OLD COLT: WE PROVIDE THE PUBLIC WITH AN ONLINE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE FOR OLD COLT GUNS.
This Colt M1911 pistol is one of the unsolved mysteries of the Model 1911 production. During the production of the M1911 pistol there were multiple manufactures involved in building this model. In effort to keep things organized serial number blocks were allocated to different manufactures.
For reasons unknown Colt continued to produce pistols in Springfield's serial number range in 1916 beginning at 128617. Official correspondence indicates that the Ordnance Office in Washington was unaware of this arrangement. Colt manufactured 1,000 pistols in May and June 1916 serial numbered from 128617 to 129616 almost one year before Springfield suspended production. These pistols are not listed in Ordnance procurement records or Colt's shipping records.
These Suspended M1911's are not stamped with Ordnance inspection marks or Colt's assembler's marks and the assembly dates are not listed in Colt's records. Note that this particular pistol shows that it in the ledger it was inspected by the factory on June 7th, 1916.
