Old rebuilt a thousand times mixmaster USGI 1911/A1. One of those saved my life once in a foreign land and are the ONLY legitimate GI 1911's. Why? Because they were actually used by GI's, fought in multiple wars, helping face down a deadly enemy, who feared facing them and whose pistols they often defeated. My WWII Marine Father taught me how to use one properly and in the most desperate of moments, the old rattle trap showed me why it was called the "Yankee Fist." I will always love these Genuine GI 1911's.

"Kid if your guns got matchin' numbers it ain't never seen combat" Bob Penny WWII armorer From North Africa to Normandy.

I'd love a Hi-Power version of this non instructional education viewing! To compare for artistic purposes of course! Thank you Mark!

Yummy!!! Deep - Fried 1911!! My favourite!! Thanks, Mark!

I am completely addicted to this channel. Amazing work as usual.

The first armed watch I ever stood was with a Singer 1911, in 1996.

Another great video Sir. Back in the late 1970s when I was in the Marine Corps my issue 1911A1 had been made by the Remington Rand Corp most likely before I was born, rattled like a box of rocks but that gun went bang every time I pulled the trigger and I hit what I was aiming at. Love me a 1911.

Bought one used. One grip bushing silver solder in. Slide was crack on one side. Tig welded and silver solder repaired. Feed ramp was ground downed to far. Barrel was cut and polished to work with the feed ramp. So had ramp cut out for a ramped threaded barrel.Slide had been repaired by gun smith back in 1973. Having the parts rust blued. Frame and slide coated with baked on paint that looks like bluing. Had no idea when I bought it that it needed so much work.

The one flaw Browning never was able to over come was the lose nut behind the sights.

Anvil and a 1911. I most definitely did not piss off God today.

There is no other pistol that I favor more than the 1911. Thank you Mark, for saving one more firearm from the effects of time.

I have a Colt 1911, and a Colt 1917, that my Father bought through the CMP before I was born, which was 1961. My Father died when I was three, and my Mother gave his brother, my Uncle Carol, the pistols to hold until I was old enough. On my 16th birthday, my Uncle brought them, plus a Ruger. Mk i .22, and showed me how to field strip, clean and lubricate them. It is in great shape, other than a circular scratch under the slide release, as the bore still has the broaching marks. I think I will take it out of the. safe and think of my Father and Uncle as I clean and oil it. Maybe a day at the range when all this 'Rona is done. Mark, I think you are the only smith I would have work on. it. Love all your videos. God Bless.

And the part where you talk about why Frankenstein feeds empties........... is missing?

There was a period of time when I was not a 1911 .45 fan. That time has passed, and now I want one. What a wonderful example of an iconic weapon.

Always a pleasure to watch a master gunsmith at work!. And as always!, can't wait for the next video!.

It's likely only the B-52 will serve longer in inventory than the 1911, and that is a testament to the B-52's ability to drop ordnance, and the 1911's ability to throw it forward. Albeit not to scale.

Man, that goofy ("clearly broken" when you first see it) spring. John Browning was trolling people before trolling was a thing.

Need to get one of these in Autumn's hands.

Numbers not matching just indicates that it was probably a “unit-issue” gun. I was Gunnery Officer in a WW-2 vintage attack transport (USS MONTROSE (APA-212) in 1968/69. I was “signed for” fifty (50) 1911-A1 pistols, all WW-2 vintage, but many different manufacturers. I would guess that all 50 of those guns had mis-matched numbers. Our small arms were retained in the armory, and issued as needed for boat crews, sentries, shore landing parties, etc. None were personal issue. Most of our on-board training was “familiarization firing” on the fantail of the ship. During these sessions, a couple dozen 1911s were fired by many different sailors, and after the sessions, all of the guns were disassembled, production line-style. One Gunners Mate would clean all the slides, another GM had all the barrels, another sailor cleaned all the frames, and so forth. Reassembly was done by yet another GM, with any part that was convenient to hand. After decades of this cleaning/reassembly process, surely every one of those guns had “mismatched numbers.”

Either a parkerized GI or a between the wars bright blued commercial Colt are the 2 best looking 1911s IMHO. Absolutely gorgeous. Thanks.

