Rob,
I bet many Military guns have interesting histories.

Back in '57,my Mother purchased a new commercial grade 1911a1 for my Father for Christmas.

She paid $85. dollars for it. Peters hardball ammo was about $6.00 a box of 50 and military surplus steel cased ammo went for about $1.00 a box of 50.

They said that the steel cased ammo was hard on extractors but the one on my Father's did not break. The steel cased ammo was corrosive primed so hot water or Hoppes #9 was used for immediate clean up.

Wayne