Pre-War Colt Government Model .45 ACP Commercial Blue 5″ Semi-Automatic Pistol, 1911A1 MFD 1930 C&R

SOLD FOR $2,100.00
LSB#: 
180509GA01

Make: Colt

Model: 1911A1

Serial Number: C157481

Year of Manufacture: 1930 (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 “C157481”. The right side of the slide is marked “COLT”, “AUTOMATIC / CALIBRE 45” and with a Rampant Colt logo at the front. The left side of the slide is marked “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A. / PAT’D APR.20,1897. SEPT.9,1902. DEC.19,1905. FEB.14,1911. AUG.19,1913.”. The flat on the top of the frame in front of the hammer is marked “S”. The left front of the trigger guard is marked with a “VP” in a triangle and “1”, and the right front with “60”.

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 that are becoming dark with oil staining (plain checkered walnut without smooth diamonds was the correct grip from 1920 to 1942). The checkering shows light to moderate even wear with a bruise in the lower rear corner of the right grip and a few marred areas in the right grip. The grips rate in about Fine condition.

Type of Finish: The finish is blued. The mainspring housing is knurled.

Finish Originality: The finish is original.

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

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 94% of its metal finish. There is finish loss from holster wear at the front of the slide and marks through the finish on the underside of the slide from rubbing on the frame. There is thinning on the front strap and on the tips of the knurling of the mainspring housing. There is a tiny ding and a mark through the finish on the right side of the slide, tiny nicks in the left lower edge of the frame below the slide release and scratches below the slide release on the left side of the frame. There are also a few light handling marks scattered over the surfaces. The slide serrations are sharp with a few tiny marks on the left side. The knurling on the magazine release, safety, slide release and recoil spring plug are sharp, with moderate wear on the hammer and light wear on the mainspring housing. The screw heads are sharp and the markings are clear. Overall, this pistol rates in about Fine condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. It has both a manual and grip safety and the trigger pull is crisp. 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. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with a single blued 7 round magazine. The floorplate is marked “COLT / 45AUTO”. There are several dings/bruises and a spot of solid erosion in the lower half of the spine. The floorplate shows thinning. The magazine is in about Very Good to Fine 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 Government Model pistol made in 1930. The pistol is in about Fine condition with about 94% of its finish remaining. The bore is bright with sharp rifling and no erosion. The slide is tight to the frame. All of its parts are correctly marked for a pistol made in 1930. Colt 1911 and 1911A1 pistols are always collectable, and the pre-WWII pistols especially so. We don’t see too many pre-war pistols with a finish this nice, so we expect the collectors to be especially interested.

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.

Pre-War Colt Government Model .45 ACP Commercial Blue 5" Semi-Automatic Pistol, 1911A1 MFD 1930 C&R
Pre-War Colt Government Model .45 ACP Commercial
Blue 5″ Semi-Automatic Pistol, 1911A1 MFD 1930 C&R