1281 WWI US. COLT 1911 "BLACK ARMY" SEMI AUTO PISTOL

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[?]Live Online Auction Starts In 2025 May 08 @ 10:00 (UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT)
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 1,500.00 USD
Estimated at 3,000.00 - 5,000.00 USD
LINKED TO 122ND MACHINE GUN BATTALION, 33RD INFANTRY DIVISION OF AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE. Cal. 45 ACP. S# 349670. This pistol was mfg. 1918 & comes with a 1917 Campbell holster stamped on the inside "CO.D 122 MG BN / NO. 86" indicating this pistol was No. 86 of Company D, in the 122nd Machine Gun Battalion, which was apart of the 33rd Infantry of the American Expeditionary Force.

The 122nd Machine Gun Battalion was grouped with HQ troops, the 108th Field Signal Battalion & 108th Engineers. The book "33rd Division A.E.F:From Its Arrival in France Until Armistice", had no notes about Company D of the 122nd Machine Battalion through World War I, but explained the action of the 33rd Division. The 33rd Division was mustered from Illinois National Guard & trained at Camp Logan, Texas from Sept. 1917-May 1918. These troops landed in French on May 18th, 1918, & by June the division was working on defenses near Amiens, France. on July 4th, 1918, the 33rd Division attacked along with Australian troops in the Battle of Hamel, succeeding on taking German positions. On Sept., 26 1918, the Meuse-Argonne Offensive began with the 33rd Division forming the right flank of the American 3rd Corp. & tasked with taking the positions of Montfaucon & Bois de Forges. This action helped solidify a pivot point for the rest of the 3rd Corp. On Oct. 10th, the 33rd Division was transferred to the French 17th Army Corps & the 122nd Battalion, along with the rest of the 33rd Division, took part in a series of battles around Bois du Chaume near Verdun. The 33rd Division continued to see action around Verdun, until Nov. 11th, 1918 when the Armistice went into effect. The Division had 8,056 casualties, which includes 33 officers & 752 men killed. The troops sailed back to the US on May 9th, 1919.

This pistol has the correct era "Black Army" finish, which is the collector term for the wartime finish of Colt 1911 pistols with a less polished blue. This pistol was manufactured within a large S# block 290,000-450,000 for war time pistols. Appears to have all correct era parts including Colt 5" Type 4 barrel. Type A front & Type B rear sights. Type A slide lock. Type C hammer. Long trigger. Short grip safety. Type 1 mainspring housing & Type 2 pin. Type C magazine lock. Colt Type 1 double diamond walnut grips. Left side of frame has "S14" eagle's head proof. MAGS: 1 correct era replacement two tone 7 rd. magazine. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: 1911 Holster as stated above. Holster fair, but intact condition showing wear to finish, cracking of finish & verdigris around brass parts. CONDITION: fine. Over 75% original blue finish. Slide has large areas of finish turned gray/brown patina from holster wear or blood pitting; pattern of finish loss commensurate with surface area of palm & fingers on hand to rack the slide. Frame shows more fuller finish with fading to gray on front strap, bow of triggerguard, palm contact areas of grip safety & bottom of mainspring housing. Barrel has very good finish with light cycling wear; good bore shows strong rifling, residue & light pitting in grooves. (25-1489/MD). CURIO. $3,000-5,000.