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This M1911 was built by North American Arms of Quebec Canada. The United States Government contracted the North American Arms company on July 1st of 1918 to manufacture 2,000 pistols per day at the cost of $15.50 each. To accomplish this the North American Arms Company would lease out the Ross Rifle Plant in Quebec to allow for enough space to manufacture the pistols.
North American Arms was never able to complete the contract for these pistols as on November 11th of 1918 the armistice was signed and the war was over. No pistols had made it to final assembly but there was enough parts to assemble roughly 100+/- examples of them. The North American Arms M1911's are considered to be toolroom examples that were assembled after the US Contract had been cancelled in December of 1918.
In spring 1920 North American Arms Ltd presented a pistol Serial Number #46 to the claims board for inspection to allow them to try to recoup some of their expenses they had incurred during the ramp up and planning process to fulfill the contract. It is unclear of the outcome of this hearing.
The North American 1911 have all of the characteristics of the Colt M1911. The placement of the serial number would be placed on the slide, frame under the left grip panel and the trigger which is partially hidden. The hammer was not checkered as more then likely the tools have not been developed at the time of production for them.
