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Hello to all.
I'm new to this board, and this is my first post. Can anyone shed light on what I have, as I inherited this from my dad upon his death several years back. I do know he served in the USMC during WWII and this 45 was with him through Tarawa, Tinnion (sp), Guadelcanal, and Siapan. It has a shoulder holster from WWII and I believe that's how he carried this as a Captain in artillary. Any info would be helpful...Thanks in advance. Andy
Pictures by deerandym - Photobucket
Sorry, photos did not post...I'll try again
Appears to be a 194l bolt 45. Made about Oct 1945
Correct born on date about Oct 1941.
Shipped October 31, 1941 to Springfield Armory. Your pistol appears to be correct, but you need to check under the firing pin stop plate for a serial number. The slides were serial numbered to the frame during this period of manufacture. Check the grips to see if they are hollow-back or have reinforcing ribs. Also, get the barrel markings. If a correct Colt it will have COLT .45 AUTO stamped on the left side of the chamber just above the barrel lug. There will be a P proof on the left side of the lug, and should have a G in front of the lug.
Johnny Pepper,
Thanks so much for your help.
This is what I found:dancingbanana:
S/N under the firing pin stop plate matches frame S/N
The grips are hollow-back plastic
Also, barrel markings, “COLT .45 AUTO” stamped on the left side of the chamber just above the barrel lug.
There is a “P” on the left side of the lug, as well as a “G” in front of the lug.
Some other marks I found
“RS” in “square” above trigger inlet left side
“P” below mag release
“RS” on frame in front hammer on slide
“P” on top of slide in front of rear sight
“UN” under side of slide near rear
Sounds like the pistol is correct as issued. A nice early phosphate finished Colt.
Johnny Pepper(s) forgot the S last time
I found a few more markings
“VP” (Inside triangle) on the upper left side of the trigger guard
“W” above the VP
“69” right side trigger guard front
Since my dad was USMC, what the chance that this might be NAVY Colt???
It could have ended up with the Navy, but the last shipment of Colts that went directly to the Navy was 793658 through 797639.
1941 Colt 746122 ( a few numbers from yours) was issued to a Navy Lt. Cdr. who was assigned to the 8th Marines and served at Guadalcanal, Tarawa and Saipan. I have the pistol, all of his Marine-issued gear, his uniforms, a couple newspaper articles written about him. One article shows him treating wounded on Tarawa. The other shows him treating Marines elsewhere. His specialty was head and face wounds. He treated more than 3000 Marines shot in the head and face according to the newspaper articles. He was awarded the Silver Star for his actions treating wounded on the beaches at Saipan shortly after H-Hour 16 June 1944.
Sounds like your pistol saw some action, too. Thanks for posting about it.
Scott, thanks for your addition. I actually got kinda choked up reading it. I can't imagine...!
My dad wrote a book about Tarawa, Saipan Guadalcanal etc and had Robert Sharrord (sp) a WWII war Correspondant (also at the invasion of Tarawa) to edit the manuscript. I have that manuscript and may someday have it published. I have many photos that he snuck back to the US
VP is Colts Verified Proof mark and the number 69 is the Assemblers number.