Old 1911 Help with Markings

[jcooper9099]

I recently helped my dad pick up his fathers 1911. The family story is that it is the gun my grandfather carried in WW2 as a Sargent. The serial number dates to 1915 (115,xxx). Stamped US property on the right hand side of frame. G.H.D marked above the magazine release (this is from my memory, i know it's somewhere on the gun). There are several "P" marks on the pistol. The gun is all blued with some wear, looks like holster wear. Also some markings I can't make out looks like a C with 2 lines through it.

Would a gun made in 1915 have been issued during or around ww2? What is the GHP marking?

 

[Jim Watson]

That's GHD = Guy H. Drewry, the Army's chief inspector for Colts being produced at that time.
P = Proof mark, gun tested with overload and inspected.

C with two lines through it - Beats me, show close clear pictures.

A 1915 made gun issued in WW II? Sure. There were no great numbers of pistols produced in peacetime. Until wartime production ramped up, well into 1942, most of the guns issued were in inventory from WW I era.

 

[jcooper9099]

Thanks Jim. Can you recommend a good resource that will help me learn more about identifying the pistol and which parts are replacements. I know the grips are post war pachmyer rubber grips. My grandad was always big on refitting grips, stocks even triggers.

 

[Jim Watson]

I am not a big time collector and get most of my information at www.coolgunsite.com

This board is a great reference and if you post close clear pictures, somebody or somebodies here will help out.

 

[AJumbo]

The folks at www.m1911.org are knowledgeable and helpful; look for the Collector's Corner tab.

 

[jcooper9099]

Thanks guys. I realize that I should have typed GHS instead of GHD. That's what I get for my memory. GHS would indicate an inspector mark from 1915 but I swear it says GHD.

 

[jcooper9099]

I took another look at the gun. It is marked GHD and the serial is in the early 1 million, indicating that it's from 1944. Which makes more sense with the GHD mark. Now on the right side there is stamped this funny thing. It looks to me like a C with lines through it but could it be the "crossed cannons"?

 

[rcmodel]

Yes, that is the crossed cannons.

http://www.trfindley.com/pgsnstmpsm1.html

http://coolgunsite.com/images/inspect marks/insp marks.htm

rc

 

[Jim Watson]

Looks like it was double struck or the stamp bounced.
These were mass produced guns and the inspector checked it was ok, gave it a whack, and moved on.

 

[Nushif]

Just as a small tidbit or rather nitpick ... your grand-dad or whoever served may be appreciate of it being "Sergeant" since Sargent I believe is a family name. 8)

The big question is .... are you gonna shoot it? If so, how's it feel?