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Kongsberg Colt

104K views 90 replies 62 participants last post by  Veesionary 
#1 ·
Talk about a "chance in the force" for a country, after issuing the Nagant revolver for many years, Norway adopted the Colt Model 1911 in 1914. But with a twist or two. In addition to the United States, many other countries around the world adopted the Model of 1911 pistol. One of the first happened to be Norway. Having adopted the 7.5mm Nagant revolver in 1883, Norway used this and the model 1893 Nagant for some 30 years until it was replaced by the .45 ACP caliber Colt Model of 1911. Indeed, the first of these pistols were purchased from Colt.

Small arms genius John Browning designed pistols for both Colt and Fabrique National (F.N.), of Belgium. It was agreed that Colt owned the patents on pistols that Browning designed for Colt, and that Fabrique National owned the patents on Browning-designed F.N. pistols. It was also agreed each company had exclusive right, license and privilege to manufacture, or have manufactured, automatic pistols containing Browning patents. Each company could exercise these rights in their own territory without interference from the other company.

Norway began testing automatic pistols in 1909, and through 1912 a Board of Officers continually reviewed all native or foreign pistols submitted to it. Prior to 1910, Colt submitted both the .38 and .45 Military Models with the .45 Military Model being most favorably received. During 1909 and 1910, this pistol was used as the standard against which all others were judged.

Late in 1911, Colt submitted what may have been a pre-production sample of the .45 Military Model of 1911 that was even better received by the Norwegian Military Board. By 1912, the pistol was approved and adopted into Norwegian Service with a nomenclature: COLT AUTOMATISK PISTOL MODEL 1912.

A New Legend?

Colt was given an order for 400 .45 ACP caliber Government Model pistols to be delivered as soon as possible. These pistols were taken from commercial production sometime in the latter part of 1913, or during the first months of 1914. Commercial serial numbering was used with the standard "C" prefix, and while serial numbers are unrecorded, they are believed to have been in the 10,000 range. It's reported this entire order was issued to the Norwegian Navy.

Norway contemplated placing larger orders for the pistol when World War I began, and may actually have purchased another 300 guns, but before negotiations could begin for additional orders, the United States had entered the war and all of Colt's production was taken by the U.S. Government. This prompted the Norwegians to manufacture their own version of the pistol. However, licensing Norway to make the Browning-designed Model of 1911 pistol required the approval of Fabrique National, because Norway was in its territory.

In January, 1915, negotiations between the Norwegian Government, Fabrique National and Colt resulted in a license agreement permitting Norway to manufacture the Colt Government Model (1911) pistol for issuance to Norwegian Military Forces. Designated as the Model 1914, the pistol was produced at Norway's Kongsberg Vapenfabrikk in Kongsberg, Norway. Some of the Government Model pistols Norway had purchased from Colt were probably used as models during production startup. What royalty arrangements were agreed upon for Norwegian production is unknown.

Norway's 1911

Production of the Norwegian Model 1914 pistol began at Kongsberg in the summer of 1917, and the first pistols were assembled and tested in December of that year. Made in .45 ACP caliber, the designation was in millimeters as 11.25mm. The original nomenclature of "COLT AUT. PISTOL M/1912," was stamped on the left side of the slide. Between July, 1917 and June, 1919, a total of 500 pistols were fabricated at the Kongsberg factory. Beginning at #1, the serial numbers ran to 500, and the year of manufacture was also included.Serial 1 is in Bady's book " Gouvernment Models", its whereabouts today is unknown, and serial number 2 was stolen from the The Norwegian Armed Troops Museum in 1978.
They really want that gun back!

These pistols were identical to the Colt Model of 1911, except for a minor detail in the hammer checkering. During the two year period required to produce the first 500 pistols, a complete mass production tooling took place. By 1919, the Kongsberg Arsenal was ready to begin high speed quantity production of the pistol.

The final production pistol exhibited certain design changes from the original 500 pistols. In this version, the slide stop is extended down and back, assuming a tail-like shape to make it easier to operate. This change required a cut-out in the left stock. Although this was the only significant change to the pistol throughout its production, the new version also had a new designation. The left side of the slide is stamped "11.25 m/m AUT. PISTOL M/1914."

