Colt Commercial Ace, Blue 4 3/4″ .22 LR Rimfire Semi-Automatic Target Pistol & Box, MFD 1934 C&R

SOLD FOR: $3,025.00
LSB#: 
180804TP01

Make: Colt

Model: Commercial ACE

Serial Numbers: 5598

Year of Manufacture: 1934 (https://colt.com/serial-lookup)

Caliber: .22 Long Rifle

Action Type: Single Action, Semi-Automatic with Exposed Hammer and Removable Magazine

Markings: 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.” and with a rampant colt. The right side of the slide is marked “COLT”, “ACE” in a diamond and “.22 / LONG / RIFLE”. The bottom of the slide at the rear on the left ear behind the firing pin plate is marked “W” or “M”. The right side of the trigger guard is marked with assembler’s mark “14”. The left side of the trigger guard is marked with inspector’s mark “3” and “VP” in triangle proof. The top of the frame to the right of the disconnector is marked “R”. The right side of the frame above the trigger is marked “5598”. The rear face of the slide, under the firing pin plate is marked “55” over the firing pin and “9”, “8” to each side of the slot for the plate’s retainer. The floorplate of the magazine is marked “COLT” over “ACE” in diamond over “22 L.R.”.

Barrel Length: 4 ¾”

Sights / Optics: The pistol has a flat-topped, square notched rear sight dovetailed to the rear of the slide, screw adjustable for windage and elevation. The front sight is a serrated ramped blade with a rounded front fixed to the front of the slide.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are fully checkered walnut panels. The grip has no notable wear or damage, only light handling marks. The checkering is sharp. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Excellent condition.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original

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

Overall Condition: This pistol retains approximately 90% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. The slide has wear at the front, a spot of wear on the top behind the ejection port, and some scattered light marks. The frame has light wear at the front of the dust cover, handling wear on the frontstrap and bottom of the trigger guard, light marks under the slide stop from reassembly, and there are some scattered light marks. The barrel, hammer, trigger and grip safety have light operational wear. The screw heads have light finish wear with sharp slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in about Very Good-plus condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The trigger is crisp and the slide has very little play to the frames. This pistol does NOT have the floating chamber used on the Service Ace. There is a manual safety as well as a grip safety and the hammer has a half-cock notch. 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 in a one-piece vintage cardboard Colt Ace box with manual and a single 10-round magazine. The box has moderate wear, mostly at edges and corners with tears at the right corners of the lid and fraying at edges, in about Good condition. The magazine has blue finish on the bottom 2/3 with the top 1/3 in the white. The body has scattered light wear with scattered spots of discoloration from oxidation in the unfinished portion. The string is strong and the feed lips are intact. Overall, the magazine is in about Very Good condition.

Our Assessment: This is a Colt Commerical Ace with Colt factory box and original-style magazine. The pistol is in Very Good-plus condition wtih about 90% of its finish remaining, a great bore and strong mechanics. The development of the Ace began in 1915 as Colt attempted to create a .22 caliber pistol based on the 1911 Government model design. The first Ace was assembled in 1930 and nearly 11,000 were made through 1947. While the intent was to produce a .22 version of the Government model, the Ace has a 1/4″ shorter barrel, functions as a blowback rather than tilt-barrel and has significantly less recoil than the Government model, as compared with the later Service model Ace. This pistol would make a fine target pistol or recreational plinker, but in its condition and with a vintage Colt box, we think the collectors will outbid the shooters. Please see our photos and good luck!

CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable: This C&R eligible handgun CAN be transferred as a dealer sale in California. This handgun 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 section does not apply to out of state residents.

Colt Commercial Ace, Blue 4 3/4" .22 LR Rimfire Semi-Automatic Target Pistol & Box, MFD 1934 C&R
Colt Commercial Ace, Blue 4 3/4″ .22 LR Rimfire
Semi-Automatic Target Pistol & Box, MFD 1934 C&R