Make: Colt
Model: Government Model, Commercial 1911
Serial Number: C155012
Year of Manufacture: 1928
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action Type: Single Action, Semi-Automatic, Detachable Magazine Fed Pistol
Barrel Length: 5"
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a 0.10" thick rounded blade fixed to the front of the slide. The rear sight is a "U"-notch dovetailed to the rear of the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered walnut. The grips show light handling wear, a little more notable on the left panel. There are some nicks and scuffs in the left panel. The checkering is generally well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original, slide is serial-matching.
Bore Condition: The bore is light gray with well defined rifling. There is light erosion and minor pitting scattered through the bore, mostly in the grooves. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates about 6/10.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 85% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. Most of the balance is handling wear in the grip areas. There are evenly scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches, with most scratches concentrated in the frontstrap and on the left slide flat. There is infrequent faint surface oxidation. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this handgun. 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 two-tone 7-round magazine and a Colt Archives letter. The letter indicates that this pistol was manufactured July 7, 1928, furnished with a 1/10” front sight and delivered to a Wm. C. Agster at the Camp Perry National Matches on October 4.
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. The design was the end-result of a series of developments by famous gun designer John Browning, starting with the Model 1900. The advances made by Browning were revolutionary at the time, and were so successful that they are considered commonplace today. Browning not only developed first a pivoting and then a tilting barrel to allow for a locked system, he developed the concept of "the slide", which is now synonymous with semi-automatic handguns.
Having secured a contract for the US Military sidearm, Colt also offered the pistol to the commercial market as the "Government Model". This is a Colt commercial Government Model made in 1928, shortly after the updates were applied which would result in the 1911A1. Namely, the new design had relief cuts in the frame on each side behind the trigger, a short, checkered trigger, and arched mainspring housing. During this period, Colt also serial-marked the slide, so it is nice to know that the slide is original to the frame. The pistol is in Very Good condition, showing wear consistent with its age of nearly 100 years.
One particularly interesting feature is the 0.10" thick front sight blade which is confirmed by the included factory letter as original. This style of front sight would be used on Colt's National Match pistols and Super .38s starting in 1932, though they were typically paired with square-notch rear sights. Hand-fit pistols with this type of sight were ordered enough by competitors at the National Matches that Colt decided to offer it as a standard catalog item, but this example was assembled and sold at Camp Perry in 1928, making it something of a "Pre-National Match". All of the old 1911 Colts are collectable, and this will be a great example to add to any collection. Please see our pictures and good luck in your bidding!
