Colt Model 1911 A1 explained by Gérard Henrotin Release 01-00
Ebook's Content From the Model 1911 to the Model 1911 A1 Further refinement of the Model 1911 A1 National Match Pistols in caliber .45 ACP Commercial production of the Model 1911 A1 War production of the Model 1911 A1 Post War changes until the 1960s Changes of the 1970s Colt Government in caliber .38 Super Colt "Commander" Colt "Gold Cup National Match" in caliber .45 ACP Colt "AMU" and kits in caliber .38 Special & .45 ACP Colt "Gold Cup National Match" in caliber .38 Special Colt Government field stripping Colt Government advanced dismounting - 1 Colt Government advanced dismounting - 2 Colt Government advanced dismounting - 3 Operation of the Colt Government (includes one animated sequence)
Thumb safety and animated sequence of the 1911 A1 firing cycle
From the Model 1911 to the Model 1911 A1 Shortly after the end of World War I, Colt initiated a program to improve the design of the Model 1911. From January of 1920 until February of 1924, the Government Model underwent no less than 40 revisions that consisted mostly of reducing mechanical tolerances, and improving the manufacturing process.
Model 1911 The following changes were the most notable: 1 - The barrel length was brought from 5.025" to 5.03", while internal dimensions were modified as follows: - Land diameter from .455" to .443" - Groove diameter from .451" to .450" - Height of lands from .003" to .0035"
2 - The former tapered front sight was changed to one with a constant thickness (1920), and later (1923) the former front sight round post was made rectangular. 3 - In 1922, the rear sight notch was increased from .06" to .07" wide, and from .04" to .05" deep.
4 - The front end of the receiver (red circle) was lengthened by .031", to avoid any possible gap between the receiver and the slide spring housing.
5 - Beginning in late 1920, the slides were progressively serial numbered. At first the serial number was struck on the flat area of the firing pin housing, but it appeared that the marking was causing an excess of wear on the head of the disconnector.
To remedy the problem, the marking location was changed to the rear face of the slide, on the flat located behind the firing pin retainer. 6 - At the same period the slide were serial numbered, and the slide rail tolerances on the receiver were reduced.
7 - In April of 1919, the groove machined on the right side of the slide stop was eliminated.
One year later, in late 1920, the thumb piece of the slide stop was redesigned, to improve the manufacturing process. 8 - In 1922, Colt decided to weaken the main spring by reducing it, of one coil and diminishing slightly the wire diameter from .045" to .0414". But firing tests, conducted in 1924, revealed that the weakened mainspring was inadequate to fully warrant the cartridge ignition. As a result, the former .045" mainspring was re-installed. The weakened mainspring, with a right-hand twist, were made of 21 coils while the older with left-hand twist had 22 coils. 9 - In February of 1921, the recoil spring was also weakened by reducing the wire diameter (from .043" to .0414"), while augmenting the number of coils from 32 3/4 to 34/1/2. But like with the main spring, to meet the Ordnance requirements, the recoil spring was changed back to the older version by February of 1924.
10 - The plunger cut on the left side of the safety catch was deepened. 11 - The bottom of the two-tone magazine was left unmarked.
12 - In November of 1919, the assembler's mark moved from the lower area of the trigger guard on the left side of the frame to the upper area of the trigger guard on the right side of the frame (red circle above). 13 - Between serial numbers C132000 to C138530, the wood grip plates were made without the lozenge around the retaining screw holes. The whole surface of the grip was checkered. 14 - In 1920, the slide marking was changed.
Left side marking
Right side marking
In parallel to the Manufacturer's changes, the U.S. Ordnance technicians established a list of new requirements. When Colt received an order for 10,000 pistols in June of 1923, these requirements (detailed below) had to be implemented.
U.S. Ordnance new requirements:
1 - The mainspring housing had to be redesign with an arched profile. 2 - The grip safety comb had to be extended to prevent squeezing of the hand by the hammer. 3 - The trigger had to be shortened. 4 - A finger clearance cut had to be machined on both sides of the frame at the rear of the trigger guard.
Colt requested the approval of its own changes, stating that these changes would not affect the interchangeability of parts. In the Model 1911 A1, though, the grip safety has its bottom edge beveled at each corner, while the corners remain right angled in the Model 1911. As a result, the grip safety of the Model 1911 cannot be installed in the Model 1911 A1 before the grinding off of these corners.
Further refinement of the Model 1911 A1 In late 1925, two additional changes were introduced.
The disconnector recess, which was formerly shaped around a drilled hole, was later modified into a longer shallow and curved area.
To better protect the front end of the slide against wear, it was hardened on 2 1/4" to 2 1/2" of length. The hardened area can usually be delimited by a darker color (red arrows above) in the parkerized military pistols.
In 1935, the breech seat was modified to receive a screwed plug (orange color above). It was discovered that the repeated striking of the cartridge case against the breech face caused a peening around the firing pin hole. As a flame hardening of the whole breech face area was likely to deform the thin wall around the ejection port, it was therefore found more convenient to screw a drilled plug of hardened steel.
Among other minor changes was a change in the barrel marking and bottom of the magazine.
- The Swartz Safeties -
The next major change was the introduction of the Swartz safety in 1937. William L. Swartz, with its firing pin safety (U.S.
Patent # 2,140,946 - December 20, 1938), was the precursor of a kind of safety which is today of general use in semi-auto pistols.
Principle of the Swartz firing pin safety The safe carrying of a semi-auto pistol, with a cartridge chambered, and the hammer resting on the firing pin, or positioned in the safety notch, was since a long time a theme of controversy. The principle of the Swartz safety was to prevent any possible movement of the firing pin until the pistol was properly and firmly gripped.
The Swartz safety operation is quite simple because it requires no other action than firmly gripping the pistol. Squeezing the grip safety operates the locking block through a small sliding lever (blue color above). When the pistol is not properly gripped, the firing pin remains securely locked by the firing pin lock, which is maintained downward between two shoulders of the firing pin, by the pressure of its return spring. The sliding lever shares the same pivot with the sear and the disconnector. The clever positioning of the safety parts warrants that the mechanism does not interfere with the operation of the trigger mechanism.
The firing pin lock is roughly L-shaped, with the tip of the L leg protruding on the bottom of the slide (yellow circle), and aligned with the tip of the sliding actuator. The forward corner of the protruding portion of the lock is beveled to allow the sliding actuator to re-engage the lock after firing, and to automatically unlock the firing pin for another shot. Note, that the lock must be introduced by the top of the slide through a hole machined below the rear sight.
"Swarzt" safety hole drilled but left unused in pistol serial # 901726 (1943)
The sliding lever, or actuator, whose head slightly emerges in the vicinity of the disconnector hole, and whose foot rests on the top of the grip safety's inward extension, which blocks the movement of the trigger when the grip safety is not properly gripped.
Besides the two specific parts explained above, two standard parts were slightly modified. The extractor was partly ground off in its middle, to ease its removal, and the firing pin head was machined to accept the locking block.
