Rifle Magazine

72 Pages·2017·17.196 MB·English

RRIIFFLLEE
®
Sporting Firearms Journal
SPECIAL EDITION
Genesis of a
sporting rifle:
GUNS OF
Mauser’s ®
Gewehr 98
WORLD
The pistol that
changed the world: WAR I
Colt 1911
.45 ACP
The Legendary
1903 Springfield
Artillery Lugers
and Broomhandles
Rifle Special Edition
Featuring the Small Arms
of the Great War!
Display until 12/04/17 Printed in USA
2017

TABLE of CONTENTS
6 Automatic Pistol, 44 British .455
Sporting Firearms Journal
Caliber .45, Webley Revolver
ISSN 0162-3593
Model 1911
Terry Wieland
Special Edition - Fall 2017
Mike Venturino
Publisher/President – Don Polacek
Page 6 . . . Publishing Consultant – Mark Harris
Editor in Chief – Lee J. Hoots
Editor Emeritus – Dave Scovill
Managing Editor – Roberta Scovill
Copy Editor – Andrew Buskey
Page 50 . . .
Senior Art Director – Gerald Hudson
14 German Gewehr 50 U.S. Revolver, Production Director – Becky Pinkley
Model 1898 Caliber .45, Contributing Editors
Mike Venturino Model 1917 John Barsness Stan Trzoniec
Mike Venturino John Haviland Mike Venturino
20 U.S. Rifle, Brian Pearce Ken Waters
Gil Sengel Terry Wieland
Caliber .30,
Advertising
Model 1903
Advertising Director - Tammy Rossi
Mike Venturino
[email protected]
Advertising Representative - Tom Bowman
26 Lee-Enfield No. 1, [email protected]
Advertising Representative - James Dietsch
Mk III [email protected]
Advertising Information: 1-800-899-7810
Terry Wieland
Page 32 . . .
Circulation
Page 56 . . . Circulation Manager – Marie Wolf
[email protected]
Subscription Information: 1-800-899-7810
58 British Pattern www.handloadermagazine.com
1914 .303 Rifle® (ISSN 0162-3583) is published bi-monthly
by Polacek Publishing Corporation, dba Wolfe
Page 32 . . . Mike Venturino Publishing Company (Don Polacek, Pres ident),
2180 Gulfstream, Ste. A, Prescott, Arizona 86301.

Telep hone: (928) 445-7810. Periodical Postage
paid at Prescott, Arizona, and additional mailing
64 Mannlicher
32 Germany’s Luger offices. Subscription prices: U.S. possessions – sin-
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Model 1895
and Mauser Pistols Foreign and Canada – single issue, $5.99; 6 issues
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Charles E. Petty Terry Wieland for first issue. Advertising rates furnished on re-
quest. All rights reserved.

Change of address: Please give six weeks notice.
38 U.S. Rifle, Send both the old and new address, plus mailing
label if possible, to Circulation Dept., Rifle® Mag-
Caliber .30, azine, 2180 Gulfstream, Ste. A, Prescott, Arizona
86301. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to
Model 1917
Rifle®, 2180 Gulfstream, Ste. A, Prescott, Arizona
86301.
Mike Venturino
Canadian returns: PM #40612608. Pitney Bowes,
P.O. Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2.
Wolfe Publishing Co.
2180 Gulfstream, Ste. A
Prescott, AZ 86301
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]
On the cover . . . © Polacek Publishing Corporation
Publisher of Rifle® is not responsible for mis-
Top to bottom: A Colt 1911, a
haps of any nature that might occur from use of
Model 1903 with Montana Vintage published loading data or from recommendations
by any member of The Staff. No part of this pub-
Arms B5 scope, a German Gewehr
lication may be reproduced without written per-
Model 1898 and an Artillery Luger mission from the publisher. Publisher assumes
all North American Rights upon acceptance and
with snail drum. Photos by
payment for all manuscripts. Although all possible
Yvonne Venturino. care is exercised, the publisher cannot accept re-
Page 38 . . . sponsibility for lost or mutilated manuscripts.
4 www.riflemagazine.com Rifle Special Edition

