Nazi 45!

[Matt Weber]

As we all know the German armed forces of WWII used many different pistols from many countries, and various calibers.
Amongst all these foriegn pistols that the Germans used, there is one pistol to me that stands out! This pistol doesn't get the reconition that it deserves, and is usually never even mentioned as one of the truely great firearms of WWII. (this is funny because many collectors beleive that the Colt .45 is the best pistol in the world!) This pistol actually is a licensed copy of the legendary Colt .45.
It's model designation is the M1914, but is more commonly referred to as, "the Norwegian .45."

The Norwegians recieved a license to produce the Colt .45 in 1914 (hence the model designation). However, actual production didn't occure until 1917 (this was a very limited prototype run of only about 50 pieces! Don't quote me on that number though, but I've only seen one in my life!)
Full production begain in 1918, and continued up until 1940.

In spring of 1940 the German armed forces invaded Norway with a combined northern blitzkrieg with Naval, land and Air Force forces, of Norway and Denmark. Norway fell, and so did the production of the Norwegian .45.
The Germans continued production fo this pistol under German occupation. They were produced in 1941 and 1942. Then for some reason production ceased? (don't know why? Does anyone know?)
Only to be started up again in 1945. The 1945 production run under German occupation was very limited an only about 922 were produced that year, and these were WaA marked! The 1941 and 1942 dated ones will have no German proof markings and can only be identified as German produciton by the dates on the slides.


I checked through some past threads, and this pistol is barely even mentioned, and I don't recall anyone ever posting one up?

Well, here is mine only one. It is a 1941 dated example, and is all matching with minty bore. Finish shows much use, but not too bad. I've personally never seen a 1941 or 1942 dated one that had minty finish on it. The 1945 ones can be found in minty condition though.

Of course I have the correct German production holster as well with it shown here! These are tough holsters to get now, and even harder to find are the triple magazine pouches for these!

Matt

[Matt Weber]

Back side of holster. These will come in two varieties. Early Norwegian ones will have two belt loops. Later German made ones will have just a single belt loop, as this one has. These will have no WaA proofs on them though.


There are holsters out there that are WaA proof marked. I believe that these were made with the 1945 production of the pistols, since the 1945 production pistols are also WaA. However, like many things, there are also many fakes or standard holsters that people have applied WaA markings to them to try and fool somebody. Be careful of these!

[Matt Weber]

Inside of this holster is marked with the owners name, "Lt. Kare Schjerven".

Sounds like a Norwegian name to me? Does anyone know for sure?

[Matt Weber]

Now the Norwegian M1914. The Norewgian differ slightly from it's American counterpart by having a "spur" slide stop, and the grips are cutout to accomidate this slide stop "spur". Also notice that on the M1914, ever small part is serial numbered. Norwegian proof marks abound on it as well.

[Matt Weber]

close up of the left side. Notice serial numbers on smaller parts. Also notice finish. Tough to see on this one, but the M1914 had a combination of finish on it. It looks like a parkerized base, and then a baked blued finish as well. It almost looks black! This one has a lot of wear, but you can still see it on some of the lower areas.

[Matt Weber]

right side view of the M1914.

[Matt Weber]

close up of the date, "1941".

[Ronnie Fry]

Wonderful Thing!!

Matt,
My heartiest on this!! I'm really happy you have one of the most sought after Nazi weapons. I'm VERY envious!!! Hope things are going well for you.

r

[Matt Weber]

Thanks Guys! Yes, this is probably my favorite foreign produced nazi pistol that I have.

Robert, yes I remember that great photo you have! I believe we were trying to decipher if they were Stars or Nowegian .45s in the photo?
Can you post it up again here so we can see it again!?

Matt

[Gary Cain]

Hey Matt,
I posted mine a couple of weeks ago A trio of Colt 1911s was the header.

BTW I agree with you!


Cheers Gary

As we all know the German armed forces of WWII used many different pistols from many countries, and various calibers.
Amongst all these foriegn pistols that the Germans used, there is one pistol to me that stands out! This pistol doesn't get the reconition that it deserves, and is usually never even mentioned as one of the truely great firearms of WWII. (this is funny because many collectors beleive that the Colt .45 is the best pistol in the world!) This pistol actually is a licensed copy of the legendary Colt .45.
It's model designation is the M1914, but is more commonly referred to as, "the Norwegian .45."

The Norwegians recieved a license to produce the Colt .45 in 1914 (hence the model designation). However, actual production didn't occure until 1917 (this was a very limited prototype run of only about 50 pieces! Don't quote me on that number though, but I've only seen one in my life!)
Full production begain in 1918, and continued up until 1940.

