Nice website and an ambitious undertaking. Here are a few observations on the nomenclature of U.S. weapons.

"Colt 1911 / 1911A1

Colt General Officer

Colt 1917

S&W Victory Model"


1. Several contractors manufactured the M1911A1 pistol during WWII, principally Remington-Rand, Ithaca, and Colt. While the ordnance nomenclature is "U.S. Pistol, cal. .45, M1911A1," I suggest shortening this to M1911/1911A1, rather than using "Colt."

2. Ditto the M1917 revolver. Smith & Wesson and Colt each made about 150,000 of these during WW1, so the designation is M1917 cal. .45. The caliber would distinguish the revolver from the M1917 Enfield rifle, which, by the way, was not called the Pattern 1914 in the U.S. military.

3. The factory name for the S&W revolver is "Military & Police." Some collectors distinguish between pre-Victory and Victory, saying that the Victory model began with the 'V' prefix examples. Not I, not I, but using the factory term would eliminate any confusion on this matter.

4. The U.S. shipped about 600,000 of these M&P revolvers in cal. 38 Smith & Wesson to Britain and the Commonwealth Nations. It was not indigenous to G.B., so perhaps doesn't fit your criteria.

5. "Colt General Officer." This is the Colt M1908 pocket pistol in cal. .380 Auto. Only about 3,100 were bought by the U.S. I don't know whether it was called the General Officer pistol during the war, but it was ordered for the generals. The U.S. also bought about 17,300 Colt M1903 pocket pistols, cal. .32 Auto, many for use by the OSS. The M1903 and 1908 are the same pistol in different chamberings.



If you haven't done so, buy a copy of Hogg and Weeks Military Small Arms of the Twentieth Century. It would be a fine reference for your project.

JT