Description
gold cup national match trophy combat commander delta elite
Bryant Ridge Co. is pleased to present this interesting post-WWI semi-automatic pistol for a penny-start auction; this is the Colt/Springfield 1911 Military!
Click here to view our other Live Auctions!
If you have missed out on this auction or are looking for a particular firearm, contact us. We have 100s of Collector Grade firearms (not on auction) in our inventory and available for immediate purchase.
Click here to let us know what firearms you are searching for!
This Colt M1911 features a rare wartime configuration, pairing a Colt-manufactured frame with a Springfield Armory-marked slide bearing the distinctive "S" within the ordnance escutcheon. Believed to be the result of a wartime collaboration between Colt and Springfield Armory to meet urgent production demands during and shortly after World War I, these hybrid pistols represent a unique and historically significant variation of the classic 1911.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Manufacturer: Colt Frame with Springfield Slide
Model: 1911 Military
Serial: 618533
Date of Manufacture: 1919
Caliber: .45 ACP
Finish: Black Army
Barrel Length: 5"
Optics/Sights: Fixed Round Blade Front and "U"-Notched Rear
Stock/Grips: Checkered Double-Diamond Walnut
Action: Semi-Automatic Pistol
Markings: The left side of the frame is stamped with an "Eagle/S11" inspection mark above the magazine release. The left side of the slide is stamped with a three-line Colt Patent marking of “PATENTED DEC.19.1905 / FEB.14.1911.AUG.19.1913. / COLT'S PT. F.A.MFG.CO.” along with a “flaming bomb with S” logo. The right side of the frame is stamped with “UNITED STATES PROPERTY / No 618533.” The right side of the slide is stamped “MODEL OF 1911 U.S. ARMY.”
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
The Colt Model of 1911 U.S. Army pistols manufactured between 1911 and 1925 represent the formative years of one of the most iconic sidearms in American military history. Adopted as the official sidearm of the U.S. Armed Forces in March 1911, the Colt 1911 was designed by John Browning and quickly proved itself as a rugged, reliable, and effective handgun, particularly chambered in the powerful .45 ACP cartridge. Early production models featured a rich blued finish, checkered walnut grips, and fine roll marks, with small design evolutions occurring over time, such as changes to the hammer profile, thumb safety, and slide serrations. During World War I, demand surged, leading to increased production not only by Colt but also by other contractors like Remington-UMC and Springfield Armory. The war-era models often saw variations in finish and fit due to the pressure of high-volume output. By the early 1920s, production quality began to return to prewar standards, with improved fit and finish. These pistols were marked “MODEL OF 1911 U.S. ARMY” on the slide and “UNITED STATES PROPERTY” on the frame, with inspector stamps corresponding to the year of manufacture. Collectors prize these pistols not only for their mechanical excellence and robust design but also for their historical significance, as they served through major military conflicts and helped shape the legacy of the 1911 platform. Models from this period are valued for their craftsmanship, authenticity, and role in setting the standard for future generations of military handguns.
Model: 1911 Military
Serial: 618533
Date of Manufacture: 1919
Caliber: .45 ACP
Finish: Black Army
Barrel Length: 5"
Optics/Sights: Fixed Round Blade Front and "U"-Notched Rear
Stock/Grips: Checkered Double-Diamond Walnut
Action: Semi-Automatic Pistol
Markings: The left side of the frame is stamped with an "Eagle/S11" inspection mark above the magazine release. The left side of the slide is stamped with a three-line Colt Patent marking of “PATENTED DEC.19.1905 / FEB.14.1911.AUG.19.1913. / COLT'S PT. F.A.MFG.CO.” along with a “flaming bomb with S” logo. The right side of the frame is stamped with “UNITED STATES PROPERTY / No 618533.” The right side of the slide is stamped “MODEL OF 1911 U.S. ARMY.”
