British-proofed Colt 1905 Auto

**Nyles** · 07-30-2010, 10:30 PM

I just received this Colt 1905 automatic, made in 1911 and shipped to Colt's London Agency the same year. It has British proofs on the slide, frame and barrel. It's a later model with the spur hammer and lanyard ring, and isn't grooved for a shoulder stock. Unfortunately, it's been refinished, but for a gun this rare I'll live with it!

**Walkwolf** · 07-30-2010, 11:11 PM

Wow............

Gorgeous, rare Colt 1905 Nyles - even refinished it looks grand.......................!

The RAF 1911 is a very nice example as well. I too have a British proofed 1911, made in 1915,
but nowhere near the condition of yours. Someone before me changed the barrel back to
standard US .45 caliber and replaced the grips with newer 'Diamond' replicas.
It has also been rather poorly refinished !

Timeless Browning designs...........!

**Eric Zentner** · 07-30-2010, 11:15 PM

Very Very cool great condition.

relic360 · 07-31-2010, 03:35 AM

Nice guns.

**Nyles** · 07-31-2010, 04:36 AM

Thanks for the compiments!

The 1911 is still in .455 and made in 1919, I really lucked out on it. Met an old fellow at a gun show who was liquidating his collection after not buying a gun since the 80s. I persuaded him to show me the list of what he still had at home and I put down down $100 on it sight unseen. He brought it for the second day of the show and by the time I got there he'd already rejected 6 people trying to buy it out from under me! I got it for under $1000.

**Walkwolf** · 07-31-2010, 05:13 AM

by Nyles

Thanks for the compiments!

The 1911 is still in .455 and made in 1919, I really lucked out on it. Met an old fellow at a gun show who was liquidating his collection after not buying a gun since the 80s. I persuaded him to show me the list of what he still had at home and I put down down $100 on it sight unseen. He brought it for the second day of the show and by the time I got there he'd already rejected 6 people trying to buy it out from under me! I got it for under $1000.

I can see why........it does look almost mint !

Mine was in such a sorry state that it was purchased for under $200,
but this was about 20 years ago. I think someone tried to 'hot-rod'
or modify it for competition, because the ejector port has been
filed back and the rear sight was a ramp type, which I
replaced with an original. I reshaped the front sight
myself and also found a correct magazine.

If you'd like, I'll put a shot or two of it up for comparison,
Excellent vs Below average !

The only other Colt 1905 Auto I've seen had no blue left ..........

**Nyles** · 07-31-2010, 09:41 PM

Hey, I'm always up for looking at old guns, throw 'em up!

**Walkwolf** · 08-01-2010, 01:06 AM

Here it is............

There is a broad arrow mark on the frame, and what looks like two crossed
guidons or flags on poles below it - the same as yours has.

I've just noticed how crappy my photography is, but you can still see where
material behind the ejector port has been removed.