Note, that the face of the locking block, which is oriented toward the extractor tunnel, is notched in such a manner that the extractor can be removed without being obliged to dismount the locking block, and consequently the rear sight.
The pistols fitted with a Swartz firing pin safety are usually equipped with a Swartz-designed hammer safety, whereby a lip on the safety notch of the hammer is aligned with a mated recess in the sear nose. This hammer safety was designed to prevent any risk of the sear nose being unsteadily "caught" by the edge of the safety notch while the shooter is convinced that the sear is fully engaged in it. The first caliber .45 Government models fitted with the Swartz safety were assembled in October of 1937. Note, that most of the pre-war receivers, which were used in the post-war period, were milled for the Swartz safety, but the components were not installed.
National Match Pistols in caliber .45 ACP
Colt "National Match" serial # C175879 After many years of insistent demand of pistols specifically intended for target shooting, Colt decided to produce a Government Model fitted with super-smooth hand-honed action, selected "Match" barrel, and "Partridge" type sights. This target pistol was to be known as the Colt "National Match" Model. It seems that the earliest National Match pistols date back to early 1932. They were produced randomly in the Government Model serial range and were not identified in the production ledgers. Note, that the mainspring housing of these pistols does not carry a lanyard ring.
Besides the regular markings, the barrels "National Match" pistols had a specific MB marking into a circle, standing for "Match Barrel". From 1935 onward, the marking "Colt .45 Auto Match" was added on the left side of the chamber. After Word War II, the production of "National Match" pistols resumed under the new label of: "Colt Gold Cup National Match".
- "National Match" pistols of the U.S. Army -
During several years, military pistols of the U.S. Army were modified and improved by the Springfield Arsenal to meet the requirements for competition at the "National Match". Later, the same task was entrusted to private gunsmiths. The selected pistols were going through a series of modifications, to diminish the tolerances and play between the moving parts. The parts playing a vital role in the accuracy, like the barrel, the trigger, the sights were replaced by more precise counterparts. Generally these new components were marked "NM", as shown on the drawing above. The example shown above was built around a Remington receiver, on which was tightly adjusted a slide of Colt origin. The slide was fitted with a "Triangle H.E.G" rear sight, and a Partridge front sight, with a serrated anti-glare ramp. The trigger was made of aluminum, and the front strap of the grip was improved, with an anti-slipping surface.
- Production of the .45 Colt Government until 1950 Years 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936
Approx. serial numbers C135000 C140000 C145000 C151000 C152000 C155000 C156000 C159000 C161000 C164800 C174600 C178000 C179800
C139999 C144999 C150999 C151999 C154999 C155999 C158999 C160999 C164799 C174599 C177999 C179799 C183199
1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950
C183200 C188700 C189600 C198900 C199300 C208800 C221001 C221001 C232000 C238501 C240001
C188699 C189599 C198899 C199299 C208799 C215018 C222001 C231900 C238500 C240000 247700C
Note, that after 1950, the prefix "C" of the serial number was positioned at the end (suffix).
Commercial production of the Model 1911 A1 From 1919 until 1942, near fifty percent of the production of the Government Model was devoted to the international commercial market. Among these foreign customers were many countries of South America, where the Models 1911 and 1911 A1 were greatly appreciated. To the extent, that in parallel to the purchase of Colt pistols, a local production of more or less faithful copies was initiated. Notably in Spain and Argentina.
- Foreign purchases of Models 1911 from 1919 until 1924 -
Mexico Argentina Brazil London Armory Cie Guatemala London Armory Cie
1,790 830 700 300 18 10
Marine Cal. 45 Cal. 455
- Foreign purchases of Models 1911 A1 from 1924 until 1942 -
Argentina Brazil Mexico British Purchas. Comm. Philippines Shanghai Cuba Norway Dominican Republic Egypt Colombia Hong Hong Haiti Puerto Rico London Armory Cie Peru
19,595 16,180 3,160 2,595 1,175 1,053 350 200 180 115 100 90 50 50 30 12
1,969 for the Marine 500 for the Marine Marine Cal. 45 Municipal Police Marine
Cal. .45
- Argentine Army Procurements In 1927, the "Argentine Commission for Foreign Acquisitions", based in Brussels, Belgium, negotiated an order with Colt for the procurement of 10,000 Models 1911 A1 intended to equip the Argentine Army, and listed as "Pistola Sistema Colt Modelo Argentino 1927, Caliber .45". Those pistols were differentiated from the current Colt commercial production, only by their specific markings, and serial range (from 1 to 10,000 - struck on the top of the slide, on the receiver behind the main spring housing and on the top of the barrel chamber), as required by the Argentine Government. Notice, that the magazines were also serial numbered.
A team of Argentine inspectors was present at the Colt factory to inspect the parts and pistols. When passed, they were being struck with specific markings, which were the letters "RA" or "R", enclosed inside an oval. Notice, that Argentina ordered 159 additional pistols in 1927, serial numbered from 1 to 159. Specific details about that purchase are not available.
- Argentine Navy Procurements In the course of the twenties, the Argentine Navy placed three consecutive orders for an overall quantity of 306 Models 1911 A1.
The pistols of the first two shipments (156 pieces) were roll-marked "MARINA ARGENTINA" on the right side of the slide, and there was an "M-II" marking positioned before the specific sequential number, struck on the right side of the receiver. The third shipment of 150 pistols was marked "REPUBLICA ARGENTINA / ARMADA NACIONAL" on the right side of the slide, and the serial number marking was preceded by "No". From the year 1935 until 1938, a supplemental quantity of 1,024 pistols was ordered, and delivered to the Argentine Navy. These pistols were roll-marked "MARINA ARGENTINA" on the right side of the slide. In 1941, a bulk of 500 pistols, drawn from the current commercial production, was ordered and most of them were marked: "REPUBLICA ARGENTINA / ARMADA NACIONAL - 1941", with the national crest struck on the top of the slide. Some pistols of this same order were marked: "REPUBLICA ARGENTINA / MARINA DE GUERRA - 1941". During the fifties, other orders were issued, and pistols were also delivered as part of the equipment of World War II ships, purchased as surplus by Argentina. Among those war ships was the "ARA General Belgrano", which was sunk by the English Marine during the Falklands war.
- 1911 A1 orders for the Argentine Marine Years
serial ranges
Qty
1924 1925
C140700 C144100
C140900 C145300
78 78
1927
C154600
C15500
150
1935 1935 1936 1936 1938 1941 1941
C177000 C178000 C178000
C178000 C179000
600 70 60 185 109 250 250
C182700 C198700
C180000 C187800 C208700
Besides the government purchases, several local firearms importers ordered Colt pistols to be sold to various Police bodies. These pistols generally carry such markings as: "POLICIA DE LA CAPITAL", "POLICIA FEDERAL", "POLICIA DE ROSARIO", "POLICIA DE TUCUMAN", ...
