[Skunkabilly]

Were any changes made to the 1911 between WW2 and Vietnam? Or essentially the same pistol? Would one of the 'WW2 repro' models on the market be, essentially Vietnam or Korean War repros as well?

Dsk, et al?

TIA,
Sk

[MrAcheson]

As I understand it, most of the 1911s used by the military in Korea and Veitnam were left over from WWII. This is part of the reason that by the time the 1911 left service people were complaining about its poor accuracy and reliability.

[Sean Smith]

Last I checked there were no 1911 pistols purchased after 1945.

[Old Fuff]

The last time the government purchased any model 1911-A1 pistols was in 1945, or perhaps early 1946. Thereafter those pistols were rebuilt as necessary, rather then replaced. At the time Uncle Sam had no shortage of pistols, or so it seemed. The parts used for rebuilding were leftover from World War Two or new parts made to the same blueprints, but sometimes with better steel or heat-treating. Slides were marked with the name of whatever contractor that made them. So those used in Korea and Viet Nam were WW-2 period guns.

As an aside: During the Korean War the New York State National Guard purchased some commercial guns from Colt because they expected to be called up (as they were) and the Army had ask for the return of .45’s they had. These guns have New York markings and were blued rather then Parkerized.

So-called “National Match” pistols made at Springfield or Rock Island Arsenals were made up using WW-2 frames.

If substantive changes had been made the pistol would have become the “model 1911-A2.”