My first introduction to 1911 A1 was with the Marines can’t margarita doing a familiarization course in the medical battalion and I remember distinctly taking apart and putting it back together but the second time I did that I did it with my eyes closed and 20 bucks from my captain what a great day was remember that I was so proud of thatthree years later qualified, sharp shooter left and right hand halfway through if I would’ve just kept it on the lefty expert, but that’s OK. You do a great job Mark.

You're the best. We need to come see your shop sometime!

I had the pleasure of using one of those 45s in my Army days 72-76. I'd fire a round and then wait for the gun to think about cycling a fresh round for a while before finally doing so. When I got out of the Army I bought a 357 Ruger Police Service Six in stainless steel so I could use it as a combination handgun and boat anchor for my 10 foot flat bottomed boat. I prefer a revolver that doesn't have a mind of it's own and one doesn't need to be a brain surgeon to keep it cleaned and in excellent working order. I have managed to conserve and reassemble the Ruger several times over the years with only a minimal of cuss words and only one or two urges to toss the dang thing in the lake. You're my hero Mark !!!!!

The grip safety is ther so us marines don't shoot themselves in the face looking to see if its loaded.

I did my first rust blue conservation today. I tested it out on my Stevens Springfield .22. It came out fabulous. Ran it through two boils and rusts. It still has a few barely visible spots but I'm so happy with the way it came out. The end and around the tip of the barrel that never had any blue on it is now beautiful and black like a coal miners lungs. Even my girlfriend was impressed.

Mark, Thank you for a wonderful video. I own an American Tactical M1911 military .45ACP. I love it. I wanted a Colt but couldn't afford one, but, I'm really glad I came across it at my local buying spot. It was used, but whom ever had it didn't use it a whole lot because it didn't have any wear. It's my daily carry. You're video showed me many things and you gave some really good advice. Thank you for your service and thank you for your wonderful videos. 2nd Amendment = Freedom.

Instructive and entertaining, all in one package. Thank you.

Stock, no-frills M1911A1, the most beautiful pistol ever devised.

I heard Browning put the grip safety on there because he was forced to by the military.

Back in 1980 when I enlisted in the Coast Guard that was our sidearms. Old used 1911's . We loved them.

Mark, Thanks for sharing your knowledge of conservation and restoration. I have learned, and unlearned More in the last year about proper care and restoration of fire arms than in 45 years. I especially appreciate the techniques you demonstrate in handling various stages of rust. Who knew! Anyhow I’m enjoying every rabbit hole!

Mark I served in the Navy from 80-86. Yes we carried the 45 and I'm proud to be the last to do so. Nothing against Beretta as I have those too. Awesome video and I learn something new every time I watch it. ✌️👍

Best channel on KZfaq. You inspired me to start conserving guns

Glad to see I'm not the only one who needs to fidget with getting the sear and disconnector back in the gun! Great video as always ;)

This is my FAVORITE gun channel. I love historic firearms.

This is a great tutorial for detailed cleaning and maintenance of 1911A1’s. Thank You Much!

Even a GI mixmaster in ok shape is a 1000 dollar gun at least.

Even though I'm not American I can't help the joy of watching an old 1911 being reassembled with a bit of Sousa for the music.

Thanks for posting this Mark, truly a Masterclass as always.

I carried this ITHACA MODEL IN KOREA 1976.

I simply love watching you work on Guns. Especially when it’s a 1911

My dad was Navy as well, back in the 70's and was expert w/ the 1911. He was taught the hammer hold deal as well, and shot one handed. Even though his eyes are real bad he's still excellent with it. He was a sub man, on the Nautilus and James Madison. Then taught at nuke power school.

I remember Navy small arms training in the early 70's we shot 22LR, M14 and the famous 1911. I did ok with the long guns but buddy I couldn't hit the back side of a bus with that pistol. I purchased a modern Browning arms 1911 in 380 as my EDC and even with the reduced recoil you still need to practice, practice and practice to be proficient. Thanks Mark always learn something from you.