- Local production in Argentina In the view of reducing its dependence toward foreign producers, Argentina decided to build up its own firearms industry, which was a branch of the Military administration. The new body, named DGFM (Direccion General de Fabricaciones Militares) was in charge of erecting a series of plants, to provide the country with all the necessary weapons to fulfill its various needs.
Inside that vast industrial compound, the FMAP (Fabrica Militar de Armas Portatiles Domingo Matheu) had the responsibility of producing copies of the Colt Model 1911 A1. From 1945 until 1966, near 88,500 of those copies were manufactured under license. They carry the marking "D.G.F.M. - (F.M.A.P.)" on the left side of the slide, and the right side is marked "EJERCITO ARGENTINO / SIST. COLT CAL. 11,25mm. MOD. 1927".
- Brazilian purchases -
Brazil was the second largest purchaser of Colt Government pistols in South America. In 1932, the Brazilian Army ordered 1,000 pistols, which were numbered in the C154000 - C164000 serial range. From 1937 until 1941, 14,500 pistols were ordered in the serial range C188000 to C209000. These pistols were struck with the Brazilian crest (shown above), and "EXERCITO BRASILERO" on the right side of the slide. They also carried a sequential number from 1 to 14500 on the same side of the slide. Notice, that in addition to Military procurements, some quantities of Colt pistols were acquired by government agencies and Municipal Polices. 180 pistols were devoted to the Municipal Police in Rio de Janeiro. The Brazilian Navy received 1,200 pistols, whose quantities and serial ranges are listed behind:
- Model 1911 A1 for the Brazilian Marine Years 1921 1922 1925 1935
serial range C129000 C128000 C139000 C178000
C131000 C129500 C141000 C179000
Qty 200 500 300 200
Like Argentine, Brazil built up a light firearms industry with the help of the U.S. Government, which supplied machine tools declared in excess by the Ordnance Department. In about 1961, Brazil began to produce a crude copy of the M1911 A1 at "Fabrica de Itajuba".
- Mexican purchases -
Mexican Colt 1911 A1 - serial number C135932 Mexico procured 5,400 Colt Government between 1922 and 1941. Most of which were bought through local importers. The first 1,790 pistols were of the M1911 pattern. Some of these pistols were roll-marked "EJERCITO MEXICANO" or "EJERCITO NACIONAL" on the right side of the slide.
Obregon pistol - serial number A311 - sold in auction in 1993 for 1,870 $US During the mid-1930s, Alejandro Obregon, a Mexican firearm designer, patented a pistol in caliber 11.46 (US Patent 2,115,041 - 02/04/1935), which externally resembled the Colt Government but which had a locking system based on a rotary barrel. The total quantity produced by the "Fabrica de Armas Mexicanos" is estimated at about 1,000 pistols.
War production of the Model 1911 A1 In 1939, the firm Colt was the sole source of .45 automatic pistols for the U.S. Army. Late in 1940, when it became obvious that the U.S. could not remain longer idle with the German threat coming from one side, and the relations with Japan becoming each day more conflicting, a limited emergency was declared which included expansion of the equipment to produce firearms. One early stage of the mobilization process resulted in the evaluation of small arms in the view of eliminating handguns and submachine guns. As a result of that study, it was not until 1941 that the Ordnance Department, which was facing a huge demand for .45 automatic pistols, considered the procurement of such weapons from other sources than Colt. Actually, the War Department decided in 1941 to adopt a light .30 caliber semi-automatic carbine, designed by Winchester. In adopting this carbine, it was hoped that the pistols and submachine guns would become unnecessary. As things developed, if we except Colt, a total of four firms became involved in the production of pistols, but only three of them actually produced large quantities.
- Singer -
Pre-production Singer pistol - serial # X-1 The first firm involved was Singer Manufacturing Company, Elizabethport, New Jersey. Singer was a best-known precision manufacturing company, specialized for decades in the production of sewing machines. The negotiation with the Ordnance Department resulted in one order, considered as a test, whereby Singer would tool and manufacture 500 pistols in accordance with the Springfield Armory master drawings. The 500 pistols were produced and delivered between late 1941 and early 1942. They were finely finished and gave little trouble to the firm during the course of manufacture. The firm marking was struck on the left face of the slide, and the pistols were assigned serial numbers following in sequence the last number of the previous Colt contract. The Singer pistols serial numbers, covering the S800001 to S800500 range, were struck on the usual location on the right side of the receiver, and were distinguished by an "S" prefix letter. Those pistols were allegedly issued to the U.S. Air Forces during 1942.
- Union Switch & Signals -
If we except the firm Singer, which cannot be considered as a true producer with regard to the total quantity produced, the firm Union Switch & Signals (Pennsylvania), which manufactured 55,000 pistols in 1943, can be considered as the smaller World War II producer of the Model 1911 A1. The firm was a subsidiary of "Westinghouse Air Brake Company", specialized in the production of metallic parts and complex assemblies for the railroad industry. As it was the rule, U.S.& S. was granted a serial block (958101 - 1088725), which was continuing a Colt sequence.
- Ithaca Gun Co. -
The firm Ithaca was positioned third if we consider the amount of pistols produced. A well-known company in the realm of sport guns, Ithaca owned all the facilities and manpower for that kind of job. She was endowed with the M1911 A1 production tools coming from Singer. The first order of 60,000 pistols was granted in mid-1942, and the first deliveries started early in 1943. Ithaca received the first serial block available, which followed the Colt production, and from 1943 until 1945, at least 369,000 were being produced. That number represents approximately twenty percent of the entire war production.
- Remington Rand Inc. -
Remington Rand Inc., of New York, was a firm with considerable experience in the manufacture of office machines. With a total production of 1,032,000 pistols manufactured in its plant at Syracuse (slightly less than 54% of the entire war production), Remington Rand exceeded the combined production of Colt and all other firms involved. They were initially assigned the next consecutive serial number after the first Ithaca block. Their production started in 1942, with an initial order of 125,000 pistols, and the last deliveries took place between January of 1945 and the summer of the same year.
Colt production
Remington production In order to ease the production, several modifications in design were adopted, like the protruding side flanks of the hammer which were eliminated, or the checkering of the holdopen latch, which became simple striations.
Above: stamped trigger made by Remington
Left: Remington stamped trigger - Right: Colt forged trigger
When time-consuming operations of forging and machining could be replaced by stamping, these new methods were promoted. Notably for the trigger.
Note also, that the mainspring housing made by Remington was serrated while Colt's was checkered. Among other changes was also the development of molded plastic grips, which were subcontracted to countless small plastics firms, and the replacement of the blue finish in favor of a greenish phosphating, which was less timeconsuming and did not reflect light.
Production of the 1911 A1 by producers 1940 - 1945
Colt Hartford Connecticut
1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945
4,693 35,256 99,367 112,000 134,000 135,000
Remington Rand Inc. Syracuse N.Y.
