My new inheritance!

Jake, What Happened to the hammer ? It takes quite a bit of force to do damage like that . How long has it been in your family ?

From what it looks like it was cut off, reading up on this particular gun (1918 model) it was known for hammer bite when shooting so soldiers would cut the hammer down to stop it from happening


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jakelongwood said:

From what it looks like it was cut off, reading up on this particular gun (1918 model) it was known for hammer bite when shooting so soldiers would cut the hammer down to stop it from happening


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just what I was thinking. I put a small square Band-Aid on the web of my shooting hand to keep the hammer from biting me. it works. nice old family piece. was it used in WW1?

A soldier would be in trouble if he was caught for damaging a weapon to that extent, plus making it unsafe to lower the hammer. Just a sixteenth or so off the bottom edge of the hammer spur cures the pinching.

During the original design of the pistol that became the Model 1911 there was no safety lock. Since most of the pistols at that time would be issued to troopers it was decided that a safety lock was needed in case a trooper had a round in the chamber with the hammer cocked and trying to control his horse. The safety lock could be applied until he got to a place where the hammer could be safely lowered. The troopers were not authorized to carry the Model 1911 "cocked and locked" except in the case of an emergency as noted above.

No soldier chopped the hammer - the ramifications wouldn't've been pleasant - that happened later.

Your pistol was part of a 6000 weapon shipment on April 22, 1918 - to the Commanding Officer, Springfield Armory.

Great gun! You need to talk to the old timers in your family about this gun and WRITE DOWN any history associated with it. Keep that info with the gun.

Nice old War Horse!

Jake, welcome to Coltforum and congratulation on your fine old 1911! Thanks for showing it to us.

That is a freaking awesome looking firearm

That's cool moose!


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Terrific Jake.

Ever get into money trouble DO NOT SELL IT.

Put it in a drawer. Its eats nothing.

EVERY American male should have at least one Colt .45 Auto.

Its a birthright.

Definitely will not be sold, it has more sentimental value to it than any price tag, it was given to me by my father in law, that shows how much he really thinks of me and that's what makes it so special


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Yes, your very fortunate to have a Father in law like that. Many of us wish we did.

Nice to have an old WWI Colt like that.

Unfortunately, the 1911 my father in law carried in WWII was stolen from his home by his maid service just a few weeks prior to his death in 1983.

Nice 1911! a hammer to replace it would be nice. Who knows when it happened but it was surely cut down for the hammer bite.

Keep it, pass it down and get all of the history while you can NOW.

congratulations....im envious