Colt 1911A1

[VIPER]

Does anyone have any records as too when my new Colt 45acp Serial 867814 would have been made and shipped if so too whom..........Thanks Jimmy

[navigator]

my source says 1943 its unlikely you'll find who got it

[Johnny Peppers]

By the time your Colt was shipped, Colt was no longer shipping in numerical serial number order. It was shipped on either December 23 or 30, 1942, or January 6, 12, 15, 21, 23, or February 3, 9, or 11, 1943. Only a letter from Colt will tell you which day it was shipped. All shipments in that time span went to Springfield Armory. No records were kept at Springfield as to where they shipped the pistols.

With that said, Colt duplicated Ithaca serial numbers in that range, so if the receiver is Colt the acceptance initials on the left side will be G.H.D.

[VIPER]

Initials GHD check out and so does the serial # under the Firing pin retaining plate. It was issued to a Naval Doctor in Pearl Harbor Lt Commander Dr. Howard Roberts. Have pictures of him and a coworker comparing their guns after they were issued them. His wife Berth Hauks Roberts was a nurse at Pearl Harbor and also was a consultant for the movie PEARL HARBOR. She provided the info for the scene were the nurses are using sterilized pop bottles to give IV fluids to patients due to shortage of supplies during the attack. He was wounded in the attack himself (working on the details now). Have several pictures of him and her in Pearl Harbor. I know Buy the Gun, Not the story. Good news is I didn't pay extra for it............Thanks Jimmy

[james m]

IMO You got a great and believable story along with a very nice 1911. Congratulations.
Post more info. when you get it.
Jim

[Alan Smith]

Sounds like some nice background history that you are working to document with the pistol. Given the pistol's date of production, the M1911A1 is not claimed to have been with the Doctor at Pearl Harbor during the infamous December 7, 1941 attack, correct?

[VIPER]

No, It was not there nor claimed to be during the attack. Makes sense though that Medical Personel would be down the list as far as issue priority. Combatants being issued the earlier weapons...........J

[VIPER]

Update: Dr. Howard Roberts was onboard the Battleship Oklahoma during the attack. When she turned turtle he ended up at Ford Island Hospital treating the wounded and dying there.

[VIPER]

Update

After much pleading I have finally obtained the second 1917 dated Colt 1911 (Serial 166@@@) that was brought home by Dr Howard Roberts a Pearl Harbor vet. He grabbed the gun when they broke into a small arms locker on the Battleship Oklahoma to obtain ammunition for the anti aircraft guns. He stuck the gun in his waistband and proceeded to treat the wounded until the Oklahoma turned turtle. He broke his leg sliding across the deck and into the water when she rolled over. He managed to make it to Ford Island where he treated the wounded and dying at the medical facility there stopping long enough to get his leg set and proceeded to treat patients while on crutches himself. His wife, also a nurse at Pearl Harbor, provided a period photo of him looking at the gun comparing it to another with another officer. The grips and frame are identifiable in the photo under magnification as a 1911.