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
The Colt Model of 1911 U.S. Army pistols manufactured between 1911 and 1925 represent the formative years of one of the most iconic sidearms in American military history. Adopted as the official sidearm of the U.S. Armed Forces in March 1911, the Colt 1911 was designed by John Browning and quickly proved itself as a rugged, reliable, and effective handgun, particularly chambered in the powerful .45 ACP cartridge. Early production models featured a rich blued finish, checkered walnut grips, and fine roll marks, with small design evolutions occurring over time, such as changes to the hammer profile, thumb safety, and slide serrations. During World War I, demand surged, leading to increased production not only by Colt but also by other contractors like Remington-UMC and Springfield Armory. The war-era models often saw variations in finish and fit due to the pressure of high-volume output. By the early 1920s, production quality began to return to prewar standards, with improved fit and finish. These pistols were marked “MODEL OF 1911 U.S. ARMY” on the slide and “UNITED STATES PROPERTY” on the frame, with inspector stamps corresponding to the year of manufacture. Collectors prize these pistols not only for their mechanical excellence and robust design but also for their historical significance, as they served through major military conflicts and helped shape the legacy of the 1911 platform. Models from this period are valued for their craftsmanship, authenticity, and role in setting the standard for future generations of military handguns.
During the height of World War I, the combination of overwhelming wartime production demands, a national crisis, and a rapidly expanding yet under-equipped U.S. Army created the perfect storm for American arms manufacturers—most notably Colt, which struggled to meet the pressing need for M1911 pistols. One particularly intriguing result of this high-pressure environment is the existence of rare M1911 slides marked with an "S" inside the ordnance escutcheon (often referred to as the “flaming bomb”). For years, collectors believed these slides were produced by A.J. Savage Munitions Company, a short-lived California-based firm founded by Andrew Savage after he left Savage Arms. Although Savage was awarded a contract in mid-1918 to produce 100,000 pistols, the company’s contract was canceled within months, and there’s no evidence that it ever produced complete pistols or major components—aside from over 67,000 springs shipped in 1919 for repair purposes. Recent research, led by collectors and historians including Steven Norton, Steve Poplar, and Alex Antonopoulos, strongly challenges the traditional attribution of these “S”-marked slides to Savage. Instead, mounting evidence suggests they were produced by Springfield Armory during or just after the war, stamped with the distinctive mark to designate Springfield manufacture under government control, and sent to Colt to aid in completing urgently needed pistols. Many examples featuring these slides are found on 1918-dated Colt frames with matching brush-blued finishes and Springfield (SP) barrels, reinforcing the theory of a wartime collaboration. Moreover, legal insight from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office confirms that it would have been highly unlikely—if not impossible—for a private contractor like A.J. Savage to use a symbol so closely resembling an official government insignia. Given the absence of any Savage trademark filings and a lack of physical or documentary evidence tying these slides to Savage, the consensus now leans toward these being Springfield-produced components used by Colt as part of a short-lived, wartime-expedient sub-variant of the M1911. This collaboration underscores the resourcefulness of American arms production during a time of unprecedented demand and remains a fascinating chapter in the evolution of the military 1911.
Return Policy:
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Shipping Details
Handgun Standard Shipping with Insurance $50.00
Long Gun Standard Shipping with Insurance $70.00
Any orders placed with magazines that are not compliant with your state, county, or city regulations will not ship with your order.
We strive to ship orders within the close of the following business day after payment and documentation is received.
Payment Details
We accept all forms of Payment including Personal Check, Business Check, PO Money Orders, Certified Check, Etc.
Please note we place a 7 business day hold on shipment, for all non-certified payments.
Payment MUST be received within 14 days.
Return Policy
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Additional Details
Our #1 priority is customer satisfaction. We want to build a lasting trust in the relationship with our customers, so that you will always look to us for all your firearms needs. If you have any issues with your transactions please contact us, and we will work with you to resolve any issues you may have. We greatly appreciate your trust in us and we look forward to fulfilling all your future firearm needs.
Bryant Ridge also reserves the right to cancel any sales that may occur while gunbroker.com is experiencing technical issues that affects the entire site or a complete site outage, within an hour of the auction ending.
We have an amazing inventory of classic and collector firearms that we are adding to Gunbroker daily. Stay up to date on all of our latest auction by adding us to your favorite sellers list.
About Us
From a small town hobby, to a leader in the investment and collector grade firearms industry. Bryant Ridge Firearms is here to offer the best in quality and customer service when you are looking to unload your collector grade firearm collection.
