Norwegian Kongsberg Colt

[doc540]

Crossed paths with a friend at a gunshow today.

He's had this for about 30 years and didnt know anything about it.

It appears to be a genuine Kongsberg.

I suggested he hold on to it.

[beetle]

Hi.

Norwegian Kongsberg Colts are interesting pieces -- they certainly have a lot of history associated with them. From the pictures above it appears the grips and trigger are incorrect. Original grips should be blackened birch and the trigger should be a long trigger with the last three serial numbers stamped into it. It also looks the matching slide stop lever has been lost.

What's neat is that you can get a factory letter from the Kongsberg Museum for these. It shows the date of manufacture and who it was sent to -- much like a Colt factory letter. I have a Nazi marked Kongsberg and the letter shows that it was sent to Armeeoberkommando Norwegen (Army Command Norway) on March 1945, a few months before the war ended.

Neat piece of history, thanks for sharing!

[doc540]

So, the slide stop is the design later than 1927?

[JudgeColt]

So, the slide stop is the design later than 1927?

I think beetle means the slide stop serial number does not properly match the gun.

[doc540]

I think beetle means the slide stop serial number does not properly match the gun.

Yes, I understand now.

And neither does the thumb safety.

[beetle]

I think beetle means the slide stop serial number does not properly match the gun.

Yes that is what I was referring to -- that the serial #s don't match. By the way, did you know sarco still sells these "norwegian style" slide stops? while it looks weird it does make the gun easier to operate one handed.

Here's mine. 1945 Nazi Marked M1914. By the way I don't think the grips are correct on mine either.



Here's the letter I was talking about:


Something about the ironic nature of this M1914 appeals to my fascination of history. How a gun that pretty much represents USA ends up being used by the "other side". I bet John Moses Browning turned over in his grave when they started making them for german use!

[Oyeboten]

Hi Beetle,


The Stocks on your Norwegian .45 look correct to me.

Close images of their back sides might help to say for sure.


Magazine would be Lanyard Loop type, and, the base would be painted Black on these, with the body of the Magazine being Nickel Plated...which is what yours appears to have, just as it should.


The original correct Holsters and Magazine Pouches for these are very nice also...if somewhat scarce of course.


If you wished to sell yours, I would be interested.


I missed getting one of these when they seemed to flood the 'market' back in the 1980s, and at the time I just thought they were ugly. Lol...and, my appreciations have evolved, since then, and...now I really like them.

[Abe Anglin]

I missed getting one of these when they seemed to flood the 'market' back in the 1980s, and at the time I just thought they were ugly. Lol...and, my appreciations have evolved, since then, and...now I really like them.

The earlier examples from the teens and twenties are far more attractive, but lack the history and irony of the 1940's production pieces.

I know where one of those is currently located and offered @ $1400.00 in a west coast gunshop ... you can contact me for details, if you're interested.

[Oyeboten]

The earlier examples from the teens and twenties are far more attractive, but lack the history and irony of the 1940's production pieces.

Yes...

The urgency of broader conditions in WWII seems to have recommended eliminating some of the usual steps in the final finishing of quite a few Arms produced by or under the direction of the Germans.


Irony wise, now that I muse on it a moment, WWII would seem to have many ironies as far as Hand Guns which were actually used by German forces, and, the farther down the ranks, or the farther from home, the more odd and curious the variety, also.

I expect Germany holds the record for sheer variety all tolled.

But also odd and curious examples such as ( or so I have heard anyway, of ) Japanese Home Guard in 1945 armed with ecclectic arays, including 1870s Smith & Wessons, either ones bought by Japan originally, or, Russian Models, brought back from Russia in Russian-Japanese War...often enough having only three or so very old Cartridges in their Cylinders.


Of course all those Colt Government Models with the Crowned Double-Headed Eagle Crest rolled on to their Slides, which were purchased form Colt by the Czarist Government prior to the so called 'revolution' having been imposed on them, never have re-appeared, and, their where-abouts remains a mystery.

I know where one of those is currently located and offered @ $1400.00 in a west coast gunshop ... you can contact me for details, if you're interested.

Very nice of you, thank you!

PM sent...

[B.C.]

Wow..i didn't even know such things existed......the things I learn on here.