1942 1943 1944 1945
26,257 98,518 557,225 350,000
Ithaca Gun Co. Ithaca, New York
1943 1944 1945
161,000 74,000 134,000
Union Switch & Signal Co. Swissvale, Pennsylvania
1945
55,000
Singer Elizabeth, New Jersey
1941
Total
500 1,976,816
- Military markings found on the Model 1911 A1 -
The U.S. Ordnance "crossed cannons" logo was struck on the left upper corner of the right side of the receiver. It is generally faintly visible.
- Ordnance inspectors markings J.S.B, standing for Capt. John S. Breen (Colt plant in 1936 - 1937) W.B. inside a rectangle, standing for Col. Waldemar Broberg (Colt plant in 1941) F.J.A. standing for Lt. Col. F.J. Atwood (Ithaca, USS, Remington plants in 1942 - 1944) R.C.D. inside a circle, standing for Lt. Col. Downie (Union Switch Signal plant in 1943) G.H.D. standing for Lt. Col. Guy H. Drewry (Colt plant in 1930 - 1957) J.K.C. standing for Lt. Col. John K. Christmas (Singer plant in 1942)
English Model 1911 A1 furnished under lend-lease agreement with mention NOT ENGLISH MAKE
English proof marks
Post-war changes until the 1960's As soon as WW II was over, all the pending contracts for firearms were canceled. It resulted for Colt, and other firms deeply implied in war production, a period of downsizing and reorganization to re-oriented the business toward the commercial market. The Ordnance policy being not to reclaim unfinished components on hand, the first Colt pistols for the post-war commercial market were assembled from these left over parts. It is why such oddities of that period can be encounter like slides carrying the rampant Colt logo on each side. On the left side as it was the rule during wartime, and on the right side as required by the new commercial design. Actually, throughout the year 1946, the commercial production was mainly drawn from unachieved military pistols (serial range C220001 - C222000). Among the many changes quickly introduced into the post-war commercial production was the high luster chemical blue, which was replacing the more expensive gas-fired oven bluing of pre-war days. Other changes included the suppression of the lanyard loop at the bottom of the mainspring housing and the suppression of the serial number on the slide.
- Commercial production of the 1947- 1960 era At about serial number C222500, all the wartime components were exhausted.
Several parts were redesigned, among which was the trigger, which received a series of vertical serrations, and the thumb area of the holdopen latch, which was machined with four thick horizontal serrations (C230000). About at serial number C228000, the front sight width was broadened from .080" to .090". As to the finish, the surface was bright polished, before undergoing a chemical bluing. The upper face of the slide only was left with a matt finish. Some time later (serial C230000), the back face of the slide, and the portion of the recoil spring housing were also left with a matt finish.
COLT'S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A. (1946 - 1947) COLT'S MFG. CO. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A. (1947 - 1955)
From early 1947 on (serial C228000), the company marking was modified by suppressing "F.A. MFG." (standing for Fire Arms Manufacturing), to the benefit of the mention "MFG", to show that Colt was not only implied in the production of firearms.
In late 1949, concurrently to the introduction of the Government model in several calibers, the inward lug of the slide stop (red color above), which protrudes inside the receiver, had to be adjusted in length to be engaged by the different magazine followers, which were adapted in width following the size of the cartridge used. Note, that the truncated follower is in yellow color.
The inner face of the slide stop was marked to know for what caliber, and what receiver, it was adapted. For example, the slide stop numbered "1" (adapted to caliber .45) has a lug too short to be securely engaged by the follower of a 9mm magazine.
List of the slide stops and their markings Unmarked: length .197" - Pre-war standard .45 caliber Number 1: length .197" - Post-war (1950) .45 caliber Number 2: length .205" - .210" - Caliber .22 conversion units also used in .38 AMU and Gold Cup .38 mid-range pistols Number 3: length .215" - .220" - Super .38, 9mm Commander and some Gold Cup .38 mid-range pistols. Letter M: length .197" - Caliber .45 Gold Cup NM pistols (unmarked or number 1 are also working)
In 1949, at the same time that the letter "C" of the serial number was changed from prefix to suffix, several other changes were introduced.
The slide left side marking was modified, as shown above, with the word CALIBRE transformed in CALIBER.
The safety thumb area was greatly enlarged (left drawing above), and the barrel was marked "COLT .45 AUTO" on the top of the chamber.
The grip safety was redesigned, as shown above, and the hammer featured unfinished sides while the front sight was changed to 1/10"-wide with 1/8" as an alternate.
COLT'S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD CONN. U.S.A. From 1955 onward (approximate at serial # 273000C), the marking relating to the firm was reverted to the previous inscription, with the mention "F.A. - Fire Arms", and the "Government Model" marking migrated from over the serial number to the left of the slide marking.
It was also at that time, that appeared the adjustable "Colt Accro" rear sight, which was fitted on slides with slanted serrations instead of the vertical usual design.
A rotation of one click clockwise of the lateral windage screw moves the rear sight to the left to obtain a left shift of 0.99" of the impact on a target placed at 45.00 m. One click clockwise with the elevation screw (top) lowers the sight and cause the impact to be shifted 0.75" down.
The thumb area of the hammer, which was checkered until the 1960s, received then a serrated area as shown above. It is also in the 1960s that the shiny plastic grip plates, with the Colt emblem molded into them, were made with a lusterless brown plastic.
Above: standard slide - Below: cut slide Notice also, that to lighten certain models as the "Commander", caliber .38 sp and .45 ACP "Gold Cup", caliber .38 AMU, .22 conversion unit and Kit, the underside of their slide was partly skeletonized. One result of these cuts is that the extractor was exposed through the cut, machined on the underside of its housing in the slide.
Changes of the 1970's During the 1970's, as Colt was selling an ever growing part of its pistol production in the commercial market, a series of modifications were judged necessary to meet the requirements for a better accuracy. That is why, in 1970, a pilot run of approximately 1,000 pistols (serialized in the last range of the "C" suffix series) was assembled with 70 type barrel and bushing to create a new manufacturing standard for the future.
These pistols were identified by the letters BB struck below the serial number and on the barrel.
They were also carrying the Mark IV/Series 70 Accurizor barrel, and its special bushing, designed to improve accuracy. It is well known, that the M1911 accuracy is improved by warranting an identical locked position of the barrel after each shot. The control of the barrel locking begins at the muzzle, with a reduced clearance between the bushing and the barrel, between the bushing and the slide. As reducing the general clearance at the gun muzzle would have asked costly hand finishing, Colt tried to offer an "out of the box" solution, by adopting the collet bushing, which became the standard in
the Series 70 Models.
The barrels of the 1970 Series, which all use the collet bushing system, are identifiable by the stepped-up, slightly larger diameter at the mouth of the barrel. The collet bushing works by grasping the barrel at the step-up point, and then simultaneously expanding the outer face of its four springy "fingers" about .003", when the slide closes. This improves the contact and fit of the barrel with the slide.
