Question about (apparent) import marks on new, old 1911A1

MLeake · September 7, 2012, 04:53 PM

I just acquired a WWII issued Colt 1911A1 in a trade deal. It's a nice pistol, but lost any collectible value when somebody reblued the gun and stippled the front and back straps - which is fine, I was looking for an old shooter, not a collector's piece.

The gun came in today, and I noticed it has what appear to be import marks. They are on the frame near the trigger guard, and the slide near the ejection port, both on the right side. They consist of a crown over the letters BNP.

Am I correct in thinking this was a lend-lease gun to the British military, that has found its way back to the US? Or do those markings mean something else?

Pics:

Oh, yeah... took it to the range today (it's raining, so my back pasture wasn't a good option), and it shoots very nicely. I may like this thing better than my semi-custom. It's in my holster now...

B. Lahey · September 7, 2012, 06:10 PM

Neat pistol.

As far as I can tell, the crown and BNP stamp only means that the pistol was proven at the Birmingham Proof House at some point in its life. Could be a lend-lease gun, could have been sold on the british commercial market, both, or neither.

More info:
http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=179055

MLeake · September 7, 2012, 06:13 PM

Thanks.

September 7, 2012, 04:53 PM	#1
MLeake Senior Member Join Date: November 15, 2007 Location: Outside KC, MO Posts: 10,128	Question about (apparent) import marks on new, old 1911A1 I just acquired a WWII issued Colt 1911A1 in a trade deal. It's a nice pistol, but lost any collectible value when somebody reblued the gun and stippled the front and back straps - which is fine, I was looking for an old shooter, not a collector's piece. The gun came in today, and I noticed it has what appear to be import marks. They are on the frame near the trigger guard, and the slide near the ejection port, both on the right side. They consist of a crown over the letters BNP. Am I correct in thinking this was a lend-lease gun to the British military, that has found its way back to the US? Or do those markings mean something else? Pics: Oh, yeah... took it to the range today (it's raining, so my back pasture wasn't a good option), and it shoots very nicely. I may like this thing better than my semi-custom. It's in my holster now...

September 7, 2012, 06:10 PM	#2
B. Lahey Senior Member Join Date: March 17, 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 2,857	Neat pistol. As far as I can tell, the crown and BNP stamp only means that the pistol was proven at the Birmingham Proof House at some point in its life. Could be a lend-lease gun, could have been sold on the british commercial market, both, or neither. More info: http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=179055 __________________ "A human being is primarily a bag for putting food into; the other functions and faculties may be more godlike, but in point of time they come afterwards." -George Orwell

September 7, 2012, 06:13 PM	#3
MLeake Senior Member Join Date: November 15, 2007 Location: Outside KC, MO Posts: 10,128	Thanks.