[M1903A1]

The finish changed very early on Colt M1911s, from a mirror-polished blue to the more familiar “Colt brushed blue”, and of those few pistols, not many survived with the original finish. And, as with the scarce Springfield Armory-made M1911s, many would have been used up in World War I.

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

I miss rust blue. I really do. What a beautiful finish and it was as tough as anything, just not all that corrosion resistant. But sure made for a beautiful finish.