Grandpa's Pistol

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08-20-2009, 03:13 PM
c&rfan

Grandpa's Pistol

(For any of you that might have seen this on another forum, bear with me - I gotta share my "treasures" to see if I can learn anymore about them. :D)

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...b1a3488J-1.jpg

Grandpa Relaxing in Camp near Paris, France, 1918

After my wife and I returned from our honeymoon nearly 41 years ago, my new father-in-law handed me a cardboard shoe box and inside were this holstered 1911 U.S.Army .45 Colt and an Iver Johnson .38 S&W 5 shot revolver with mother of pearl grips. He said that the Colt had belonged to his father who had carried it in France during WWI as an officer in the Transportation Corps.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...2ab798bJ-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...3f4e7bfJ-1.jpg

The pistol came with two 2- toned magazines one with a lanyard loop and the other without:

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...13610cdJ-1.jpg

The serial number indicates that the pistol was made in 1917

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...714d9e9J-1.jpg

I don't know how long grandpa served in the Army, but I do know he advanced from lieutenant to major since we also have his service medals and rank "jewels".

My inlaws lived in Yonkers, New York (where we were married) and my father-in-law wanted me to have the handguns since he had never registered them and he knew we were going back west to live in Arizona. I still have them both and hope to pass them along to our grandson.
08-20-2009, 03:26 PM
Johnny Peppers

The holster appears to be the Model 1912 holster. Does it have the swivel and drop on the backside that can't be seen in the photograph?
Also the lanyard loop magazine appears to be the early type issued only in 1912. The non lanyard loop magazine is the type that would have been originally shipped with the pistol.
A real treasure knowing where it came from. Is the serial number No.142720? With the serial number I can tell you where it was originally shipped.
How about a close-up shot of the lanyard loop magazine?
08-20-2009, 04:35 PM
c&rfan

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Peppers

The holster appears to be the Model 1912 holster. Does it have the swivel and drop on the backside that can't be seen in the photograph?
Also the lanyard loop magazine appears to be the early type issued only in 1912. The non lanyard loop magazine is the type that would have been originally shipped with the pistol.
A real treasure knowing where it came from. Is the serial number No.142720? With the serial number I can tell you where it was originally shipped.
How about a close-up shot of the lanyard loop magazine?

Yes, the holster has the swivel and drop on the backside. It also has Granpa's name carved in the leather on the backside.

142720 is the correct serial number and I would deeply appreciate any additional information you can provide about this pistol. I think Grandpa spent some time in Gloucester, Ma as well as New York state, but I don't know for sure where he enlisted. We know for sure that he was in the Transportation Corps since we have his collar emblems.

I can enlarge the existing photo of the lanyard loop mag or do you want a closeup from a different perspective?

Thanks for all the info you've provided so far.
08-20-2009, 05:39 PM
Johnny Peppers

The pistol was shipped April 5, 1917 to Springfield Armory in a shipment of 2000 pistols.
I just need a clearer shot of the side of the magazine just as it appears in your original post.
08-20-2009, 08:11 PM
c&rfan

Closeup of magazine

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Peppers

The pistol was shipped April 5, 1917 to Springfield Armory in a shipment of 2000 pistols.
I just need a clearer shot of the side of the magazine just as it appears in your original post.

Hope these (I made new photos of both sides) are clear enough:

[IMG]http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/u...ardloopmag.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/u...ardloopmag.jpg[/IMG]
08-20-2009, 08:55 PM
Johnny Peppers

Yes, that is the very first magazine used by Colt in the Model 1911. Well, let me back up slightly, as the very first ones were not tempered on the top giving them the two tone color. The magazine did not come with the pistol, but a very hard to find magazine.
08-20-2009, 10:37 PM
Johnny Peppers

Forgot to add, but if you can show a shot of the top of the barrel, it can be determined if the barrel is the correct type. Just a shot of the chamber area that shows through the ejection port in the slide.
08-20-2009, 10:46 PM
c&rfan

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Peppers

The pistol was shipped April 5, 1917 to Springfield Armory in a shipment of 2000 pistols.
I just need a clearer shot of the side of the magazine just as it appears in your original post.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Peppers

Forgot to add, but if you can show a shot of the top of the barrel, it can be determined if the barrel is the correct type. Just a shot of the chamber area that shows through the ejection port in the slide.

I will do that tomorrow.
08-21-2009, 01:48 AM
whiterider

great family treasure....

lucky man.... :-)
08-21-2009, 10:01 AM
joem

Very nice! A treasure to be sure.
08-21-2009, 11:26 AM
c&rfan

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Peppers

Forgot to add, but if you can show a shot of the top of the barrel, it can be determined if the barrel is the correct type. Just a shot of the chamber area that shows through the ejection port in the slide.

As requested:

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...lthroat1-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...lthroat2-1.jpg

Let me know if you need additional photos.
08-21-2009, 11:55 AM
Gibbs505

Very nice indeed!
08-21-2009, 12:00 PM
Johnny Peppers

The barrel is the correct variation for the pistol, and in all probability the original barrel. A very nice piece of history. Be sure and prepare a written record of the pistol's history, as information passed down word of mouth has a tendency to be forgotten or confused.