WWI US Colt Model of 1911 U.S. Army “Lunch Box Special” .45 ACP Pistol
SOLD FOR: $1,575
WOA#: WY231018JB001
Make: Colt
Model: 1911
Serial Number: NSN
Year of Manufacture: Late WWI Production
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine
Markings: The left side of the slide is marked “PATENTED APR.20.1897.SEPT.9.1902 / DEC.19,1905.FEB.14,1911.AUG,1913” “COLT’S PT.F.A.MFG.CO. / HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A.”. The right side of the slide is marked “MODEL OF 1911.U.S.ARMY”. The right side of the frame is marked “UNITED STATES PROPERTY”.
Barrel Length: 5”.
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a short rounded blade. The rear sight is a flat-top “U” notch dovetailed into the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered walnut with smooth diamonds around the grip screws. The grips show light moderate handling wear. There is a gash in the left grip and a few compression marks overall. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. The grips rate in Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blued, Black Army
Finish Originality: Original except for the safety lever, takedown lever, grip safety, and hammer.
Bore Condition: The bore is semi with sharp rifling. There is infrequent minor erosion in the bore.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 25% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The finish is very infrequent throughout. There is some scattered very minor surface oxidation. There is a nick on the right side of the slide. There is some scuffing on the top of the slide and a few other minor marks. The action shows light operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The trigger pull is a bit heavy but has a crisp break. We have not fired this pistol. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with a total of one two-tone 7-round magazine.
Our Assessment: The 1911 and 1911-A1 pistols served the military of the United States from 1911 to 1985, through two World Wars and the Korean and Vietnam wars. They gained a reputation as a reliable handgun with plenty of stopping power, and are held in high regard by those who have used them. The design was the end-result of a series of developments by famous gun designer John Browning, starting with the Model 1900. The advances made by Browning were revolutionary at the time, and were so successful that they are considered commonplace today. Browning not only developed first a pivoting and then a tilting barrel to allow for a locked system, he developed the concept of “the slide”, which is now synonymous with semi-automatic handguns.
During the late stages of WWI, factories like Colt and Remington-UMC were producing the M1911 pistol at a significant rate to meet the demands of the war. The M1911, designed by John Browning, had already established itself as a reliable and effective sidearm. In this high-production environment, it wasn’t uncommon for factory workers to assemble their own 1911 pistols from parts they gathered and often take them home in their lunch boxes hence the name “Lunch Box Special.”
These pistols were typically not serialized officially or recorded in factory logs with little to no stampings or inspection marks, making them unofficial products of the factory. However, they were often assembled by skilled hands as the factory workers who would spend each and every day crafting and assembling these, were the same crafters of the commercial and military issued pistols. The “Lunch Box Special” 1911s vary in terms of parts and finishes, as workers would sometimes use rejected parts that were still functional, made to be functional, or mix and matched from different production runs.
For collectors and historians, a “Lunch Box Special” 1911 is more than just a firearm. It’s a piece of history that tells a story about the ingenuity and “resourcefulness” of American workers during a time of global conflict. These pistols embody a personal touch from the era of their creation, each one unique, with a character and backstory that sets it apart from standard military-issue sidearms. They are coveted for their rarity, historical significance, and the glimpse they offer into an intriguing aspect of American firearms production during World War I and II. Please see our photos and good luck on your bid! – L.S.
