January 23rd 2016 Firearms Sale
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/22/2016
5" barrel in .45 ACP caliber. Colt ceased production of the Model 1911 at the end of hostilities in 1919. It was not until 1924 that the government had a further need for new pistols, at which time approximately 10,000 of the new Colt Model 1911-A1 pistols were introduced and produced. It is often referred to as a transition model, as it is the first of the military models to incorporate all of the new designs, the most apparent being the arched mainspring housing. After 1924 Colt would not produce anymore 1911-A1s for the military until 1937. Therefore, this is the only Colt manufactured for the government from 1919 to 1937. This pistol is 100% original and comes from the private collection of one of the most noted experts on this model, Eric Gustafson. If a finer example of a U.S. 1924 transition exists, neither of us have had the pleasure to see one. The blued barrel appears new and has the distinctive intertwined "HP" proof mark visible through the ejection port. The right side of the slide is stamped "Model of 1911 U.S. Army" (does not denote the A1 change). Right side of frame is stamped "United States Property". The serial number, 707254, falls in the latter 25% of the 1924 production. Left side of the frame has the "W.T.G." inspector stamp in circle "Walter T. Gorton, December 5th, 1921 - March 3rd, 1926). Other features include fully checkered walnut panels sans diamonds, long checkered wide spur hammer, checkered safety, slide stop and arched mainspring housing, new style checkered short trigger, rounded U-notch rear sight and thin front sight, two-toned tempered commercial style magazine. As to condition, aside from the lightest of drag lines, which is mentioned only for complete accuracy, this pistol retains 99% or better original factory blue finish, including the barrel and grip straps. There is a small dent on the right grips panel, otherwise they, too, are near new with razor sharp diamonds.