First Lieutenant Edgar Nathan Coffey, Jr. (1889-1976), of Jackson, Mississippi, carried this M1911 pistol while serving in Company F, 1st Mississippi Infantry as part of the Mexican-Punitive Expedition. National Guard troops from across the country, including the 1st Mississippi Infantry, were mobilized to the Mexican border in 1916 following attacks by raiders from Mexico, led by Francisco “Pancho” Villa.

This commercial production Colt Model 1911 pistol was likely purchased by Coffey prior to his deployment to Texas. Due to a shortage of the newly adopted Colt .45 automatic pistols, officers were permitted to privately purchase commercial Colt versions of the weapon. “E.N. Coffey Jr . / 1st Lieut 1st Inf. N.G. of Miss.” is engraved on one side of the barrel.