This is a tad heavy even for these guns, but it seemed smooth enough. In testing trigger compression with an RCBS trigger pull gauge, the 1918 Colt’s trigger broke at exactly 7.0 pounds. Wolff premium gun springs, wishing to err on the side of caution. Just the same, before comparing the two, I replaced the firing pin spring and recoil spring with W.C. The finish is mostly gone from the older Colt, but I have fired it often and it’s in good mechanical shape. The original Colt shows much wear, but it is even.Ī 1918 Colt was obtained for comparison. This is a pistol that is a faithful reproduction of a handgun delivered from a time when the goose hung high and Colt ruled the roost in Gun Valley.
#Colt 1911a1 serial numbers manual
The pistol is housed in tin that looks original, along with a reproduction of a period instruction manual and a spare magazine, wrapped in wax paper. The Black Army is delivered in a nice Colt royal blue box. A Colt Gold Cup Trophy was on hand for comparison, which offers no advantage over the Black Army in fitting. There is no marring of the lower lugs after considerable firing. The barrel springs back when pressed into the locking lugs and the link is in perfect relation to the slide stop. While late-model Colt 1911s often feature good triggers, this one breaks smoothly at 3.5 pounds.
The slide rides on the frame smoothly with no trace of hesitation or drag. No, the pistol does not sport a gas pedal-sized slide lock safety or a whopping cat grip safety. The Black Army has several good features of the type that you have to know what to look for. The rampant Colt is marked on the Black Army Naturally, the modern version is far better suited to heavy use than the nicest original you could find. The original was only spot heat-treated in the locking lugs and around the muzzle. The primary difference in the original and this pistol is in heat treating. The Black Army is close to the original, but I do not think it will fool anyone now or a decade from now. The Black Army’s sights are very near to the original, with a U notch in the rear sight. The double diamond was designed to offer an advantage in strength and anchoring. The Black Army has a period look down to the double-diamond grips. All modern 1911s are 1911A1 pistols, although we call them 1911s. The reason is simple: It is difficult to get a proper fit with a modern beavertail grip safety if you use the short trigger and arched mainspring housing.
The arched mainspring and short trigger once popular is seen only on the Springfield GI these days. The long trigger and flat mainspring are straight up 1911. Theīlack Army (right) features a U-notch rear sight. Both Colts are very similar as far as hammerĬheckering and other details are concerned. But if you are going to do a Black Army, it must be a 1911 not a 1911A1. This resulted in less than ideal trigger control, inconsistent trigger compression and misses. Those with average to short fingers would sometimes drag the trigger finger on the frame. These relief grooves are among the features of the 1911A1 that were adopted about 1927. There are no finger relief grooves in the frame. The slide window is of the original small size rather than the lowered ejection port common today. Colt cut down one of these, deleting features and adding the proper roll makings. The markings are not exactly in the same place as the original, but they are in the spirit of the original.Ĭolt’s approach wasn’t to retool for a true 1911– all modern 1911s are actually 1911A1 pistols. The Black Army isn’t a true line-by-line copy, but it is close enough. I am not certain, but the pistol may be called a “reproduction.” There is an argument that the Black Army is simply a continuation of production as it has been reintroduced by the same company. The dark finish is meant to mock the original Black Army. The new pistol is similar save for the finish. When all contracts were canceled after 1918, the Black Army became something of a rarity.Ī few years ago Colt brought out a World War I pistol that was basically a 1911 with period markings. The finish is darker than the highly polished blue steel Colts originally delivered. The Black Army was the result of a finishing process that was used for speed and economy. The army ordered hundreds of thousands of 1911. The Black Army is simply a late production World War I Colt. Both the original and the Black Army feature small slide windows. Very similar pistols produced over 90 years apart: Colt’s Black Army (top)Īnd an 1898 Colt. Author: Bob Campbell / Wolfe Publishing Co.