WWI Era Commercial Colt Government Model 1911, Blue 5” SA Semi-Automatic Pistol, MFD 1916 C&R
LSB#: 150730CW04
Make: Colt
Model: 1911
Serial Number: C34636
Year of Manufacture: 1916 (Proof House)
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine
Markings: The right side of the frame is marked “GOVERNMENT MODEL” and “C34636”. The right side of the slide is marked “COLT AUTOMATIC / CALIBRE 45”. The left side of the slide is marked “PATENTED APR.20.1897.SEPT.9.1902 / DEC.19.1905.FEB.14.1911.AUG.19.1913”, “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. / HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A.” and with a Rampant Colt logo at the rear. The barrel is unmarked. The rear face of the slide above the firing pin is marked with a “T”. The right hand groove next to the flat on the rear underside of the slide is marked with an arrow. The flat on the top of the frame in front of the hammer is marked “S”, and “U”. The curved support under the chamber of the barrel is marked with a small square and there is another next to it on the top of the right frame rail. The left front of the trigger guard is marked with a “VP” in a triangle and at the rear with “b”.
Barrel Length: 5”
Sights / Optics: The pistol is mounted with a “U” notched rear sight dovetailed into the slide and a short rounded blade front sight fixed to the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered walnut with smooth diamonds around the grip screws. There is a “W” carved into the bottom shoulder of both grips. The grips show light to moderate oil staining and the smooth diamonds show light compression marks. The checkering shows light mars with mars in both grips. The grips rate in about Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: The finish is blued.
Finish Originality: The finish is original.
Bore Condition: The bore is gray and the rifling shows light wear. There is light erosion the length of the bore.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 68% of its metal finish. There is thinning in the finish of the slide and frame with multiple light handling marks. There is also a scratch through the finish on the right side of the slide at the back of the port and three more on the left side of the slide and frame, above and below the safety. There are also spots of extremely light pinprick surface erosion developing on the left side of the slide. The hammer, magazine release, recoil spring guide and slide release checkering show light wear and the safety checkering shows moderate wear. The slide serrations are sharp. The screw heads are sharp and the markings are clear. Overall, this pistol rates in about Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. It has both a manual and grip safety and the trigger pull is crisp but a little stiff. The slide is tight to the frame. We did not fire this pistol. The pistol has a lanyard ring on the bottom of the mainspring housing.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with one half and half (bottom half blued, top half left in the white) 7 round magazine. It is unmarked and shows light wear in the body and a light mark in the floorplate, along with thinning on its front edge. The magazine is in about Fine overall condition.
Our Assessment: The 1911 and 1911-A1 pistols served the military of the United States from 1911 to 1985, through two World Wars and the Korean and Vietnam wars. They gained a reputation as a reliable handgun with plenty of stopping power, and are held in high regard by those who have used them. This is a commercial Colt 1911 pistol made in 1916. The pistol is in about Very Good condition with about 68% of its original finish remaining. It shows thinning and light handling marks in all surfaces, with a scratch through the finish on the right side of the slide, two more on the left side and a scratch in the frame under the slide release. The grips are checkered walnut with shallow compression marks in the smooth diamonds, light wear in the checkering and mars in both grips. The bore is gray with light wear in the rifling and light erosion the length of the bore. The magazine is the correct two-tone type used during WWI. Commercial Colt 1911 pistols are always collectable, although less so than those made for the government. This would be an excellent pistol for someone just getting started in collecting Colts.
