Black Army 1911

[Mark C.]

The second part of my story,don't know a lot about these.I know the finish was inferior to the blued and parkarized 1911,hence the flaking of the finish.This one has about 75% remaining with the remaining 25% a brownish patina.Overall I think it still looks pretty good.The barrel on the ejection port has what looks like a H and a P which I think is correct for a Black Army and the clip has a S on it.I believe the clip is supposed to be 2 tone this one either isn't or its lost the finish.Any insight to this gun is appreciated.Thanks for looking

[Johnny Peppers]

Looks to be a typical late WWI Model 1911, with the correct finish you describe. In order to speed up production during WWI several shortcuts were taken in the final finish operations resulting in a dark finish that tended to flake off. All of the Model 1911 pistols were finished in blue, as the phosphate finish didn't show up on new production until 1941 on 1911A1 production.

There were two variations of the H P marked barrels used on production in your serial number range. The earliest was a vertical H and P, and the last used was an HP with a common leg between the H and P.

The original magazine would have been an unmarked two tone magazine. The full blue with an S on the toe is a WWII contract magazine. Not that had to find the correct magazine.

Like the "Black Widow" Luger, the name "Black Army" 1911 is a recent addition and had nothing to do with military nomenclature.

Nice 1911, and I notice the Eagle/S12 acceptance mark has a nice halo, indicating it was stamped through the final finish.

This is the common leg HP barrel marking.

[Johnny Peppers]

For the information, which barrel did your pistol have?

[Mark C.]

For the information, which barrel did your pistol have?

mine has neither ,hereare a few pics. The H and P are seperate one about a third of an inch apart.What does that indicate? Is the barrel a post WW1 replacement?

[Johnny Peppers]

mine has neither ,hereare a few pics. The H and P are seperate one about a third of an inch apart.What does that indicate? Is the barrel a post WW1 replacement?

Yours has the vertical H and P. The earlier barrel had a horizontal H and P, then the vertical H and P, and finally the common leg HP as shown in my photo.

[Mark C.]

Yours has the vertical H and P. The earlier barrel had a horizontal H and P, then the vertical H and P, and finally the common leg HP as shown in my photo.

thanks,guys like you are why I post and am a member here a ,wealth of knowledge.

[SMG1]

nice pistol(s) the gun gods surely smiled upon you sir, congrats.

[IMBLITZVT]

Cool gun! I would like to add a WWI 1911 to my collection at some point. Just got a 1945 Remington Rand 1911a1 and I have a modern tricked out Colt Gunsite 1911. I never buy two of the same gun... but the 1911 is not just any gun...