1915 U.S. Navy Colt M1911

[Scott Gahimer]

This is 1 of only (500) 1915 U.S. Navy Colt M1911 pistols in serial range 109501-110000. There were only 15,037 total Colt M1911 that had MODEL OF 1911. U.S. NAVY roll marks on the right side of the slide from 1912-1915. The Ordnance final inspection mark is a circled GHS. This pistol was shipped to the U.S. Navy, General Storekeeper, U.S. Navy Yard, Brooklyn, N.Y. Mr. Clawson states all (500) of these pistols were for the U.S. Naval Militia.

Information

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[dbarn]

Fantastic find Scott, congratulations. This is what it's all about!

[Scott Gahimer]

Thanks, guys. These is just some new photos of an old pistol. I've had it about 15 years. Purchased another one recently and had to photograph them both in order to get an idea which one might be better. Ended up being a bit of a toss up. One shows slightly more patina in the finish. The other shows slightly more wear, but less patina. Not much difference in an overall rating.

[ABPOS]

That thing is beautiful!!!!!!!! Wow.

I know this might be a stupid question, but I've always thought to myself, what is the point of having a lanyard loop on a mag,? Can someone school me on this? I've never asked anyone and have never had it explained to me. It seems weird to me though. I can understand it on the pistol, but then what, you're going to have two lanyards hanging down from your pistol once you've inserted a mag?

[Scott Gahimer]

Not a stupid question at all. It only took Ordnance 4 years to figure out they didn't need the loop on the magazines and get it dropped from production. No good reason to have it.

[ABPOS]

Aaaaaah. I guess I'm not crazy then. Hehehehhe

[Johnny Peppers]

And four years to Ordnance is a very short time span. When the hammer spur of the Model 1911 was lengthened in 1914, reports from the field came in about the longer hammer spur pinching the skin between the forefinger and thumb. It took Ordnance ten years to correct this.

[Scott Gahimer]

Yes, they lengthened the grip safety in 1924, and then once again went back to a short version of the hammer in 1939. There isn't much difference in the post-1939 hammer and the 1912-1914, except the earlier hammer had a heavier appearance. The lengths were nearly the same.