View Full Version : LEND LEASE 1911a1??? Please Help
Hello,
I must apologize in advance for the poor photos but this is all the guy has sent me so far.
A guy wants to trade me this 1911a1 for an M1 Garand.
He says it is a correct WWII 1911a1.
It looks like a lend lease to me but I am far from an expert on 1911s.
The serial number is 950944.
What are these markings that I have circled on the sliide?
Also does it look to have been reparked?
Also does it look like a correct 1911a1 (again I know you will need more photos but let me know what you can from what I have).
Tell me what other pics I need and I will get them.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
a few close ups of the questionable areas.
Johnny P
06-26-2014, 04:45
The white paper towel exposed beautifully, but the pistol is too dark to tell much about it. Looks like British proofs on the barrel chamber and slide, and maybe a British proof on the receiver, Can't make out the markings on the front of the slide, but would have nothing to do with Lend-Lease.
Duane Hansen
06-26-2014, 05:02
Looks to have been sand blasted pretty aggressively and then reparked. May be a legit LL Colt A1 but is not nearly as collectable as an example that has not been refinished. May still be worth in the $900 to $1000 range if you don't mind the refinish.
Duane, do you have any idea what those markings I circled are?
Take a look in post #3.
The first one to me looks like two horses in a circle back to back.
The other one looks like a Jewish star shining (rays of light coming from it).
Also is it worth $900 or so because LL 1911a1s are rare?
Here are some more photos
The British stamping on the pistol are not indicators of the pistol being a lend lease. They only indicate that the pistol was in the UK at one time. That it was being sold out of the UK and as such it was proofed and marked as not be British made. Anytime a pistol or rifle leave the UK it has to be proofed and stamped just like this one is. Many thousands of .45 autos were brought into the UK and then exported out.
Just FYI it appears to be the same pistol that has been on Gunbroker for a long time without being sold. I suspect it has to do with the strange marings you have pointed out. They do not match any markings I could find in either Meadows or Clawson's books.
Thanks for the info guys.
Looks like I am better off passing.
The guy wants $2,000 for it which I think is way too high.
Johnny P
06-27-2014, 08:49
A wise decision. Way too high considering the condition and the unexplained slide markings.
S/N looks a little off to me. If he wants to trade ask for some cash with the pistol say $250.00 or $300.00.
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