GUNS OF WORLD WAR I SPECIAL EDITION
A P ,
utomAtic istol
c .45,
Aliber
m 1911
odel
Mike Venturino
Photos by Yvonne Venturino
U
pon adoption of the Brown- A fact sometimes unrecognized is that the .45 Auto
(aka .45 ACP) cartridge actually preceded the U.S.
ing-designed and Colt-man-
Model 1911 by several years. The Browning/Colt part-
ufactured pistol designated
nership first developed a Military Model 1905 .45 (aka
the U.S. Model 1911 .45, likely Colt Model 1905) expressly for government trials. Af-
no one involved in the process imag- ter its failure in harsh conditions, it was put out for
civilian sales while John M. Browning set to work
ined it would remain in American
developing a stronger, more reliable autoloader. More
military holsters for almost 75 years. tests were conducted in 1909, 1910 and finally 1911,
After all, only 64 years had passed when Colt’s new submission fired 6,000 rounds with-
out a single part breaking or other significant prob-
since the U.S. Army adopted its first
lem. It was officially adopted on April 21, 1911.
repeating handgun, the Walker/Colt
The initial contract between Colt and the U.S. gov-
.44 cap & ball. Yet, the intense and ex- ernment set the new pistol’s price at $14.25, including
one magazine. Extra magazines were 25¢ each. That
tensive effort of all parties involved
initial contract had three interesting provisions: The
– including the U.S. Army’s Ordnance
U.S. government could have Model 1911s produced at
Department – in testing the designs its own arsenals, but each one made would result in
submitted over a period of years re- a $2.00 royalty paid to Colt; none could be made be-
fore Colt produced the first 50,000; and government
sulted in one of the most successful
production could not exceed more than one-third of
military weapons ever.
all Model 1911 production. With the government’s first
6 www.riflemagazine.com Rifle Special Edition
The primary handgun for World War I American troops was the Colt 1911
.45 Auto. Note the two-tone magazine with lanyard ring issued until circa
1918. The ammunition box is dated 1915.
contract to Colt amounting to over $450,000, it was a blade dovetailed to the slide, so it at least was roughly
major financial boost to the company. adjustable for windage. A relatively tiny blade front
Another notable fact includes Colt’s manufactur- sight staked into the slide meant there was no pro-
ing prowess circa 1911. In the following three years, vision for changing elevation point of impact. These
Colt produced and delivered slightly more than 72,500 pistols were (supposedly) sighted to hit point of aim
.45 auto pistols to the government, which allowed the at 50 yards with government-issued ammunition. The
U.S. government to begin manufacture of the design Model 1911’s finish at this time was full blueing with
at its own arsenals. The initial assignment was given stocks of checkered walnut.
to Springfield Armory, with production actually be- According to The Model 1911 and Model 1911A1,
ginning in 1914. However, America’s entry into the war Military and Commercial Pistols by Joe Poyer,
in April 1917, caused Springfield production of hand- 1912 specifics for .45 Auto ammunition included a
guns to cease in favor of U.S. Model 1903 rifle manu- 230-grain full-metal-jacketed bullet with velocity of
facture. Slightly less than 26,000 U.S. Model 1911 .45 830 fps. Interestingly, I have an unopened box of .45
Springfield Armory pistols were made. Auto ammunition dated 1915 with indications that ve-
As intended upon its adoption in 1911, the new .45 locity was 825 fps, plus or minus 25 fps. Bullet diam-
autoloader was meant for limited issue to the U.S. eter was specified as .451 inch with case length of
Army with the majority of pistols going to the cav- .892 inch (minimum) to .898 inch (maximum). Case
alry. Whereas officers and noncommissioned officers design was rimless, with the same head configuration
(NCOs) were issued pistols in infantry units, along as used for the .30-06.
with members of crew served weapons – of which An interesting fact concerning the new military
there were few in the American army circa 1911. Each .45 autoloader’s development pertains to its intended
enlisted cavalryman was armed with a pistol in ad- horseback calvary use – that is, it had three safety
dition to a saber and U.S. Model 1903 rifle. The U.S. mechanisms. One was the grip safety used earlier on
Navy and U.S. Marine Corps adopted the U.S. Model Colt’s .32 and .380 Pocket Pistols; unless the pistol’s
1911 in 1912. grip is held firmly, it cannot fire. This was considered
Specifics of U.S. Model 1911s included a 5-inch bar- a good feature for horsemen who might become un-
rel and a weight of 2½ pounds with magazine capacity seated in combat while their pistol ends up going in
of seven rounds. Sights were a simple notched rear any direction. (The lanyard loop on early magazines
2017 www.riflemagazine.com 7
This Colt Model 1911 came with a custom holster
marked “R.G. Winckler” and is dated 1931.
1911s is the half-cock notch. Even by both sides seeking prisoners –
a mild blow could break it, and a or just to cause the enemy stress.
modern handgunner must wonder Soldiers often engaged in such
why it was incorporated at all. raids using only handguns, and
A World War I U.S. Army cavalryman
displays his guns. The U.S. Army quickly sent grenades. The Model 1911’s hand-
its new pistols to troops in the iness, power and its ability to be
and Model 1911 pistol butts was field, with first combat use in reloaded quickly found favor with
also meant as a preventative mea- 1913 during the Philippine Insur- American troops in those close-
sure for this eventuality.) A sec- rection. The first cavalry charge range encounters. Worthy of men-
ond safety for Model 1911s was a with Model 1911s occurred in 1916 tion here is that Corporal Alvin
manually operated lever on the left against Pancho Villa’s troops in York used a Model 1911 in part of
side of frame. In the downward po- northern Mexico. The real test of the intense fight for which he was
sition, this safety is off, but when America’s first autoloading com- awarded a Medal of Honor.
pressed upward it is engaged. This bat pistol was in France’s trenches The U.S. has had an unfortunate
insured that while carrying one in 1918, when America’s great push habit of entering wars unprepared
with a chambered round, 1911 pis- against Germany’s war-weary, but in terms of men in uniform and of
tols were not apt to be fired acci- still effective, troops helped end small arms for them. This was es-
dentally. It is noteworthy, in regard the four-year conflict. pecially true with America’s decla-
to military tactics, that the manual By all accounts, the Model 1911 ration of war against Germany on
safety cannot be engaged without served well in the mud, dust and April 6, 1917. Envisioning no quick
the hammer being fully cocked. Fi- weather of World War I battle- end to the conflict, the U.S. gov-
nally, the third and certainly least fields. Included in the ground com- ernment scrambled about while
positive safety feature of Model bat of this war were trench raids giving contracts to just about any
manufacturer seemingly capa-
ble of producing weaponry. Prior
to declaration of war, only Colt
and Springfield Armory produced
Model 1911s. Soon thereafter, Colt
was given an immense contract
for another 500,000 pistols, with
government planners envisioning
a need for perhaps 2 million more.
By the end of 1917, Remington
Arms/UMC was contracted for
150,000 Model 1911s, with another
350,000 added to the order a few
months later. The company’s start
was extremely rocky. Gauges and
fixtures had to be constructed
Left, two clearly visible features of 1911s include a flat mainspring housing and a
nonbeveled frame at the rear of the trigger. Right, on the Model 1911A1 there is an so all parts of Remington Arms/
arched mainspring housing and a beveled frame at the rear of the trigger. UMC pistols interchanged with
8 www.riflemagazine.com Rifle Special Edition

