Most likely it was a 1911 .45 cal made by Colt......JJ

Originally Posted by Clay

hello
I purchased a new M and P 9c the other day, cant wait to shoot it, it feels great and I have read good things about it. I have a question that has nothing to do about anything but
I was talking to my dad the other day. He was an MP in the Korea war. I asked him what side arm he carried and he really didnt remember. He remembers it was a 45 caliper but thinks it was a colt but he is not sure. Could he have been carying a M and P hand gun? would all the servicemen carry the same pistol, or does it vary depending on job, or rank, or preference etc
Thanks
Clay

The standard issue sidearm of the US forces from 1911 to 1985 was the M1911, Colt was the primary manufacturer although there were a couple others during war time (WWI and WWIII) if it was a semi-automatic, it was probably a Colt as that fits his recollection, but then again I've heard some old timers refer to any 1911 as a Colt when they weren't.

There were some revolvers scattered about the US Military during that time, there were Colt and S&W revolvers chambered in .45ACP, and some .38 models here and there, but as an MP, I'd wager it was a 1911 of some sort.

Originally Posted by VAMarine

The standard issue sidearm of the US forces from 1911 to 1985 was the M1911, Colt was the primary manufacturer although there were a couple others during war time (WWI and WWIII) if it was a semi-automatic, it was probably a Colt as that fits his recollection, but then again I've heard some old timers refer to any 1911 as a Colt when they weren't.

There were some revolvers scattered about the US Military during that time, there were Colt and S&W revolvers chambered in .45ACP, and some .38 models here and there, but as an MP, I'd wager it was a 1911 of some sort.

thanks

By the time of Korea, it had been awhile since any new .45s had been made. Most of the M1911A1s I saw were a mix of parts. There were many made by Remington Rand, a few by Springfield Armory (The real Springfield Armory in Massachusetts) Union Switch & Signal as well as by Colt. Officers usually glomped on the better guns regardless of manufacture. Having a Colt made pistol was desirable, but not always possible.

I did see a few M1917 Colt revolvers, but these were few and far between.

General officers were given a Colt M1903 Pocket Model pistol in .380 ACP, and CID agents carried Colt Detective Specials in .38 Special. Aircrewmen carried various guns, usually provided at their own expense.


Bob Wright