US Army M1911 Colt Pistol / Revolver Technical Ordnance Manual - Infantry - Airborne - Ranger - 1946

Rare U.S.A. official army manual specifically related to the infamous M1911 Colt Pistol used by various units, including officers and airborne. This is the official edition for ordnance personnel, those responsible for weapon repairs and inspections. It is even rarer than the regular pistol manuals you occasionally see. This edition is from 1946 but covers only the models used in WW2. It features beautiful plates, drawings, and information on maintenance and use.

Great rare item and highly illustrative for your USA collection, especially if you own a demilitarized M1911 Colt or US revolver. You don't find this manual easily!


History of the Colt M1911
World War II and the years leading up to it created a great demand. During the war, about 1.9 million units were procured by the U.S. Government for all forces, with production undertaken by several manufacturers, including Remington Rand (900,000 produced), Colt (400,000), Ithaca Gun Company (400,000), Union Switch & Signal (50,000), and Singer (500). New M1911A1 pistols were given a parkerized metal finish instead of bluing, and the wood grip panels were replaced with panels made of brown plastic. The M1911A1 was a favored small arm of both US and allied military personnel during the war, particularly prized by some British commando units and Britain's highly covert Special Operations Executive, as well as South African Commonwealth forces.[27][28][29]

The M1911A1 pistol was produced in very large quantities during the war. At the end of hostilities, the government canceled all contracts for further production and utilized existing stockpiles of weapons to equip personnel. Many of these weapons had seen service, and had to be rebuilt and refinished before being issued. From the mid-1920s to the mid-1950s, thousands of 1911s and 1911A1s were refurbished at U.S. arsenals and service depots. These rebuilds ranged from minor inspections to major overhauls. Pistols refurbished at government arsenals are usually marked on the frame/receiver with the arsenal's initials, such as RIA for Rock Island Armory or SA for Springfield Armory.[citation needed]