WW1 US Army Colt 1917 M1911 Cal. 45 acp All-Matching Semi-Auto Pistol (Original)
SKU: US ARMY 1917 COLT M1911 CAL. 45 AUTO PISTOL
Original/Reproduction: 100% Original
Availability: In-Stock
Manufacturer: Colt
Date Manufactured: 1917
Model: M1911
Serial Number: 253765
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: Excellent- 97%
Mechanically: Excellent
Seller Type: Classification: C&R / FFL
Seller ID: JMW
Seller Code: PS-1300
Price: $2,995.00
Return Policy: 3-day inspection and return policy on used guns and accessories.
Description:
This is a superb example of an early U.S. military Colt M1911 semi-automatic pistol, serial number 253765, manufactured in 1917 for the American Expeditionary Forces of World War I. This all-matching pistol retains most of its original factory finish and applied serial numbers on the frame, slide, and barrel components—an increasingly scarce feature in true WW1 service pistols.
Chambered in the iconic .45 ACP, this 1911 showcases Colt’s early war production quality with crisp roll marks, correct small parts, and the classic early blued finish seen on mid-1917 pistols. The slide bears the correct Colt patent and two-line address markings, along with the Rampant Colt emblem. The frame is properly marked with the U.S. Property stamp and military inspector cartouche appropriate for 1917 production. The double dimond, wood grips are original and in excellent condition.
Included with the pistol is one original WW1 two-tone magazine, featuring the correct tempered blued lower body with bright “in-the-white” upper section—a desirable and essential accessory for collectors seeking a complete period rig.
Mechanically, the pistol is very sound, with a smooth action and strong bore for its age. All components appear original to the gun, reflecting an excellent example of a U.S. issue WW1 sidearm that has survived more than a century in remarkably intact condition.
History:
By early 1917, the United States Army was rapidly expanding to meet wartime mobilization needs. Colt’s Hartford factory significantly increased production of the Model 1911 to equip the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF). Pistols in this period exhibit all early-pattern features, including the flat mainspring housing, long trigger, checkered small parts, and the original wide-spur hammer.
This 1917-dated example would have been issued to officers, NCOs, machine-gun crews, military police, or specialized troops in the AEF. Many saw service in the trenches of France, accompanying U.S. soldiers through some of the hardest fighting of the war.
Key Features
- Manufacturer: Colt’s Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company
- Model: U.S. Army M1911
- Year of Manufacture: 1917
- Caliber: .45 ACP
- Action: Single-Action, Semi-Automatic
- Frame Marking: “UNITED STATES PROPERTY” and appropriate early-war inspector stamp (typical of 1917 production)
- Slide Markings: Correct early Colt patent lines and “MODEL OF 1911 U.S. ARMY” designation
- Features:
- Flat mainspring housing
- Long pattern trigger
- Checkered slide stop, safety, and magazine release
- Early pattern wide-spur hammer
- Original military blue finish typical of WWI production
- Magazine: Includes one correct two-tone WWI-pattern magazine (if desired, I can add this detail explicitly)
Collectibility
WWI-dated Colt M1911 pistols are among the most sought-after early U.S. military firearms. Their low wartime production numbers (relative to later periods) and their association with the AEF in France give 1917 examples exceptional historical value. Surviving pistols retaining their original components, finish, and early features are highly prized among collectors.
This 1917 Colt M1911 stands as a genuine artifact of America’s involvement in World War I—an outstanding representative of the pistol that defined American military sidearms for more than seven decades.
