Colt M1911A1 .45 ACP WWII Parkerized Service Pistol – 5" Barrel, First Post-Pearl Harbor Batch (1942)
Produced in early 1942 as part of Colt’s first fully Parkerized run after the attack on Pearl Harbor, this Colt M1911A1 carries serial number 779287 within the 759001–793733 block. Its boxed “WB” inspector mark from Col. Waldemar S. Broberg, matching slide and frame numbers, and early hollow-back Coltwood grip panels make it a well-documented example of a wartime U.S. service pistol.
Condition
Overall Condition: Very good condition, showing only light, superficial signs of prior handling or use.
Bore Condition: Good – Clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Bore Rifling: Good Rifling – Intact, well-defined lands and grooves.
This pistol was reblued at some point in its life and now shows light scratching, scuffing, and small blemishes consistent with service and age. The slide and frame remain numbers matching and the pistol functions smoothly.
What’s Included
- 1 × USGI-pattern 7-round steel magazine with witness holes
Numbered to the frame, the slide retains its original wartime roll marks, including “UNITED STATES PROPERTY M1911A1 U.S. ARMY.” The internal matching number confirms the slide has stayed with this frame since its military issue.
The Parkerized finish reflects Colt’s shift from commercial bluing to a more durable combat coating immediately after Pearl Harbor. Inspector “P” and “VP” proof marks remain clear on the trigger guard, reinforcing its unaltered military heritage.
Early brown Coltwood grips with hollow backs and sharp checkering were fitted only for a brief period in 1942. Their presence, along with the wide-spur hammer and short, checkered trigger, illustrates the correct configuration for this production window.
Fixed sights—a small round-top front blade and square-notch rear—keep the pistol true to its service configuration. Chambered in .45 ACP with a 5-inch barrel and 7+1 capacity, it delivers the classic 1911 handling collectors expect.