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Title:	PISTOL, SEMI-AUTOMATIC -  U.S. PISTOL MODEL 1911 .45 SN# 58327
Maker/Manufacturer:	BROWNING, JOHN M.
Date of Manufacture:	1913
Eminent Figure:
Catalog Number:	SPAR 1455
Measurements:	OL: 27.9CM 11" BL: 18.5CM 7 3/8" W/LENS

Object Description:

U.S. PISTOL MODEL 1911 .45 SN# 58237
Manufactured by Colt, Hartford, Ct. in 1913. Modified by Springfield Armory in 1914 - Modified M1911 recoil-operated, semi-automatic pistol. Equipped with a lens set in barrel and light bulb in chamber. The magazine has been modified into a battery holder. Intended as training device to aid in aiming. This is the only "Flashlight Pistol" ever made. Blued finish; standard checkered walnut grips with diamond panels. This weapon was originally shipped to SPAR from Colt on 12/10/13.

Markings:
Frame: NO 58237. Left side: U.S. PROPERTY. WGP in circle. WGP = Walter G. Penfield.
Slide: MODEL OF 1911. U.S. ARMY. Left side: PATENTED APR. 20, 1897/SEPT 9, 1902. DEC. 19, 1905. FEB. 14, 1911. COLT'S PT. F.A. MFG. CO./HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A. Rampant Colt.

Weapon transferred to the Museum from the Ordnance Office, Washington, D.C. on 29 May 1915.

Army #1455 - "Designed to cast a ray of light onto the target for training purposes. Designed and tested in 1913 and 1914. The only one of this model ever made. References: (Incls. 1,2,3,4,5, & 7 of O.O. 13092/3048)."

Notes: This is one of 600 pistols sent by Colt to the Springfield Armory on December 10, 1913.

"Small electric light for use with the Colt automatic pistol - This is made of such dimension that it may be inserted in the cartridge chamber, the light being operated by a battery concealed in lower part of magazine. The purpose of this attachment is to show by a spot light on the wall the point where the bullet would strike, ignoring the curvature of the trajectory." - Springfield Armory, 1914.

"An interesting and unique experiment was conducted at Springfield Armory in 1914 in an effort to produce a practice pistol using a projected beam of light. The project was undertaken pursuant to a directive from the Adjutant General to the Chief of Ordnance dated December 26, 1913, 'directing the construction of a flashlight for insertion in the cartridge chamber of the Colt's automatic pistol.' The pistol used in the experiment was a Colt Model 1911, serial number 58237.
On December 29th, the Chief of Ordnance directed the '...manufacture of one electric searchlight for automatic pistol.'
On February 24, 1914, the completed pistol was forwarded from Springfield Armory to the Office of Chief of Ordnance with this description.
'The construction of this pistol is as follows: The lamp itself is a small tungsten bulb, such as is used in small Ever-Ready pocket flashlights....this lamp is mounted on an empty cartridge case, one terminal being grounded to the case, the other terminal is carried to the insulated base of the cartridge from which a small wire leads to a switch in the upper part of the magazine, which is operated by pressing on the trigger pistol. From this switch, another wire leads to the to the top terminal of battery concealed in lower part of the magazine, the other terminal or battery is grounded to the receiver through the follower and magazine.
In front of the lamp a tube carrying a lens is inserted in the barrel being held there by friction between its outer surface and the lands of the barrel. This tube can be moved in or out to change the focus....
It is necessary to remove the extractor to prevent its short circuiting the lamp as well as to prevent it extracting the lamp when the slide is pulled back. It is also necessary to remove the forward end of the firing pin to prevent its traveling far enough forward under its own momentum to damage the lamp.
The thickness of the battery used is greater than the width of the magazine so that it is necessary to remove the stocks of pistol to insert or remove batteries. This also prevents the magazine from being pulled out and the breaking of wire connecting lamp and magazine when the battery is in place....
To remove the lamp pull the slide back far enough to enable the lamp to be withdrawn from the chamber by a screw-driver or other pointed instrument. Remove the lamp and let it lie on top of magazine. The magazine and lamp can then be withdrawn in the ordinary manThe pistol failed to work when received at the Ordnance Office and was returned to Springfield Armory for repair on March 5th with one suggestion.
'...The pistol is returned...for repair of the light. It is suggested that the connection between the cartridge base and the switch terminal be made with a single cord of well insulated stranded wire, to prevent the possibility of a short circuit.'
The pistol was repaired, the suggestion incorporated and the pistol returned to the Ordnance Office on March 9th. The pistol was then sent to the Commanding Officer, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery, for test and recommendation.
The bulb was broken during the testing and the pistol was returned to Springfield Armory on June 19th with instructions to repair it and to furnish additional batteries and lamps.
...Several months elapsed before the pistol was forwarded to the Chief of Ordnance on October 31, 1914. The delay was due to efforts to secure a more serviceable lamp. Accompanying the pistol were these comments from Lt. Colonel W.S. Peirce.
'Three lamps were developed and manufactured by the Edison Lamp Works of the General Electric Co. One of these was used up in experiments at this Armory; the other two are being forwarded.'
The pistol was then sent, on November 14th, to the Commanding General, 2nd Division, Texas, with instructions from the Adjutant General to test it and render a report.
The tests continued through May of 1915 but problems continued to be encountered with both the bulbs and the batteries. As a result of the difficulties encountered, the project was terminated.
On May 17, 1915, the Adjutant General notified the Chief of Ordnance that, '...the Secretary of War has disapproved the adoption of the flashlight attachment for use with Colt's automatic pistol, caliber .45.'
The pistol was returned to the Ordnance Office on the same date. On May 29th it was sent to the Springfield Armory Museum where it presently remains." - Edward Scott Meadows

"On December 29, 1913, the Chief of Ordnance directed Springfield Armory to manufacture an experimental searchlight for a M1911 automatic pistol. The purpose was to test the principle of using a trigger-actuated light for aiming practice. The light was installed in Colt pistol, serial number 58237. The lamp was mounted in an empty cartridge case, one terminal being grounded to the case and the other terminal connected to the insulated base of the cartridge. A wire from the cartridge case led to a switch in the upper part of the magazine. The battery was concealed in the lower part of the magazine. Pressing the trigger operated the switch, which turned on the light. The tube holding the lens was inserted into the barrel, being held by friction between its outer surface and the lands of the barrel. The tube could be moved in or out to change the focus. The extractor was removed to prevent its short-circuiting the lamp, as well as to prevent extraction of the lamp when the slide was pulled back. The firing pin was shortened to prevent its traveling far enough forward under its own momentum to damage the lamp. Although the principle was satisfactory, it was not sturdy enough to withstand the had usage and was rejected by the Secretary of War on May 17, 1915." - Charles W. Clawson

See, Annual Report-1914. Clawson, COLT .45 SERVICE PISTOLS, pp. 99-100; Meadows, U.S. MILITARY AUTOMATIC PISTOLS 1894-1920, pp. 455-457.

References:
Clawson, Charles. W. COLT .45 SERVICE PISTOLS. Charles W. Clawson. Ft. Wayne, In. 1993.
Harrison, Jesse C. HARRISON'S NOTEBOOK. U.S. MILITARY ARMS. FROM DOUGHBOY TO DOGFACE, INDIVIDUAL WEAPONS. 1903-1955. The Arms Chest. Oklahoma City, Ok. 1999.
Meadows, Edward Scott. U.S. MILITARY AUTOMATIC PISTOLS 1894-1920. Richard Ellis Publications, Inc. Moline, Il. 1993.