Colt 1911 Government U.S. Army Marked .45 ACP Blue 5″ SA Semi Automatic Pistol MFD 1915 C&R

SOLD FOR $2,000.00
LSB#: 180507RH01

Make: Colt

Model: 1911

Serial Number:  113145

Year of Manufacture: April 1915

Caliber: .45 A.C.P.

Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine

Markings: The left side of the slide is marked “PATENTED APR.20.1897. SEPT.9,1902 / DEC.19,1905. FEB.14,1911. AUG.19,1913” and “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. / HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A.”, with a Rampant Colt logo at the rear of the slide. The right side of the slide is marked “MODEL OF 1911. U. S. ARMY”. The right side of the frame is marked “N^O 113145”.  The left side of the frame is marked “UNITED STATES PROPERTY” and behind the trigger with a circled “GHS” (Col. Gilbert H. Stewart, Colt1911 Pistols 1915-1919). The top of the barrel at the chamber opening is marked with a British “Crown / BNP” proof and “.45”   .900” / 7 TONS PER SQ “. The left side of the lug on the bottom of the barrel is marked “P” and the right side ”F”, indicating it was made during WWII by the Flannery Bolt Co. The top rear face of the slide is marked with a vertical “H”. The flat on the top rear of the frame is marked “H” and “y”, and the right rail is marked with a small square box. The flat on the underside of the slide is marked “6”.

Barrel Length: 5”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a short rounded blade. The rear sight is a “U” notch dovetailed into the slide.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered walnut with smooth diamonds around the grip screws. The grips are dark with oil staining. The checkering shows moderate to heavy wear in the left grip and light to moderate wear in the right grip. There are marred areas in the checkering of both grips. The smooth diamonds show a few dings and bruises, with tool marks around the screw in the bottom of the left grip and the screw in the top of the right grip. The grips rate in about Good to Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: This pistol is blued.

Finish Originality: The finish is original.

Bore Condition: The bore is bright with sharp rifling. There is no erosion in the bore.

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 10% of its metal finish. There is finish remaining on the small parts like the safety and slide release, and on the protected areas in the sides of the frame and the top rear of the slide. The remainder shows finish loss with a plum colored patina developing. There are a few tiny spots of pinprick surface erosion sprinkled along the upper left shoulder of the slide. There are tool marks around the safety pin on the right side of the frame, scratches from aggressive polishing on the sides of the frame in front of the grips, drag lines on the right side of the slide and frame, and a few tiny dings on the top and right side of the slide. The slide serrations show extremely light wear. The hammer and magazine release knurling show light wear, the outer edges of the recoil spring plug are disfigured, and the knurling on the rest of the small parts is sharp. The grip screws are mostly sharp and the markings are clear, with a crisp inspection mark on the left side of the frame. Overall, this pistol rates in about Good condition.

Mechanics: The trigger pull is crisp and there is a barely perceptible amount of side-side play between the slide and frame. The action functions correctly. We have not fired this pistol. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with one blued magazine with a lanyard ring on the bottom, and a floorplate marked “M”. The bottom 5/16” of the magazine and the floorplate have a matte black finish. This is not the correct type for WWI, and if it were British, it would have ownership or acceptance mark on it. The magazine shows minimal wear, and is in about Fine Plus condition. There is another lanyard ring on the bottom of the mainspring housing.

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 Colt Model 1911 that was made during WWI and has the correct government inspection marks and proof marks. However, the barrel was made during WWII by the Flannery Bolt Co., and has British proof marks. The magazine has a blued body with the bottom 5/16” and the floorplate matte black. The pistol is in about Good condition with about 10% of its original finish remaining. The bore is bright with sharp rifling and no erosion. Collectors will be looking at this pistol, possibly as a place holder until they can find or afford one with a matching barrel and magazine. Shooters should also be interested in this pistol for home defense and for use in the Traditional category of SASS Wild Bunch competition.

CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable: This C&R eligible handgun CAN be transferred as a dealer sale in California and CAN be sold as a Private Party Transfer (PPT) at our Simi Valley shop. All cartridge firing handguns (even C&R’s and antiques) sold to a California resident must be DROS’d. This does not apply to out of state residents.