The Model Government (O- 4) was available in three different calibers: .45 ACP (7 shot mag.), .38 Super, and 9 mm Parabellum. The metal finish was based on chemical glossy bluing, with areas remaining matt at the top of the slide, and the front strap of the receiver. A nickel finish was available for the pistols in caliber .38 and .45 ACP. The grip plates were made of wood with the external face treated by sandblasting.
In parallel to the efforts made by Colt to improve its products, upsurge a true industry for the purpose to fulfill the demand for customized Government Models. Various specific add-on's were offered, like wrap-around grips, made of non-slip rubber, new types of adjustable sights, elongated barrels and sides, beavertail shaped grip safeties, return spring with telescopic guide, lighter main spring housing, ...
- Approximate serial ranges of the Colt Government from 1950 to 1970 Years 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969
Approx. serial ranges C240001 247701C 253180C 259550C 266350C 270550C 272550C 276700C 282000C 283800C 285800C 288000C 289850C 291300C 293800C 296000C 300300C 308500C 315600C 324500C
247700C 253179C 259549C 266349C 270549C 272549C 276699C 281999C 289799C C285799 287999C 289849C 291299C 293799C 295999C 300299C 308499C 315599C 324499C 332649C
1970
332650C
336169C
- Approximate serial ranges of the Colt Government from 1971 to 1982 Years 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982
Approx. serial ranges 70G05551 70G18001 70G34401 70G43001 70G73001 70G88901 01001G70 13901G70 45200G70 89186G70 01000B70 30009B70 72990B70 70B00001 70B11247
70G18000 70G34400 70G43000 70G73000 70G88900 70G99999 13900G70 45199G70 89185G70 99999G70 30008B70 72989B70 99999B70 70B11246 ...
Colt Government in caliber .38 Super
The Colt Government pistol in caliber .38 Super was offered for the first time on the commercial market in January 1929. Of the same general size and design than the Model in caliber .45 ACP, it differed only by the following points: - The breech face and the ejection port were modified in size to conform with the smaller barrel. - The firing pin hole was narrower, and the extractor hole was closer to the center. - The extractor claw was adapted to the .38 semi-rimmed cartridge case. - The ejector was made wider to reach the smaller cartridge case, and consequently the ejector path in the slide was made larger. - The firing pin diameter was reduced to fit the smaller primer. - The recoil spring was made weaker with fewer coils. - The chamber was adapted to the .38 cartridge, whose semi-rim was seating on a shoulder, machined under the overhanging projection of the barrel. - The barrel bushing hole had a smaller diameter to fit the barrel size. - The magazine, which could carry 9 cartridges against 7 in the .45 models, had a shell designed with one lateral groove on each side, to maintain the .38 cartridges in the center of the magazine by narrowing the way of passage. Until 1939, the magazine was of the two-tone type. All the other parts were interchangeable with the .45 ACP models. The mainspring housing was not fitted with a lanyard loop.
Super .38 Automatic Pistol Cartridge The Super .38 auto pistol cartridge is identical in its overall dimensions to the old .38 ACP used in the first Colt's Model 1900 - 1902 series.
Colt Model 1900 As to the technical performances, the Super .38, which is more powerful than the 9mm Parabellum, is a high-velocity cartridge, with extremely flat trajectory. Due to its semi-rim feature, the cartridge requires to be seated on a shoulder, machined under the rear extension of the barrel. This shoulder determines the headspace.
Super Match .38 Automatic Pistol The Super .38 auto pistols, which were hand-fitted and tuned the same way as the "National Match" pistols, were first offered in the 1933 catalog, but the "Super Match" label - and related slide markings - was not approved until 1934. They were produced randomly from about serial number 14000 to 37835, in the current Super .38 serial range, and they were advertised with a Stevens adjustable rear sight and fixed front sight with a serrated rear face.
Colt Super Match with engraved finish - serial # 17106 - Stevens rear sight
The early .38 barrels were left unmarked if we except for an M.B. inside a circle on the left face of the barrel lug. Later barrels were struck: "COLT SUPER .38 AUTO MATCH", on the left side of the chamber.
- Approximate serial ranges of the Colt Super .38 pistol until 1970 Years 1929 1930 1931 1932
Approx. serial ranges 1 5850 9850 13650
5849 9849 13649 13999
1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970
14000 15100 17300 19250 24050 32100 33450 34450 36550
15099 17299 19249 24049 32099 33449 34449 36549
Limited production during wartime
40000 56700 73300 78900 86400 95500 107300 112950 117800 120000 124500 129600 136900 148800 155200 158850 163000 167800 172000 177600 186200 192200 CS001001 CS002800
37835 56699 73299 78899 86399 95499 107299 112949 117799 119999 124499 129599 136899 148799 155199 158849 162999 167799 171999 177599 186199 192199 CS002799 CS005280
Colt Super .38 of the 1947 - 1969 era The first production run of Super .38 and Super Match .38 pistols ended in 1946. From 1947 onward, a new series started which included all the technical improvements brought to the Government Model. In 1961, Colt manufactured a limited series (107-MS - 855-MS) of Super Match .38 pistols, equipped with Colt "Accro" rear sight, and carrying slanted slide serrations.
Colt "Commander"
In late 1949, Colt offered a new pistol based on the Government design but fitted with shortened barrel and slide (- 3/4"), mounted on a slightly trimmed receiver (-1/4"). As a result, the weight of the new pistol was 26 1/2 ounces versus 39 ounces for the standard Government model, while the overall length was 7 3/4" vs. 8 1/2". This lightweight pistol was developed in 1948, to meet the Army request for a smaller military pistol, chambered for the 9mm NATO cartridge.
- Markings The markings of the right side of the slide followed the same pattern as the Government Model.
COLT'S MFG. CO. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A. (1949 - 1955) COLT'S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD CONN. U.S.A. (1956 ...)
Markings of the .45 caliber
Markings of the Super .38 caliber
Markings of the 9mm Luger caliber
All pre-70 receivers and mainspring housings were made of lightweight alloy advertised as "Coltalloy". From 1970 on, an all steel variation was introduced, under the name of "Combat Commander". A particular of the Colt Commander is the round hammer, which was perforated and had the spur area serrated. The slide was of the skeletonized type, as depicted in a previous chapter (Post War changes until the 1960s). All the other components followed the 1950-era Colt Government pattern. When
introduced, the "Commander" was offered in Colt blue finish only. The sides of the receiver were anodized glossy black, with a matte finish on the other faces (picture above). Other types of finish were offered on the Model 70 series. Note, that the Commander Models of a specific caliber cannot be converted in another caliber. Each caliber has its own receiver feeding ramp, barrel ramp, ejector and slide stop.
