Colt M1911A1 .45 ACP U.S. Army British Lend-Lease, 1945 Parkerized, Original Finish
This late-war Colt M1911A1 was manufactured in 1945 and later released from British Lend-Lease stores, giving it a rare combination of U.S. and British service pedigree. Retaining its original wartime Parkerized finish, dual proof marks, and correct Keyes Fibre brown plastic grips, it offers collectors a verifiable example from the final World War II contract block.
Condition
Overall Condition: Good – shows some signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Condition: Good – clean, well-maintained with minor wear marks.
Bore Rifling: Good – intact, well-defined lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: Minor scratching, scuffing, and blemishing are present on the Parkerized surfaces.
What’s Included
- Colt M1911A1 pistol
- 1× 7-round GI-pattern steel magazine with welded base
Built in the closing months of World War II, this pistol falls within the final Colt wartime serial range and bears the “GHD” cartouche of Ordnance Inspector Col. Guy H. Drewry. The left side of the frame also carries British Birmingham proofs, the “NOT ENGLISH MAKE” legend, and the “RELEASED / BRITISH GOVT” stamp—clear evidence of its Lend-Lease journey.
The pistol retains its original Parkerized grey finish rather than an arsenal refinish, preserving sharp correct roll-marks and contract features. Its carbon-steel frame and slide show uniform wear consistent with careful service use, while the checkered Keyes Fibre grips reflect the material shift adopted by Colt in late 1944.
Internally, the 5-inch carbon-steel barrel shows a clean bore with crisp rifling. The single-action, short-recoil mechanism functions smoothly, and both the grip safety and manual thumb safety engage positively. Fixed iron sights—serrated ramp front and dovetail rear U-notch—remain original to the pistol.
Overall, the combination of authenticated U.S. military production, wartime British marks, and untouched original finish makes this M1911A1 an attractive, documented World War II collectible.