those made by Colt and Spring-
field. Less than 22,000 Remington
Model 1911s were made before the
war’s end nullified contracts.
In an effort to reach that 2.5-
million mark for Model 1911s, the
government gave additional con-
tracts to several companies, among
them such well known American
armsmakers as Winchester Re-
peating Arms and Savage Arms
Corporation. One was even Cana-
dian: the North American Arms Slide markings as found on early military Colt Model 1911 .45 Autos.
Company Ltd. of Quebec. None
of these manufacturers actually movies. Along with the holster, were made, but those mentioned
shipped finished Model 1911s to when a soldier was issued a .45 are outwardly visible. Alterations
the U.S. government before war’s Auto, he received a double maga- began to be incorporated in the
end. All contracts were then imme- zine pouch made of web (canvas) mid-1920s. They caused the offi-
diately cancelled. The vast bulk of material. A “combat load” for the cial pistol designation to change
U.S. Model 1911s seeing combat in Model 1911 .45 therefore included from U.S. Model 1911 to U.S. Model
World War I were made by Colt. In three magazines with seven rounds 1911A1 (Alteration One). The gov-
fact, shortly before the war’s end each. U.S. Army doctrine did not ernment made it easy for armor-
in November 1918, Colt was able call for chambers to be loaded un- ers to discern the differences. Any
to produce about 2,000 .45 Auto til immediately prior to entering pistol with a serial number below
pistols each day. (Source: U.S. In- combat. 700,000 is a 1911; those with higher
fantry Weapons of the First World Although U.S. Model 1911 per- numbers are 1911A1s.
War by Bruce N. Canfield.) formance was considered excellent My first military .45 Auto was
To carry Model 1911s, soldiers during World War I, America’s ord- acquired in 1968, and many more
were issued leather holsters. The nance officers felt there was room have passed through my hands
first was a Model 1912 and the sec- for improvement. Bevels were cut since then. That said, my only
ond a slightly altered Model 1916. into the frame on each side to World War I Model 1911 is also my
The former had a swivel mecha- better facilitate shooters’ fingers all-time favorite military variant,
nism so the holster would rotate, reaching the trigger. The flat main- found almost by accident. I wasn’t
and the latter was simply oriented spring housing was replaced with looking for a .45 Auto but stopped
vertically on a pistol belt. Both an arched one to impede pistols by a gun show table manned by an
were full-flap types carried on the from rocking upward in recoil, and acquaintance. Among an array of
wearer’s right side with the gun’s the grip safety spur was lengthened goods, a Model 1911 with a well-
butt to rear. Interestingly, these to reduce “hammer bite” to the web worn, custom holster caught my
holsters came with leather thongs of shooters’ hands. eye. Very neatly carved into it was
for tie-downs as seen in cowboy A few other internal changes “R.G. Winckler, 1931.” His price
was so reasonable, I didn’t
hesitate. For some unfath-
omable reason, I shoot it
more accurately than any mil-
itary .45 Auto I have ever owned.
As close as I can tell, this pis-
tol is as original as those made 99
In only 64 years, U.S. Army handguns
evolved from the .44 cap-and-ball
Colt Walker (far left) to the Model
1911 .45 Auto.
10 www.riflemagazine.com Rifle Special Edition