- Approximate serial ranges of the Colt Commander until 1982 Years 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982
Approx. serial ranges 001 66LW 6000LW 20300LW 30100LW 32200LW 34900LW 37200LW 38450LW 39200LW 39450LW 41501LW 42000LW 42400LW 43000LW 44151LW 45300LW 46951LW 49651LW 53401LW CLW001001 CLW005101 CLW009751 CLW013051 CLW016901 CLW017550 CLW019201 CLW024000 CLW029400 CLW032800 CLW039353 CLW042849 CLW045254 CLW047044
0065 5999LW 20299LW 30099LW 32199LW 34899LW 37199LW 38499LW 39199LW 39449LW 41500LW 41999LW 42399LW 42999LW 44150LW 45299LW 46950LW 49650LW 53400LW 60277LW CLW005100 CLW009750 CLW013050 CLW016900 CLW017549 CLW019200 CLW023999 CLW029399 CLW032799 CLW039352 CLW042848 CLW045253 CLW047043 ...
© 2004 Henrotin Gerard and HL Publishing (Belgium)
Colt "Gold Cup National Match" in caliber .45 ACP
Colt "Gold Cup National Match" serial # 02661N70 in caliber .45 ACP blue finish - adjustable trigger - Elliason rear sight - flat serrated mainspring housing serrated grip front strap - walnut grip plates
In 1957, Colt introduced a new "National Match" pistol designated as "Colt Gold Cup National Match". The mention "Gold Cup", though, was not present on the slide until 1970. Available in .45 ACP or .38 Special, the model was praised, as the most accurate out-of-the-box pistol on the market of the time.
The Model was fitted with:
Improved ejection port - skeletonized and hand fitted slide, with a flat grooved 7/16" wide rib on the top, an improved ejection port, and slanted serration moved forward 5/16". - selected barrel. - Colt-Accro adjustable rear sight, and Partridge 1/8"-wide front sight. Note, that Colt-Elliason rear sights became
standard in November 1964.
Chamfered recoil spring plug
- chamfered recoil spring plug, which was pressing against a matching chamfer on the barrel bushing. - larger, grooved and perforated, adjustable trigger, left bright unfinished on the sides, and with spring-loaded stop. - hammer, left bright unfinished on the sides, with half-cock notch designed to minimized sear wear (details below). - flat serrated mainspring housing, and serrated front grip strap. - custom fitted slide stop, and slightly re-shaped trigger guard. - walnut grip plates, with gold plated medallion.
- Approximate serial ranges of the "Gold Cup" until 1982 Years 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982
Approx. serial ranges 26NM 1580NM 3600NM 5550NM 7450NM 8850NM 10900NM 12500NM 14700NM 16600NM 19500NM 25450NM 32250NM 35800NM 70N02001 70N06201 70N08901 70N11301 70N22301 70N31600 70N40401 70N58700 70N66934 70N80735 70N92647 01000N70 11067N70
1849NM 3599NM 5549NM 7449NM 8849NM 10899NM 12499NM 14699NM 16599NM 19499NM 25449NM 32249NM 35799NM 37025NM 70N06200 70N08900 70N11300 70N22300 70N31599 70N40400 70N58699 70N66933 70N80734 70N92646 70N99999 11067N70 ...
Besides the classical safeties, the "Gold Cup" pistols were also fitted with a very sensitive sear mechanism, and a special device to prevent hammer rebound and following as the slide returns into battery. First, the hammer of the "Gold Cup" series is quite different from the standard Government model, in that it has a narrower first notch area. In the "Gold Cup" model of the 70's, the first notch also acted as a safety notch, with a retaining ledge to catch the sear. In the "Gold Cup" pistols of the Series 80, the retaining ledge was eliminated, and as such the first notch could no longer be considered as a safety notch. Its only purpose was to block the hammer, in case of rebound, and prevent it from reaching the firing pin.
Government model
Gold Cup Series 70
Gold Cup Series 80
As they were intended for accurate shooting, which requires precise sear-hammer engagement, the "Gold Cup" models were fitted with a specific sear, whose nose differs considerably from the usual Government model.
To minimize the wear of the sear nose, which constantly rubs against the hammer breast, the face of the hammer breast was narrowed, and the sear nose was modified, so that one part contacted the hammer breast, while the other, which engages the hammer full cock notch - was kept from making contact with the hammer breast.
The red area is the only area that rubs against the hammer breast.
As a consequence of that small area available for a sear-hammer engagement, added to a fine tuning of the parts angles, there is the potential risk of an accidental hammer release. It must be understood that in some cases, the trigger weight alone can be sufficient to exert a thrust, that will release the hammer. It is a well-known feature of the Colt .45,
that the trigger assembly can slide backward freely, by inertia, if the gun muzzle is raised. In such a case, the strike of the trigger bar against the disconnector can be sufficient to rotate the sear out of engagement with the hammer.
To remedy this problem, ultra-light hollow triggers, made of alloy, were proposed. Another issue, due to the limited engagement of the sear in the full-cock notch, was the possibility that the hammer would rebound during the firing cycle. To fix that, a new device was created, that had to be installed on the sear itself. The device holds in a single small spring-loaded part (green) known as the depressor. As shown on the drawings above, one leg of the sear has a hole drilled in it to accommodate a tiny spring, whose function is to actuate the depressor. The depressor is fitted on one of the sear's legs and is maintained by its two opposed shoulders (red arrows).
In classical Government models, when the trigger is depressed, the trigger bar pushes the foot of the disconnector, which in turn is supposed to meet and push the sear. In the configuration of the "Gold Cup" model, there is an intermediary part - the depressor - between the disconnector and the sear.
Progressively, as the trigger is depressed, the disconnector pushes the depressor against its spring, until the usual disposition of the parts (shown above) is achieved, where the trigger bar, the disconnector, and the sear are all in contact with each other. Going further would rotate the sear, and release the hammer.
Upon firing, the disconnector is pushed down by the recoiling slide, and separated from the depressor. On the separation, the depressor is instantly pushed by its small spring (green arrow), nested inside the sear. This cause the depressor's other shoulder (orange arrow) - opposed to the spring-loaded one - to strike the leg of the sear and keep the sear nose firmly against the hammer.
Above are shown the parts, from the rear of the gun : The sear (red arrow), the depressor (yellow arrow), the disconnector (blue arrow), and the trigger bar's rear face (green arrow). The yellow arrow shows the depressor's shoulder, which strikes the sear as explained above.
Colt "AMU" and kits in caliber .38 Special & .45 ACP
From .38 Special to .38 AMU In 1958, the Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU) at Fort Benning would have been behind the developments to adapt the .38 S&W Special revolver cartridge for use in automatic pistols. The .38 Special Wad Cutter cartridge used in revolvers has a wide rim, which obliged to modify the chamber of the pistol. But even with these modifications realized, the tests conducted proved to be not conclusive due to major feeding problems. As a solution, the rim diameter was reduced to .406", and the extractor groove was milled to obtain a semi-rim cartridge, with a thinner extractor rim measuring about .013" - .015"-wide. The resulting cartridge was the .38 AMU or .38 Special SR Mid-Range or Wad Cutter.
