blemishes but is quite nice. Note the higher stamping of "Model of 1911 U.S. Army" on the right side of the slide. Usually it's perfectly centered but was slightly offset to the high side for 1911 slides. I think only 4,000-5,000 of these were produced total. Some had the "S" Strong inspection stamp and some of the 1916 1911s had the "H" Hosmer inspection stamp. Mine is stamped "H".

Overall, I think I'll keep it a while longer. I oiled it slightly and put it back in careful storage. Comments are appreciated. Thanks!

 

[alarmingman]

Theres not many like that one left anymore! Looks like its in good hands.

 

[tomj]

I dug deep in my safe storage and pulled out my 1916 production 1911 Colt pistol. Bought this treasure years ago for a great price and stuck it away for safe "Queen" keeping. I have researched these a little and understand they are quite rare in almost any condition. This certainly has some blemishes but is quite nice. Note the higher stamping of "Model of 1911 U.S. Army" on the right side of the slide. Usually it's perfectly centered but was slightly offset to the high side for 1911 slides. I think only 4,000-5,000 of these were produced total. Some had the "S" Strong inspection stamp and some of the 1916 1911s had the "H" Hosmer inspection stamp. Mine is stamped "H".

Overall, I think I'll keep it a while longer. I oiled it slightly and put it back in careful storage. Comments are appreciated. Thanks!
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Incredible!

 

[curly1]

 

[Highpower3006]

That is a very nice early 1911! I have one that was shipped on 18 April, 1917 to the C/O Philippine Ordnance Depot, Manila, PI. It is one of my treasures and a definite safe queen.

 

[chelsefan2004]

I think those with frame, slide and barrel stamped with "S" are ones of the rarest 1911s.

 

[Whig]

Strong was only inspector a short time during 1916 according to Clawson. I do believe that makes the "S" stamped 1916s quite rare indeed!

 

[BoRdErBaCoN]

That's neat!

I have a 1917 Commercial M1911. I'll pop some pics up in a bit.

 

[Webley One]

Whig,
Thanks for the trip down Memory Lane. My first handgun was a Colt like your's in the 135xxx range I bought it in 1961 for $19.05. My grandson will be the next owner.
Webley

 

[w38_55]

I have a 1918 version with Springfield S14 eagles head stamp. Not nearly as nice as the ones pictured above!

 

[mike radford]

You have a beauty. I have seen 4 or 5 in 40 plus years and never a good deal. A friend had an S marked one for a decent price but even that was much cash. Thanks for posting.

There are so many scarce to rare M1911 and A1s, I am not sure which is the hardest to find. To me, one of the first 95 or so is near impossible to find, saw one serial 3 IIRC. Price was good, like $25k but I could not find it anywhere in the house or bank accounts. First contract USMC is extremely tough and I have chased one from a friend for years, as have everyone that knows of it. I pine for a 1936 big time. Had a JSB and let it go for a German JPS LSR sniper, very krispy. Of course a Singer would be silly pricey. All these would get my money before a 1916 but doubt I will get any of these at this point. These pistols have gotten silly pricey.

 

[Whig]

Boy, some of those would be as much as a new car or house! I'm not sure what mine would sell for but definitely way more than I paid years ago. These military firearms have been one of the best investments ever. I'm glad I bought my collection years ago. I couldn't afford much now.

 

[Sapper740]

Very nice pistol! I have a 1917 built 1911 serial number in the 146XXX range but it isn't in anywhere near as nice condition as yours.

 

[w38_55]

It doesn't surprise me how much better the 1916/17 ones shown look when compared to the 1918. I guess priorities where changing pretty fast in 1918. Those early Army models looks as nicely finished as any commercial model.

 

[mike radford]

It doesn't surprise me how much better the 1916/17 ones shown look when compared to the 1918. I guess priorities where changing pretty fast in 1918. Those early Army models looks as nicely finished as any commercial model.

I too can afford few these days. I gotta sell to buy.

On the 1918s, they vary in finish a lot more than just "black Army". I hate that term anyway and have expressed it many times on many forums. Some of the early guns are near 1917 quality. The guns in the middle are the worst with some with big flakes of finish falling off. Some of the late guns and 1919s are pretty nice. My computer crashed and took out several hundred thousand pics with it or I would post a few. I just got an external memory and eventually will try to load about 20 SD cards soon. I loaded four or five and got a notice my picture program was full and will load zero pictures now.

 

[Highpower3006]

I too can afford few these days. I gotta sell to buy.

On the 1918s, they vary in finish a lot more than just "black Army". I hate that term anyway and have expressed it many times on many forums. Some of the early guns are near 1917 quality. The guns in the middle are the worst with some with big flakes of finish falling off. Some of the late guns and 1919s are pretty nice. My computer crashed and took out several hundred thousand pics with it or I would post a few. I just got an external memory and eventually will try to load about 20 SD cards soon. I loaded four or five and got a notice my picture program was full and will load zero pictures now.

The finish on both my 1917 and 1918 Colt 1911's look identical, The '17 was shipped on 18 April, 1917 and the '18 was shipped on 28 March. I had a mid year 1918 that the finish was flaking off so bad it looked like it had Leprosy.