Colt Model 1911 PistolWith the outbreak of the First World War Canada's military again found itself ill-equipped. The pistols acquired for the First Contingent of the Canadian Expeditionary Force were once more obtained from Colt: this time, the handgun adopted was that company's "state-of-the-art" Model 1911 semi-automatic pistol. A total of 5000 were acquired, all coming from Colt's 1914 "Commercial" production and thus having a beautiful high-polish "oven-blue" finish, with finely checkered walnut grips. (The example shown here was the personal sidearm of Maj. W.A. Mitchell, Canadian Army Service Corps, Officer Commanding No. 5 Company, 2nd Divisional Train, C.E.F. It was purchased from him in 1942 by newly-commissioned Lieut. K. B. Knox, from whom the author acquired it in 2002.)
Configuration of Canadian-issue arms: Self-loading ("semi-automatic") pistol; blued finish; walnut grips; 5" barrel; chambered for .45ACP cartridge; detachable magazine with 7-round capacity. In service 1914-1945. (Note: the "two-tone finish" of the magazine shown above is "correct" and was not caused by wear - it resulted from a heat-treatment process applied to the upper part of M1911 magazines manufactured at that time.)
http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/weapons/pistols.htm