Colt furnished conversion kits to the Army Marksmanship Unit, which included a slide, a .38 AMU barrel, a bushing, a .38 ejector, slide stop number 3, a specific extractor, a firing pin, a recoil spring, and magazine. The kit could be mounted on Government Model or Super .38 receivers, and the slide was marked with the .38 AMU mention, on the left side as shown above.
- Kits in caliber .38 Special -
In 1964, Colt manufactured 300 kits in caliber .38 Special. The first 150 kits were delivered to a dealer named Gil Hebard of Knoxville, Illinois. This is why the serial number of these kits had a letter "H" as a suffix. The kits included a receiver with all the inner components mounted, and the other parts (slide, barrel, ...) delivered separately because these parts had to be hand fitted by a professional gunsmith. Note, that the front and rear sight were not furnished. Consequently, the assembled pistols were fitted with various type of sights. As these pistols were not assembled by Colt, they did not carry the usual Colt assembler markings or the Colt VP "verified proof" mark. The production staggered throughout the seventies, and approximately 600 units were produced in the serial range 00100H to 00703H. The .38 Special kit barrels were of the same construction as .38 AMU barrels: One locking rib and a shoulder for the rim seat at the front of the chamber.
- Kits in caliber .45 ACP -
Following the same pattern as the .38 Special kits, a series of kits in caliber .45 ACP were delivered to Fort Benning, where the parts were hand fitted and assembled to suit the needs of the Army Marksmanship Unit. These kits were produced from 1964 until 1972. The serial numbers, spanning from 00500-B to 01564-B, had a letter "B" as a suffix, standing for Benning.
Colt "Gold Cup National Match" in caliber .38 Special
The Colt "Gold Cup" .38 Special Mid-Range pistols were introduced on the market in late 1960, as a commercial alternative to the Military .38 AMU pistols.
As to their way of functioning, these pistols were greatly different from the AMU Models, because the barrel had no locking rib, and the principle retained was very close to a blowback system. However, the separation of the breech face from the chamber was delayed by the fact, that the barrel was slightly recoiling (3/32") with the slide upon firing (as shown in the drawings above).
The barrel had an elongated hole drilled through its hanging lug, and upon firing the barrel was pulled back about 3/32", through the cartridge case, which was dragging against the chamber's inner wall. The rearward move of the barrel was limited by the slide stop pin, passing through the elongated hole.
Colt "Service Model Ace" on firing The sharp recoil of the barrel imparted a great part of its momentum to the slide in the same manner as the "floating chamber" use in a "Service Model Ace" .22 LR conversion. At the end of the barrel rearward travel, a small return spring, housed into the barrel lug, pressed against the receiver, and forced the barrel back to its forward position.
In the first variation of the Colt .38 Spec. N.M. there was no headspace shoulder machined at the front of the chamber. The cartridge was supported by its rim, which was seating against the face of the chamber, and the lower part of the cartridge was not supported, because the barrel was cut away to create a feed ramp and an extractor slot. This configuration proved unsatisfactory. The second variation, designated Mark II, had an headspace shoulder to support the cartridge. However, this second model also failed to meet expectations. Production of the first two variations was extremely limited and are ranked among the rarest Colt pistols. The third variations, designated Mark III, featured an innovative chamber inner wall, which was coarsely threaded. The goal was to increase the time of exit of the cartridge case, and consequently delay the slide opening. This variation was not fitted with a chamfered recoil spring plug and bushing, but a standard hand-fitted bushing. To prevent followthrough of the hammer, a depressing device (as depicted in the chapter : Colt "Gold Cup National Match" in caliber .45 ACP) was installed on the sear. Notice, that the third variation can be found with an experimental barrel which has an enlarged diameter on half of its length to the muzzle.
- Approximate serial ranges of the .38 Sp. "Gold Cup NMR" until 1973 Years 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973
Approx. serial ranges 100NMRR 500NMR 3500NMR 3700NMR 4800NMR 5000NMR 5400NMR
499NMR 3499NMR 3699NMR 4799NMR 4999NMR 5399NMR 5900NMR
Very few made Very few made Very few made
5950NMR 7000NMR
6999NMR
9409NMR
Field stripping of the Colt Government pistol
Before beginning the dismounting of the pistol, the magazine has to be removed by pushing on its retaining latch, which is located on the left side of the receiver (red arrows above). Once the magazine is removed, cycle the slide to be sure that no cartridge remains chambered.
Depress the recoil spring plug, and turn the barrel bushing toward the right side of the gun (green arrows above).
Do it cautiously as the plug is under the pressure of the recoil spring, so keep firmly you finger on the checkered area of the plug while easing it out of its housing in the slide. Notice, that if the barrel bushing can ordinarily be turned with the fingers, it can happen that on tight hand-fitted guns, and especially on Series 70 pistols, a special wrench is necessary.
When the plug is out of the slide, remove it from the end of the spring. Note, that in some cases, the forward coil of the spring remains trapped behind an internal tab. A slight rotation of the spring should release it.
The next step is to align the small semi-circular cut located at the lower edge of the slide with the rear bump of the slide stop (two black arrows above). Cock the hammer first, to ease the operation.
Push on the right extremity of the slide stop shaft and remove it from the left side of the receiver. The slide assembly can now be removed toward the front out of the receiver, as shown above.
Remove the recoil spring with its guide out of the slide toward the rear.
Rotate the barrel bushing toward the left side of the slide, until its locking lug is aligned with the opening, and remove it toward the front.
Before removing the barrel out of the slide, tip the barrel link toward the front.
Colt Government field-stripped
Advanced dismounting of the Colt Government (1)
Using a punch, depress the firing pin until the retainer can slide downward to release the firing pin, and unlock the extractor.
As soon as the retainer is removed, the firing pin spring out of is housing, and can be pulled out, along with its return spring.
The removal of the firing pin retainer also unlocks the extractor, which can be removed by prying it gently out, with the tip of a small screwdriver, inserted in its locking slot.
The rear sight can be drifted out of its dovetail slot, by pushing it from the left toward the right.
© 2004 Henrotin Gerard and HL Publishing (Belgium)
Advanced dismounting of the Colt Government (2)
The dismounting of the receiver begins with the removal of the mainspring housing, which is retained by a cross pin, located at the lower rear edge of the grip.
The hammer being at rest, use a drift (or any other appropriate tool) of the proper size to push out the cross pin. Notice, that the pin has a convex face on one of its ends to prevent the pushing tool from slipping.
The mainspring housing can now be slid down, out of the receiver. If you encounter some difficulties, because of a tight adjustment of the mainspring housing, you can cock the hammer to exert some pressure on it.
The mainspring housing carries a small pin at its upper extremity, which can be drifted out (black arrow above), to release the main spring assembly.
The hammer being cocked, rotate the safety lever almost to the ON (safe) position while exerting an outward traction. When its internal locking stud is aligned with the frame aperture, the safety lever can be pulled out.
