Colt Model 1911 U.S. Army

NOTE: this is an example of a previous customer restoration, and therefore the firearm is not for sale. Please browse the showroom for our current selection of restored, pre-owned, refinished and manufactured firearms. SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to be among the first to learn about new additions to our website.

When the Army announced its interest in a new handgun firing a .45 caliber round, Colt designer John Moses Browning re-engineered his existing autoloader handgun concept to accommodate a .45″ diameter cartridge of his own design.

So determined to prove the superiority of his pistol design, Browning personally supervised the production of the gun that would be used for later-stage selection trials. The Colt 1911 pistol was formally adopted by the U.S. Army on March 29, 1911, and then by the US Navy and Marine Corps in 1913.

Here’s a striking example of a Colt Model 1911 U.S. Army from 1913, as fully restored by Turnbull Restoration. This iconic military service arm is featured in our annual restoration calendar.

History Restored:

• Polish frame, slide and parts to period-correct finish
• Restore all original markings
• Convert type 3 magazine to type 2, punch and sawcut
• Charcoal blue frame, slide and parts
• Hand refinish grips and re-cut checkering to point