The first specimens of the Norwegian M/1914 pistol numbered from 501 on. Initially finished in blue, the M/1914 pistol was equipped with hardwood grips checkered in the large diamond pattern found on the original Colt Model of 1911. How many pistols used grips made of walnut is not known, but at some point, the hardwood used was light in color, and the grips were blackened using a paint-like stain. There was no lanyard loop on the M/1914 pistol.

Manufacture of the M/1914 continued periodically through 1941. During the German occupation of Norway, manufacture of the pistol was continued, and specimens produced under German control have Waffenampt acceptance marks, and are quite rare since most did not survive the war.The fraction of pistols produced and their affirmation varied greatly from month to month. This was because the workers at Kongsberg Vaapenfabrikk, most against the German occupation, rarely worked at full capacity. This was done as a silent challenge against the Germans. Often the pistols and other weapons produced were of poor quality, this also due to the protest.

Some of the most rare are the "Matpakke-Colt" (lunch box Colt) that were made out of parts smuggled out during WW2 by workers and passed down by resistance forces.
These have usually no serial markings or acceptance marks and the finish is usually not completed.

After the war, limited production continued for about a year. This run of M/1914 pistols was identical to those made during the war, but without the Waffenampt markings. By 1946 a total of some 33,000 Norwegian 1911-type pistols had been made by Kongsberg Arsenal.

At some time during its production, the M/1914 pistol was changed from a blued to a Parkerized finish, and during this time its exterior became less refined than previous pistols. Nevertheless, all major and many minor parts are stamped either with the pistol's entire serial number or the last three digits preceded by a period. All M/1914 pistols were made in the 1911 configuration with none of the improvements found in the Model 1911A1 pistol. Disassembly is identical to the Colt.

Values of unaltered Norwegian M/1914 pistols vary with age and condition, and there are at least five variations for the collector, with each of them commanding their own price. The few M/1914 pistols made after NAZI occupation are relatively unknown.

The Kongsberg Colt was phased out of use in the 80's.

What price can you really put on this kind of history? I wonder how many were "converted" by unknowing pistol-smiths over the years and now tote adjustable sights and speed safties?

I know that it exists a wery good book about the Kongsberg Colt.
Kongsberg-Colten by
Karl Egil Hanevik

Sadly, it is on norwegian only.



Before the Kongsberg Colt was phased out, some of them was checked for fatigue cracks. A lot of them had fatigue cracks in the frame, barrel lugs, top of cartridge chamber and around the cartridge chamber. They was then deemed to "be unsafe in a peace situation".
So, if you have a orginal Kongsberg Colt and is planning to fire it.. Have it checked by a competent gunsmith!

Kontrollofiserer= officer of approval and control.
The * star symbol was used on parts that had minor faults, but was still accepted.

How .45 acp is was measured in "norwegian".

Any comments ?
 
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#3 ·
My collection of Norwegian used Colts ++

Here are som of my Colt collection:

1. Colt 1911 S.N. 18678
1 of 400 delivered to the Royal Norwegian Navy in June 1915
The pistol was in Norway named M/1912


The holster are marked:
G.& K.
1918
A.G.


2. Kongsberg Colt M1914 S.N. 30462 Stamped 1945 and WaA 84
Delivered to the German High Command in Oslo Norway (AOK Norwegen) in May 5. 1945.
This is one of the last hundred pistols shipped to AOK.

The holster are a std. Norwegian holster.


3. Kongsberg Colt M1914 S.N. 32656 Stamped 1947
Past final inspection and delivered to factory store May 7. 1948.
Deliverd direct from factory store to IR 6 (Army Infantry Reg. no.6 ) on July 2. 1948

The holster are a std. Norwegian holster.

4. Kongsberg Colt M1914 No S.N.
During the war several pistols was stolen as parts and brought out of the factory by the resistans.
The gunsmiths at det factory assembled Krag rifles, Colt Pistols ang Colt vatercoold machinguns
outside the factory during the night.
This is one of the pistols.


Sorry the pictures of complete pistols were no good so i have to get a better flashlight.
 
#9 ·
Thank you for all of this information!
My sister actually works for the Automotive Division of Kongsberg (long since split away from the military products division), and my god mother grew up in a town not far from Kongsberg's HQ in Norway.

