Black Army Question

[Jughead]

I've seen posts referring to "black army" 1911's. What iare these and what is back ground history on these? THANKS

Information

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[Duane Hansen]

During WWI, to speed up production, Colt reduced their prep time before putting on the blue finish. With a rougher metal surface, the normally blue finish took on a darker, almost black finish and later came to be known as the Black Army Finish.

[Johnny Peppers]

Since acquiring the name "Black Army" they have taken on mystical properties and everyone must have one. It is not unusual for someone to post a pistol in the late 1911 serial number range with a Bubba nickel finish wanting to know if they have a "Black Army".
Almost half of all 1911 production has the black finish.

[jmoore]

"Black Army" pistols are most often found w/ a brown frame and slide but with good bluing on the small parts. It looks like a "bitser", but it seems that the finish on the major parts just wasn't as durable. Pistols w/ good overall finish in this subset of 1911's don't turn up rearly as often!

[Jughead]

Was there a SN range for these pistols? THANKS

[mark1]

The process started in mid 1918. So s/n 223900 to 717386. This is a rough estimate. Someone here may have a more exact s/n count.

[Johnny Peppers]

The rough finish that tended to flake off was first used around the 310,000 serial number range and probably phased in completely by the 350,000 range. It ended with the end of 1911 production in 1919 at serial number 629,500. When the "Transition" was produced in 1924 beginning at serial number 700001, the beautiful brush blue finish returned.
Winchester had the same problem with the finish flaking from their heat blued parts, and this was thought to be in part from a change in steels when the receivers were made stronger when smokeless powder came into common use.
This is a Model 1890 showing the flaking on the breech bolt, and complete loss of finish on the front of the receiver. The barrel which was rust blued has virtually all it's original finish.

[A square 10]

1918 colt - the finish is original and it wasnt overly durable ,

[Jughead]

Looks very nice. Square 10, can we see the entire display?

[10X custom guns]

During WW I, Colt could not produce anywhere near the guns needed, even with Springfield Armory making 1 for every 2 of Colt's. Colt's standard practice of high polished parts and brushed finish was abandoned in or about May 1918 for time sake and a dull dark blue/black finish applied to hasten production efforts. The resulting finish is similar to what we get today by blasting the parts with 220 grit aluminum oxide and applying a cold blue like Dicopan. The rougher black like finish gave way the description of "Black Army's". Serial numbers are likely in the 180,000 to 225,00 range.