My sidearm of choice. Built up a "stock" version on a Para P14 wide body (70 series frame) Stock trigger, Ed Brown sear/ disconnect combo skeleton hammer. Now for that bit of authenticity, a WWII Remington Rand slide with a stock mil barrel, spring, spring cap and an oversize bushing that I took down to fit the slide and barrel. Never had any jamming issues, it consistently lays down fire center mass at 20 meters. And yes it's the ID10T behind the firearm that makes the difference. PRACTICE ( x100) makes the difference. Very nice and well done video on conserving this fine item. Back in the 70's went to a Gov auction with my father, there I came across several nail barrels full of 1911's packed in that "C"shit. Asked my dad to bid on it form me, he refused. They went for about $100 a barrel. I can only think of what they might be worth today.

Just a note on matching numbers. Any service arm run through Depot Maintenance for evaluation and rebuild will have unserviceable/unacceptable parts replaced with whatever is in the replacement parts bins. So any 1911 (or A1) will be a 'genuine' military piece as the armorers were not concerned with matching any parts beyond spec. finish and functionality. I have my uncle's 1942 Colt frame with a 1951 (Govt. spares) slide that was Colt factory parkerized with 50's commercial roll marks, but it is a Korean War bring-back and every bit authentic Govt. Issue. A friend has a 1915 Colt receiver with a SA slide, eh, gotta love the Army, whatever works I guess! lol Been in love with this weapon since I was a kid reading my dad's 1940 Marine Corps manual!

Nice Conservation Mark A Proud 1911 Owner He Will Be 👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼😊👍🏼

good ole John Philip Sousa USMC marching music. love it. i remember hearing this on the Parade deck at MCRD San Diego during Graduation in 82

5:25 I remember reading in an MRI medical trade journal about a California Detective investigating a burglary of a free-standing MRI center. He walked into the room with the giant magnet with his Colt Combat Commander in a hip holster. The tech told him he can't do that. His reply was that's OK, took the gun out and laid on top of a cabinet on the side of a room. It took off, slammed into the inside of the big donut magnet and fired a round into the wall angled toward the baseboard. They tried to pull the pistol off the side of the magnet, succeeded in doing so only to have rocket over to the other side. It can cost around ten to thirty thousand dollars to shut one of these down which they finally chose to do. Forensic analysis of the incident revealed the series eighty 'drop' safety button was inactivated by the magnetic field allowing the inertia of the firing pin to fire the chambered round as it slammed in to the side of the machine. Safety still on and the gun didn't cycle. In the same trade magazine was another story of a Detective who went in a MRI for a burglary investigation , did the report and happened a week later to go to the range. Pulls out his duty pistol and pulls the trigger. Nothing. Turns out he had magnetized his Glock and it didn't work anymore. The department armorer had to buy a giant bulk audio tape demagnetizer device and demagnetize the officers weapon. ( I am a retired Anesthesiologist and we lived in constant fear and respect about MRI magnets. A steel Oxygen tank can kill someone if it gets away. )

J.M.B. reallly knew his stuff :) Great video

From what colt's serial numbers told me my colt 1911 was made in 1952 and chambered in .38.super it's got a great worn patina and all original parts it shoots so damn smooth and that old ass trigger is just chefs kiss

Your photography is getting more better. Keep up the great work.

You Sir are a Ocean of knowledge, thank you very much for sharing It.

No matter what subject,, it keeps being such a pleasure to join that rabbit hole ♥️

Carried an ithaca in the first gulf war was also the first time I completely dissembled once....I enjoyed the review your video provided

The first one I handled was at RTC Orlando in the Winter/Spring of 1973. I have been in love with them ever since.

And as always, I learned things! I will be back!

I just found your channel in recent weeks and I love it! Found ya when I was searching model 12 videos since I recently acquired my grandpas 1959 model 12. Great content

Nothing more American than a 1911 and John Phillip Sousa!!!

Love the video. Do you think you will get around to educating us on how to tune a 1911 to chamber empty cases? I am assuming there are a lot of assembled 1911s out there that have something wrong in the way the barrel was fit to the frame and slide.

I thoroughly enjoyed this video! I need to buy an inexpensive 1911 and practice disassembly and reassembly. Thanks for your time in making this tutorial.

