WW1 US Army "RARE" Early 1914 Springfield Armory M1911 Cal. 45 Auto Service Pistol & US Marked Holster Rig (Original)

SKU: 359

Original/Reproduction: 100% Original

Availability: In-Stock

Manufacturer: Springfield Armory

Date Manufactured: 1914

Model: M1911

Serial Number: 78250

Caliber: 45 ACP

Action Type: Single-action design operates through recoil to produce semi-automatic functionality.

Barrel Length: 5 inches

Magazine: 7-round detachable box magazine

Holster: Authentic U.S.-made leather flap holster

Over-All Condition: Mint - 99%

Mechanically: Excellent 

Seller Type: Classification: C&R / FFL

Seller ID: JMW

Seller Code: DG-1000

Price: $8,500.00

Return Policy: 3-day inspection and return policy on used guns and accessories.

Description: 

This is an "Rare" WW1 Early 1914 U.S. Army Springfield Armory M1911 Caliber 45 Auto, All-Matching Pistol & US Holster Rig. Serial Number 78250. It is considered a rare and valuable artifact of early military firearm history, as Springfield Armory produced a limited number of these pistols. 

According to historical serial number records, Springfield Armory manufactured this pistol in 1914. Springfield's total production of the M1911 was relatively small, at approximately 50,000 pistols, compared to the hundreds of thousands made by Colt. This genuine Springfield Armory M1911 has specific markings that distinguish it from the Colt-produced version. The most prominent is the "Flaming Bomb" military proof mark and the "SA" (for Springfield Armory) markings on the frame and slide. The internal parts are also be marked with an 'S'.

This M1911 pistol served as a U.S. Army standard issue firearm during World War I while firing.45 ACP ammunition and originated from the historic Springfield Armory. The M1911 production at Springfield Armory during World War I remained limited compared to Colt making these early pistols both rare and highly valuable to collectors. The pistol maintains its original markings which include "United States Property" and "Model of 1911 U.S. Army" on the frame and the distinctive Springfield eagle and flaming bomb ordnance insignia found on the left side of the frame and slide. The pistol shows early WWI production characteristics through its short hammer design and flat mainspring housing and narrow slide serrations. The pistol displays a deep original brushed blue or blackened blue finish based on production batch while showing wear patterns that match genuine military usage. The pistol comes with an authentic U.S.-made leather flap holster that bears both the "U.S." oval embossing on the front and early WWI military inspection stamps located on the reverse belt loop. The holster design with its extended drop loop and brass closure stud served as the standard equipment for mounted troops and officers and cavalry units. This Springfield Armory M1911 pistol together with its U.S. military flap holster presents an outstanding collection of American military artifacts. The sidearm and holster combination served soldiers during World War I before becoming the standard U.S. military pistol for multiple decades because of its reliability and ruggedness. This pistol stands as a valuable collector's item while serving as a direct representation of U.S. participation in World War I.

History: 

The M1911 .45 ACP semi-automatic pistol is one of the most iconic sidearms in American military history. The legendary firearms inventor John Moses Browning designed the M1911 pistol which the U.S. Army officially adopted on March 29, 1911 for immediate deployment with American forces during World War I. Springfield Armory Production The U.S. Army primarily obtained M1911 pistols from Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company until Springfield Armory began producing them after the government increased wartime orders. Between 1914 and 1917 Springfield Armory produced about 25,767 M1911 pistols. The first war-produced pistols hold great value among collectors because they exist in limited numbers with distinct production features.

Design and Features

• The.45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) represents the pistol's caliber.
• The single-action design operates through recoil to produce semi-automatic functionality.
• The M1911 features a 7-round detachable box magazine as its standard ammunition capacity.
• Barrel Length: 5 inches The construction of the M1911 consists of a solid steel frame and slide which received a standard blued finish. The early Springfield Armory pistols bore “MODEL OF 1911 U.S. ARMY” inscriptions on their slides with Springfield eagle and flame ordnance marks and distinctive serif “S” markings on various parts that indicated Springfield production.

The M1911 pistols produced by Springfield Armory retained the standard mechanical and visual characteristics of the original Browning design which included grip safety, manual thumb safety, short trigger, flat mainspring housing and double-diamond walnut grips. WWI Service The U.S. Army distributed Springfield Armory's M1911 pistols to military officers and machine gunners and tank crews and selected infantry personnel. The.45 ACP cartridge proved highly effective when used in trench warfare on the Western Front because soldiers frequently engaged in close-range combat. The combination of its effective stopping power and reliability in harsh conditions led to widespread field appreciation.

Collector's Note

WWI Springfield M1911 pistols that have their original finish and all-matching configuration are extremely rare among collectors. Service wear appears on surviving examples of these pistols. The identification features of these pistols include their early serial numbers which range between 72,000 to 130,000 along with Springfield Armory and eagle inspection stamps and their original blued finish from the period. These firearms play a vital role in the history of U.S. military arms development and form the foundation of serious WWI collection holdings.