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Title:	PISTOL, SEMI-AUTOMATIC -  U.S. PISTOL MODEL 1911A1 .45 SN# 748352
Maker/Manufacturer:	BROWNING, JOHN M.
Date of Manufacture:	1942
Eminent Figure:
Catalog Number:	SPAR 1377
Measurements:	OL: 21CM 8 3/8" BL: 12.7CM 5"

Object Description:

U.S. PISTOL MODEL 1911A1 .45 SN# 748352
Manufactured by Colt, Hartford, Ct. in 1942 - Standard recoil-operated semi-automatic pistol. 7-round, in-line, detachable box magazine. Parkerized finish. Checkered plastic grips. Weapon has non-standard recoil buffer spring guide installed. Slide made by Remingtion. Serial number assigned to Colt. Weapon weighs approximately 2.43 lbs. Complete with 7-round magazine and in very good condition. Weapon believed to be one of 1,600 shipped to the Springfield Armory on 7 November 1941.

Markings:
Frame: UNITED STATES PROPERTY/NO.748352 M1911A1 US ARMY. Left side: RS in rectangle. P.
Slide: REMINGTON RAND INC./SYRACUSE, N.Y. U.S.A. RS = Robert Spears.
Right grip: Etched inside - KM on top. MANTZ on bottom. PHONE SOUTH 0067M on left side.

Weapon transferred to the Museum on 22 December 1961. At that time weapon was appraised at $57.60.

Notes: "Suddenly movement in the dried vegetation toward the front of the gun pit got my attention. I turned cautiously around and waited, holding a cocked .45 automatic pistol at the ready. The rustling movement drew closer. My heart pounded. It was definitely not one of Peleliu's numerous land crabs that scuttled over the ground all night, every night. It must be a Japanese trying to slip in as close as possible, stopping frequently to avoid detection. He had probably seen the muzzle flash when I fired the mortar. Crouching low so as to see better any silhouette against the sky above me. I flipped off the thumb safety on the big pistol. A helmeted figure loomed up against the night sky in front of the gun pit. I couldn't tell whether the helmet was US or Japanese. Aiming the automatic at the centre of the head, I pressed the grip safety as I also squeeze the trigger, slightly to take up the slack.
'What's the pass word?' I said in a low voice.
No answer.
'Pass word!' I demanded as my finger tightened on the trigger. The big pistol would fire and buck with recoil in a moment, but to hurry and jerk the trigger would mean a miss for sure.
'Sle-Sledgehammer!' stammered the figure.
'I eased up on the trigger.
'It's de l'Eau. Jay de l'Eau. You got any water?'
'Jay, why didn't you give the pass word? I nearly shot you!' I grasped. He saw the pistol and moaned, 'Oh, Jesus,' as he realized what had nearly happened. 'I thought you knew it was me,' he said weakly." - Eugene B. Sledge, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment 1944.

"II. Interim Period - World War I to World War II - a. Development and production of military hand guns during the years from 1918 to 1940 was practically static. The prolific output of anti-firearms laws in nearly all of the forty-eight states, allegedly intended to curtail crime, probably exceeded revolver and pistol production. Certainly it killed any incentive on the part of arms designers and manufacturers to improve on existing models. Practically all pistols are revolvers produced during these years were purely target or police type weapons, unsuitable for military use.
III. World War II - a. In spite of the lesson of World War I, the United States entered the second World War with the same shortage of hand guns experienced in 1917. Actual production of the M1911A1 Pistol was achieved, however, in three facilities besides Colt Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company, namely, Union Switch & Signal Company, Swissvale, Pa.; Remington Rand, Inc.; Syracuse, New York; and Ithaca Gun Company, Ithaca, New York. b. This achievement was the result of months of diligent effort on the part of both Ordnance and industry, and even with the vastly increased production, not all requirements of the using services could be met. Again the M1917 Revolver was called upon as a substitute weapon." - Walter W. Sanborn, PROJECT SUPPORTING PAPER RELATING TO MISCELLANEOUS PISTOLS AND REVOLVERS, 15 August 1945.

References:
Bishop, Chris Ed. GUNS IN COMBAT. Chartwell Books, Inc. Edison, N.J. 1998.
Clawson, Charles W. COLLECTOR'S GUIDE TO COLT .45 SERVICE PISTOLS: MODELS OF 1911 AND 1911A1. Charles W. Clawson. Ft. Wayne, In. 1993.
HarrisHarrison, J.C. HARRISON'S NOTEBOOK. U.S. MILITARY SMALL ARMS. FROM DOUGHBOY TO DOGFACE INDIVIDUAL WEAPONS. 1903-1945. The Arms Chest. Oklahoma City, Ok. 1999.