I like, and carry modern firearms, but there is really something I love about 1911s. I have a few in 45acp and even a full sized Kimber in 9mm (I know. Why, right?). Just really enjoy shooting them. I do get a kick out of people claiming that 1911s are jam machines that can't fire more than 2 rounds without a malfunction. If you keep it cleaned and have it broken in, it'll work every time you pull the trigger. Love these videos Mr. Novak. 👍

thank you mark. i love what you do. especially this episode

My grip bushings fell out of my CMP 1911. Had it fixed by a pro. It’s a 1943 Ithaca mixmaster that ended up with the marine Corp. Love your channel!

It has been my pleasure to have you conserve a 1911

Love the knowledge and love the music

My favorite gun channel. Entertaining and informative.

Just got an Ithaca 1911 from the CMP. Your video was of great help getting mine ready to rock and roll (CMP did a great job, but I got some gunk hiding inside). Thanks!

Thank you again for your expertise and your position in this industry. I enjoy every episode you make and am grateful.

Mark... love ya' man. Thank you for the re-upload

Love the close up view, much better for understanding. Thanks

Great tutorial got to love the 1911 have many thanks for constantly making great content .

I have owned a series 70 for many years, and you are teaching me about it.

Thanks Mark - great as always !

A beautiful job done awesome job mark

Great video as always Mark

lol Mark, i was going to say, "hey, look , its the gun we learned on in Boot, and then watched the instructor THROW it into a big box with the rest of them" ....but you verified it...thats the gun we learned on.

Excellent video as always. Thanks for sharing.

Always a pleasure. Thank you.

Loved this video, I've owned one for years but you taught me some things I didn't know 😊

The 1911 My Favorite Handgun to Shoot Period!!.. Great Video!!.

Thank you very much for all your didactic and interesting vid.

Nice movie on conserving this 1911A1. Thought I knew a bit or two about them, but learned again a few new tricks. I was a pleasure to watch, greetings from mid-south Netherlands

Glad to see you show this classic. Loved it. Picked up a Norinco brand new back in the day when you could actually do that. Twenty pound trigger jam-o-matic out of the box. Kuhnhausen's books, some patience, and a little bit of kit taught me a bundle. Some see the "Model of the 1911" slide legend and sneer, but she's a sweet runner now, and will out shoot a lot of 1911's that cost five times as much. Ha! Ha!

Mark: “and I’m gonna show you guys why my gun will feed empties and yours won’t” Me: alright, then. Keep your secrets

Loved the video ,awesome work.

This is the first video of yours that I've watched Mark. I can tell I like you already, lol. Subscribed.

Great job Mark! Thank you for service shipmate.

I was amazed that you managed to get all four grip screws out without at least one of the bushings coming out. I would guess that out of the few hundred 1911A1's I had custody of at least a third of them had at least one loose grip screw bushing. We finally got Beretta's to replace the 1911A1's on my last ship in 1996 or 97.

I served in the USAF in the early '80s. The Standard side arm was [drum roll] the S&W Model 10 in .38

I have always admired the 1911 pistol. Someday I want to build one of my own just for the thrill of it. I own a couple of factory ones, but having seen the Caspian catalog and having heard for years how marvelous a handcrafted one can be, I am tempted to put one together that is super accurate and I can be proud of. If you ever decide to market a video series on how to build your own (I have one already from AGI but meh,...) I will be sure to buy one. Your videos are awesome. Thanks for sharing.

First pistol I ever fired, carried one on my hip for two years in the USMC.

You’re the only other person than myself that expresses … perfect practice makes perfect 👊🏻💪🏻

Absolutely the best one ☝️ Thanks! 🇺🇸

Omgawsh... Beautiful... I'm so jealous. I want a real WW2 1911 so badly. Awesome vid! I can't get enough 1911

Wonderful video on a wonderful work horse.

My grandfather could field strip and reassemble in 3 mins blindfolded. He was a wwII glider pilot and said need to be able to clean the 1911in the dark apparently dirt in everything on landings

Absolutely beautiful- God I love that gun

Thanks for sharing Mark. 👍💪

You basically covered the Marine Corps rifle safety rules

Awesome! Would love to see you work on an M1 Garand