Just interesting stuff to stash away in my brain if I ever see a 1914 at a gun show...

Thanks,
JAG
 
#10 ·
Visaman: thank you for the posting and congratulations for a job well done. I want to comment in regard the "measurement of the caliber .45 in Norwegian". Norway, being a "metric" country, measured the caliber using the metric system in the metric way, meaning measuring the bore between the ridges and in millimeters. The Argentineans did the same with their Sistema Colt pistols that read on the right side of the slide: CAL. 11,25mm. Maybe it is not just a coincidence that these two countries were licensed by Colt to manufacture the Government Model pistol and that both indicated the caliber of the pistol in metric units.
 
#13 ·
newly aquired m1914 a little info please

hello all!!! wow what a day!! i have aquired two 1911"s today< both of which id like some info on. the first is a kongsberg colt m1914, serial number 5698. the condition of this weapon is probably in the 90 to 95 percent range. the second is a little odd!! it is a colt 1911< but my neighbor, a long time retired army ranger, found it in the Wokong river just outside of saigon on his second tour of vietnam. the frame is badly pitted, and gun was fitted with a newer replacement slide and barrel. it functions and fires flawlessly. serial number on this one is 371547. it has a number 6 stamped on the right side of the trigger guard, and it says property of united states us army on the right side. it also has a very faint 83 hand engraved on the palm safety, possibly a last two of a dog tag #?? any info would be greatly appreciated. thanks,,,,,larry
 
#15 · (Edited)
I have what I think is a Kongsberg Colt from the descriptions mentioned in the forum. I bought it privately about 20 years ago from a friend that was in the military.
On the left side of the slide: 11.25m/m Aut. Pistol M/1914 No. 32792
Above the No.32792 between the 7 & 9 looks like a crown with a fancy "K"
On the right side it has: 1947
On the Barrel in the "window' it has: .45 Auto, 7791183, 85
Is this a Kongsberg and what's it worth? (for insurance purposes)
 
#22 · (Edited)
Hello,

It seems all the image links are broken ? Shame.

This one was sold at an auction here in Switzerland November last year for 2'400.- Swiss francs (abt. the same in US$).



Built 1925, all numbers matching except magazine, Very good original finish with small spots of wear, original dak lackered grips. Magazine without lanyard loop,. Serial number 8780. Condition 1 (meaning very good).
 
#23 ·
Here's mine.

It's one of the ones assembled under German supervision in late April 1945, but the war ended and the Germans retreated and handed the Kongsberg Arsenal back to the Norwegians before it could be proofed with the rare, desirable, and insanely valuable German Waffenamt eagle proof.

It's all original and all matching.

The rather crudely made holster and unique Norwegian 3 pocket magazine pouch are WW2 German manufacture. The pistol belt is pre-war Norwegian. The other holster is Norwegian Navy pattern - I'm not sure if it is late pre-war or very early post-war. And of course 3 spare Norwegian magazines to go in the mag pouch.
 

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#24 ·
Kongsberg with Waffenamt eagle proof marking

I just inherited a Kongsberg with the Nazi proof mark on it and would like any info anyone has on it. All I know about it is that it was made in 1945 and that they are rare. Anyone know the value of these pistols or where I can go to learn more about it?
Thanks in advance for any info you may have!
 
#26 ·
How many 1914 were produced by Kongsberg arsenal?
I've never seen that many of them around, would it be a better collectible than a WWI 1911?
Recently I've seen a Springfield 1911 made in 1918 , if I'm not wrong Springfield made about 45K of them.
I'd like to get a nice collectible piece but I'm a bit undecided what to get, considering that a Kongsberg would cost around USD 2,400.00 while for the Springfield they ask almost twice as much.
 
#27 ·
hey guys, I am pretty much new on the 1911 arena and I have been reading in my spare time tons about the 1911 and their cousin,the 1914.

Colt45acp, in total approximately 32,000 Norwegian M1914 pistols were produced, 8,223 during Nazi occupation. Of the 8,223 made for the Germans, only 920 had the waffenamt applied – marking the gun as a Nazi “1911.”
 
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