Posted on 10/15/2019 11:49:40 AM PDT by PROCON
Based on the original WWI-era blueprints, the new Black Army replicates the guns Colt made for the military during 1918 and early 1919. (Photo: Colt)
For those looking for a GI M1911 with classic Great War styling without the classic Great War price, Colt could have just the ticket.
Teased by the Colt Collector’s Association as coming soon, the new Colt Black 1911 Black Army is listed on the company’s website as a “vintage limited run.”
The so-called “Black Army” .45s is a term often used by collectors to describe the late World War I finish techniques applied to Colt’s 1911s from about mid-1918 through early 1919. Although given the standard brushed Carbonia Blue finish, like the pistols that preceded them, it was applied to more roughly finished frames and slides, which resulted in a noticeably darker hue that looked almost black in certain light. As few of these wartime guns escaped later arsenal parkerization and modification to the follow-on M1911A1 standard, correct “Black Army” models are highly sought after, commanding prices in the $7K range.
Colt’s new take on the Black Army of yesteryear carries a dark matte blued finish complete with the vintage longslide’s replicated rollmarks and inspector’s marks. While externally it looks ready to crawl across No Man’s Land in the hands of a Doughboy to hunt for the Kaiser– with a smooth straight mainspring housing, WWI style manual thumb safety, and lanyard loop– on the inside, it is a 70 Series Colt.
MSRP is $999, a price that puts it on par with the current production Colt 1991 Government. Sorry, due to state restrictions in California, Massachusetts, and Maryland, it is not compliant in those states– even though its ancestor was a hundred years ago.
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Make a great traditional Wind Bunch gun. Even with the itty bitty sights.
Only thing Colt I might buy would be a Python that was in great condition and fairly priced.
Yeah, I’m interested but, I live in Kamalafornia
Good as the M1911 was, there are better modern automatic pistols nowadays from Baretta, Glock, SIG Sauer and so on.
I imagine the Black Army is interested.
Make friends with a Cop.
The 1911 A1 shortened the hammer spur and lengthened the grip safety spur to eliminate that source of self-wounding.
I have had several original early 1911s and I have the small scars to prove it.
define "fairly priced": I have a 1967 Python I have advertised for $2,500..
I would love to have one. I do think the 1911A1 modifications while minor did improve the handling.
Appreciate the correction. I could do without the scars myself so I’ll opt for the later model.
I want to like Colt 1911s and I just bought a Series 70. But I’m not all that impressed though. Every other range trip something happens with it. It it isn’t the lube, its the extractor, or grip, or ammo, something....seemingly endless root causes for the occasional misfeed.
This is by far the most picky pistol I have.
I would be interested.
Kimber, too. I have several.
Does John Moses Browning’s estate still get royalties? Think of it, this design is better than a century old and yes there have been improvements BUT Colt thinks they can sell this copy of the M1911! What a genius that man was! Anybody still firing their Browning High Power?
I am except I live in the People’s Republic of MD.
I hate this state.
Ray, you are sadly misguided and ill informed. I am sorry for you.
As a resident of Connecticut I refuse to purchase any firearms made in this state or anything else for that matter.
The way I look at it,Why feed a corrupt beast known as the government of Connecticut.
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