In spring of 1940 the German armed forces invaded Norway with a combined northern blitzkrieg with Naval, land and Air Force forces, of Norway and Denmark. Norway fell, and so did the production of the Norwegian .45.
The Germans continued production fo this pistol under German occupation. They were produced in 1941 and 1942. Then for some reason production ceased? (don't know why? Does anyone know?)
Only to be started up again in 1945. The 1945 production run under German occupation was very limited an only about 922 were produced that year, and these were WaA marked! The 1941 and 1942 dated ones will have no German proof markings and can only be identified as German produciton by the dates on the slides.


I checked through some past threads, and this pistol is barely even mentioned, and I don't recall anyone ever posting one up?

Well, here is mine only one. It is a 1941 dated example, and is all matching with minty bore. Finish shows much use, but not too bad. I've personally never seen a 1941 or 1942 dated one that had minty finish on it. The 1945 ones can be found in minty condition though.

Of course I have the correct German production holster as well with it shown here! These are tough holsters to get now, and even harder to find are the triple magazine pouches for these!

Matt

[Carl Ellingstad]

Hi Matt!

The name reads: Lt. Kåre Schjerven who 100% positive is a Norwegian name.
The holster have most likely been used after the war by Kåre, like most of the left overs from the war here in Norway.

Best regards
Carl

Inside of this holster is marked with the owners name, "Lt. Kare Schjerven".

Sounds like a Norwegian name to me? Does anyone know for sure?

[Matt Weber]

Thanks Carl. I figured that was a Norwegian name in there. Could have been used post war, or he could have been one of the supporters of Maj. Quisling, who ran the puppet government of Norway under German occupation.
Either way, a very cool piece of history.

Gary,
I must have missed that thread! Great looking 1942 Norwegian ! Looks like you have the wrong magazine though? Should have lanyard loop on it, shouldn't it?

BTW- Forgot to mention. If you look closely at my Norwegian, it is serial number 22892. According to Jan Stills' book, the German occupation serial range started at 22312, making mine one of the very first produced under German occupation. Just over 8,200 were produced under the occupation.
Also, yes, it does have black painted grips. However, mine has a great amount of wear, and most of the paint on the grips is worn off, but can still be seen in the low areas.

Matt

[Gary Cain]

Hi Matt,

No the magazine is correct for it but the loop was broken off at some point in it's life.

Gary

Thanks Carl. I figured that was a Norwegian name in there. Could have been used post war, or he could have been one of the supporters of Maj. Quisling, who ran the puppet government of Norway under German occupation.
Either way, a very cool piece of history.

Gary,
I must have missed that thread! Great looking 1942 Norwegian ! Looks like you have the wrong magazine though? Should have lanyard loop on it, shouldn't it?

BTW- Forgot to mention. If you look closely at my Norwegian, it is serial number 22892. According to Jan Stills' book, the German occupation serial range started at 22312, making mine one of the very first produced under German occupation. Just over 8,200 were produced under the occupation.
Also, yes, it does have black painted grips. However, mine has a great amount of wear, and most of the paint on the grips is worn off, but can still be seen in the low areas.

Matt

[Douglas Jr.]

Norwegian 1914

Hi Matt,

Once more you surprised us with another great item. It is pretty tough to find one of these and yours is in such nice shape. I remember Robert´s photo and it had a very strange look to see all tose German Landser holding that "big mouth" .45 pistols.

Congratulations once more.

Douglas.

[Bergflak]

Hi Matt,

No the magazine is correct for it but the loop was broken off at some point in it's life.

Gary

Well, that is a "yes" and a "maybe".

The magazines for the M14 came in several varities. Generally speaking the war-models (1941, 1942 and 1945) was made with the following magazines:

-Bright metal with a black painted floorplate (the paint was original from the factory to reduce glare, and a lot of people not knowing better has later removed it from their mags!). With eye and rough spine seam
-Intermediate model with parkerized or blued finish. Eye to bottom and floorplate welded in place in 4 corners.
-Last model, identical to the above, but eye was never added to the floorplate. The floorplate is punctured with two holes where the eye was never attached!

If your magazine has traces of the eye left, it was broken off from a early magazine. If the only (missing) trace is the two holes and the floorplate is welded, you have a correct M14 late magazine.

These are of course very general guidelines. A M14 leaving the factory in 1945 might as well have had a early two-tone mag attached! And most probably; the guns produced in 1945 never left the factory at all untill the Germans surrendered! Most of the 1945 dated ones are minty, and probably never saw any service at all with German forces.