This ol' M1911 had me whistling...

...From the Halls of Montezuma, to the shores of Tripoli...

This pistol was shipped to the USMC 12 May 1914. It's one of the very last pistols to use the 1911 final patent date. Clawson reports the change took place at or shortly after serial number 83856. This Marine Corps shipment of 500 pistols was in the serial range 83901-84400. Any of the pistols on the front end of that shipment might still have the early final patent date.

The pistol shows a little use, but clearly was pretty well preserved over the last 100+ years.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...2/4rx7pg-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...2/2kiids-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../2a65xs4-1.jpg

Sigh....

Amazing pistol. Now a question. Being new to studying the m1911. Were most marine pistols marked with the army stamp instead of navy marked . I asumed since the Marines were almost considered a branch of the Navy, that they might get navy marked pistols. Maybe they had stopped the practice of separate stamps by then? Thank you for any input on this. Kevin

All Marine Corps M1911 pistols had Army-marked slides.

Donald Bady's book "Colt Automatic Pistols" describes the MODEL OF 1911 U.S.M.C. marked pistols, and sure enough pistols with this marking started showing up.

OK thank you Scott. I'm glad learn though sights like this. Sure beats having my wallet learn the lesson. If I get into m1911s the first thing I'm doing is joining your sight. But at this point garands keep me occupied. Thanks. Kevin

Gorgeous!

Well I see why it had you whistling as I did the exact same thing when I saw the pic. Beautiful firearm, enjoy it!