Kongsberg Vapenfabrikk 1914 Complete Specs and Full Gun Specifications

Seeking a suitable semi-automatic pistol, the Norwegian military decided on the M1911 as early as 1912. In 1913 and 1914, the Norwegians purchased 300 commercial .45s from Colt and then, having established that no Norwegian product was acceptable, began to negotiate for a license to build guns in Norway. Under an agreement signed in January, 1915, payment of 25,000 kroner bought the Norwegians a set of Colt's drawings and the right to make M1911 pistols at their Kongsberg Weapons Factory for as long, and in whatever quantity they desired. The M/1914 also features a slide release lever that is distinctly different from those on both Colt and M/1912 Norwegian pistols. The Kongsberg plant turned out about 20,000 M/1914 pistols between 1919 and the early '30s. Another 10,000 pistols were manufactured during German occupation of Norway in WWII. Value of those pistols made for Nazi forces today is between $5,000 and $8,500.