Customer Reviews

Collector's guide to Colt .45 service pistols: Models of 1911 and 1911A1 : from 1911 to the end of production in 1945 : complete military identification, including all contractors

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Long touted as the standard reference for Colt 1911 collecting, at best this book should be required reading for beginning collectors and those who need to refresh themselves on the most rudimentary details of the subject. There is no question the book strives to be comprehensive in scope, however, more seasoned and knowledgable collectors, especially those who have collected observational data on very large numbers of examples, soon realize a growing number of deficiencies and shortcomings in this work. As in any intensive knowledge-growth field, the motto "Believe nothing of what you hear and only half of what you read" applies, and rings truer upon realizing many of Clawson's conclusions are based on very, very limited numbers of observations. In essence, he is attempting to recreate a complicated jigsaw puzzle with just a fraction of the pieces in hand. As examples, Clawson's claim that blue finish 1911A1's existed through serial number 760000 is simply wrong, as most long-time collectors agree the appropriate cutoff was more accurately around 735000. His blanket statement that 1911 pistols up to serial number 2400 had high polish finishes with fire blue parts is also inaccurate, as a good number of original U.S. Army and especially U.S. Navy pistols within this serial range have been observed with the dull type blue finish. Illustrating the precariousness of claims based on small numbers of data, Clawson attempts to summarize his (perceived) progression of barrel markings (G, N, 7, F, etc.) on COLT 45 AUTO barrels in the newly added appendix of the 3rd Edition, but close scrutiny of his data reveals a sampling of less than 1% of the total number of possible observations. As more observations have been made by collectors, his proposed classification is immediately called into question if not proven incorrect. A number of barrel markings have been observed that are not mentioned in his book, for example, 1918-1919 interlaced HP barrels with a small G underside the chamber. Clearly, the information presented in the Clawson book represents only a partial, incomplete picture, but that is the joy of collecting and researching an expanding field. Given these limitations, it is still viewed as a useful reference book, if not simply for the fact that no other comprehensive reference books have been published (yet).

Overall I recommend this as a good first text introductory discourse into the 1911 collecting field, with the expectation that most beginners will outgrow it with time and observational experience. Some cutting-edge 1911 specialists may well be amused by what they might perceive as an obsolete state of knowledge promoted by this book, but that is an unfortunate consequence of this continually evolving, dynamic body of knowledge. Once collectors in general keep in mind the number of deficiencies in the book and that already some of the interpretations based on limited data have recently been proven incorrect, the utility of the text becomes apparent. Still, a good supplement to the collecting experience when kept in check with more authoritative, up-to-date collector knowledge. It will be of great interest to see what other ideas in this text are challenged or proven wrong when Edward Scott Meadows' long-anticipated, upcoming authoritative textbook on 1911A1 pistols is soon published.

This is the recent, long awaited, affordable 3rd edition "small book". The BIG Clawson book is going for $700 and up. Excellent coverage of the 1911 and 1911A1 in all respects and a necessary guide to correct identification.

This ref book is must have for all new collectors of the best pistol ever made. The Colt 1911 and later version 1911A1 and it's other makers such as Remington UMC, Ithaca, Singer, Remington Rand, US&S and others helped this nation become the world leader that it is today. Thank you Charles W. Clawson for your research and attention to detail.

Had this book, bought for $ 58 in 1998. Now it's $ 400 to $ 700 which is ridiculous. It is the best book on Colt service models availble to the collector, but save you money and just buy a Colt