There are some differences in who was being issued Colt 45. Mine was made in 1946 and has the brown grips. It was a direct issue that came with the canvas and leather holster along with six canvas mag holders. I received this as a replacement,while I was recovering in Australia.
My first issued was returned to me and that one was required that I turn it in to the Amory before I could go home. I absolutely loved that piece, I had it dialed in and I felt more comfortable having it on my left side.
I had done a bit of work on the one I have now.
I had no clue it was worth the money I was offered at the time I was selling my dad's German Luger in 2007.I found it in his big steamer trunk. He had told me that he took it from a dead German officer.
The Luger was registered in the archives, they kept very good records of just about everything. I had the officers name and all official documents about him. He had a wife and five children. Three had survived the war and were four, six,and seven years older than me. I offered it to them and they only wanted their fathers documents. I sold the Luger for a ridiculous amount of money and sent it to them with their father's documents.
He was killed by artillery in Italy.
Now there's just one of his children left and he is in a nursing home. I'm glad that I could offer them some closure and enough money to make a difference.
I have plenty of souvenirs and documents from WW2 . My uncle was killed at his Radio station while dropping Pathfinders behind German lines. All of the stick jumped out, but the aircrew were killed. I have pictures of a German officer pointing at the bodies. It's a very interesting story and how thorough the German military kept their records. The bodies weren't identified correctly at the time of burial. I have copies of the speech General Eisenhower gave, labeled Top Secret.
I haven't shot my 1911 in years, I was reloading for all of my guns and I have quite a supply. I doubt if my hands could stand that kind of a beating. More like I need to have surgery on both.
I might check out what some of these 1911's are going for.