The removal of the safety lever releases the grip safety, which can be removed toward the rear.
When the grip safety is removed, the multipurpose leaf spring, which interact with the sear, the disconnector, the trigger and grip safety, can be lifted out of its retaining slot in the grip frame.
The spring (and attached plungers) which provides tension to the hold-open lever, and the safety lever, can be pushed out and removed by the rear of its tubular housing. Note, that the tunnel is riveted to the frame, and should be left in place.
Advanced dismounting of the Colt Government (3)
From the right side of the receiver, push the pivot pin of the hammer toward the left, and remove it.
When its pivot pin has been removed, the hammer can be lifted out of the receiver.
The hammer strut is attached to the hammer by a loose pivot pin, which can be easily removed.
From the right side of the receiver, push the pivot pin (red arrow) of the sear/disconnector, and remove it by the left side.
The sear and disconnector can be removed from the rear of the frame. Remember how they are positioned together, for correct reassembly later.
While the magazine catch is kept depressed, using a screwdriver, turn the slotted head of the catch retainer to the left, until it enters its rest slot, cut inside the catch shaft.
When the retainer is locked into the body of the magazine catch, the latter can be taken out, toward the right side of the receiver. The retainer and its spring can be dismounted from the catch body; by simply turning the retainer back to the right.
After the magazine catch has been removed, the trigger can be pulled out from the rear of the frame.
The grip plates can be removed by simply unscrewing their two retaining screws.
Operation of the Colt Government
Insert a loaded magazine into the handle, and push it until the magazine catch engages in the retaining slot of the magazine shell.
Hold the pistol firmly in the right hand with your finger outside the trigger guard, and while grasping the slide at its serrated section with the left hand, pull the slide rearwards as far as it can go. It is preferable to cock the hammer before the cycling of the slide, otherwise the mainspring tension will be added the one of the recoil spring.
When the slide is released, it is pushed forward under the pressure of the recoil spring (red arrow above), which is located below the barrel. The breech face strips the first cartridge in the magazine and chambers it. During the horizontal and vertical move of the cartridge case, the extracting groove is engaged by the claw of the extractor.
When the pistol is held firmly, the grip safety is depressed by the web of the hand, and the grip safety extension (red color) is lifted, to allow the rearward move of the trigger.
In the Colt Government, the trigger does not act directly on the sear, but through an intermediary part called disconnector (shown in red above).
When the trigger is depressed, its rear extension bears against the lower extremity of the disconnector, which contacts the sear and put it out of engagement with the hammer full cock notch. When released, the hammer is pushed through its strut by the mainspring, and it rotates at great speed, to strike the firing pin. It imparts a part of its energy to the firing pin, which subsequently flies toward the cartridge primer, which is exploded. When at rest, the firing pin remains out of contact with the cartridge primer, because of its forward return spring. When the cartridge explodes, the gasses expand in
all directions, and as long as the bullet travels down the barrel, the same amount of gas pressure is exerted against the bullet, and against the emptied cartridge case. As a result, the backward thrust of the gasses inside the cartridge case presses the head of the case back against the breech face.
In the Colt Government, barrel and slide are locked together by the locking ribs on the top of the barrel, which engage in corresponding recesses in the slide.
On firing, slide and barrel remain locked together when the pressure of the burning gasses is at its maximum. The brass cartridge case expands until being tightly bound to the wall of the barrel chamber, and this prevents any rearward gas leakage. At this point, one could say that the cartridge case becomes integral with the barrel, and consequently to the
whole slide through the barrel-slide interlocking. Consequently, it is the bullet which offers the lowest resistance to the gasses thrust, and which is pushed with the higher speed down the barrel, while the same gasses thrust progressively overcomes the greater resistance of the slide-barrel and recoil spring compound. When the bullet leaves the barrel, the gasses dissipates in the open air, and the pressure quickly drops to zero. The expanded cartridge case recovers its initial size and is detached from the inner wall of the chamber. Under the initial momentum imparted by the gasses pressure, the barrel recoils by swinging backward on its pivoting link, which is fixed to the receiver by the hold-open latch shaft, passing through it. As the barrel is forced downward by its link, it progressively disengages its locking ribs from the recesses in the slide, until the latter is released and can fly backward.
As soon as the slide begins its recoil, the disconnector is forced down (blue arrow above). The disconnector will remain in this low position until the slide is back into battery, and correctly lock against the barrel. This lowering of the disconnector breaks the link between the trigger bar and the sear. The sear can then rotate freely to re-engage the hammer cock notch.
From this point on, the shooter will not have another possibility to shoot again, until his finger continues to depress the
trigger. He must release it to permit the extremity of the trigger bar to be repositioned ahead of the sear (left drawing above).
Draw the mouse over the drawing to start the animated sequence
During its rearward travel, the slide rotates the hammer, to its full cock position, where it can be engaged in its notch by the sear.
Meanwhile, the extractor (green arrow above) carries the empty cartridge case out of the chamber, until the case strikes the ejector (red arrow above), and is hurled out the gun through the ejection port.
The magazine follower has a step (black arrow above) on the left side, which progressively moves upwards after the firing of each cartridge. When the last cartridge is in line, the follower step is positioned below the inward extension of the holdopen latch.
When the last cartridge is fired, the step of the follower lifts the hold-open latch, which snaps into a recess on the underside of the slide (green circle). The slide is then retained open.
Pushing downwards on the slide stop, will release the slide. If a loaded magazine was previously inserted, the first cartridge in line, will be automatically chambered.
Functioning of the thumb safety
Long and integral axis pin at the rear (seen from the top)
Same but seen from below
The thumb safety has on its under face a long axis pin, which crosses the pistol frame. The safety rotates around this long pin.
On the forward area of the same under face stands a strong stud, which has two deeply cut areas (black arrows above).
- Hammer cocked and safety OFF
Hammer cocked and safety set to OFF
When the hammer is cocked and the safety lever set to OFF (in its lower position), on can see in the drawing above, that the cuts in the safety stud allow the sear to rotate and disengage the hammer cock notch. One can also see that there is no hindrance to the rotation of the hammer, which can freely fall on the firing pin.
- Hammer cocked and safety ON
Hammer cocked and safety set to ON
When the safety lever is raised to its ON position, on can see that the lower edge (red arrow above) of the locking stud is positioned almost against the rear extension of the sear (black arrow in the detailed drawing
above). Moreover, the middle edge (yellow arrow above) is such positioned, that the hammer is no longer able to rotate.
- Hammer uncocked and safety disabled
Hammer at rest
Hammer retained at the safety notch When the hammer is positioned at rest against the firing pin, or retained by the sear at the safety notch, the safety lever cannot be rotated, because its upper edge remains locked by the under surface (yellow arrow above) of the hammer body.
Animated sequence of the 1911 A1 firing cycle Draw the mouse over the drawing to start the animated sequence
