Make: Colt

Model: Argentine Federal Police contract Government Model

Serial Number: C168875, Federal Police issue number 2308

Year of Manufacture: 1933

Caliber: .45 ACP

Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine

Markings: The left side of the slide is marked “POLICIA DE LA CAPITAL / 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 top of the slide in front of the rear sight is marked “No 2308”. The right side of the slide is marked "COLT", "AUTOMATIC / CALIBRE .45" and with a rampant colt, the rear of the slide, under the firing pin plate is marked "168 / 875". The barrel has "5439" hand-scribed on the bottom in front of the lug. The top of the frame is marked "S" at the disconnector. The right of the frame is marked "GOVERNMENT MODEL / C168875". The right of the trigger guard is marked "20", the left "3" and "VP" in triangle. There is a JLD Ent. import mark on the left of the frame at the magazine release.

Barrel Length: 5”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a 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 wood. The grips have no notable wear or damage, only light handling marks. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Excellent condition as not original to the gun.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Refinished, the barrel is not original to the gun.

Bore Condition: The bore is gray with well defined rifling. There is light erosion and minor pitting scattered through the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 6+/10..

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 96% of its current metal finish. The finish is generally strong throughout with some scattered light marks and operational wear. There is scattered light erosion under the finish. The screw heads are sharp. The markings range from clear to worn and incomplete. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good-plus condition as refinished.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire 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 custom Colt-branded display case marked on the lid with the pistol's information, fit for the pistol, reproduction holster, 1980 Fray Luis Beltran box of ammunition (correct FLB80 headstamps), and magazines. A total of three 7-round magazines are included. A Colt Archives letter is included which indicates that this pistol shipped June 26, 1933 to F.C. Rossetti y Cia in Buenos Aires, Argentina as one of 1,000 guns of the same type in the shipment.

Our Assessment: In 1914, the Argentine military adopted the Colt M1911 as their standard military sidearm. Originally, Argentina contracted with Colt to produce the pistols. In 1923 they started a program of increasing the domestic production of their military equipment, however there were still contracts with Colt to procure 1911s for their Army, Navy and some Police forces. This is one of 5,320 purchased for the Argentine Federal Police in 1933. It is essentially a commercial Government Model which has had police markings applied including an issue number on the slide. Colt's original serial markings on the slide and frame match, so it is nice to know that they are original to one another, though the barrel has been replaced. The pistol is in Very Good-plus condition as refinished and comes in a very attractive display case fit for the pistol, reproduction holster, extra magazines and a box of 1980 vintage Argentine ammunition. This is a neat example of the Argentine Federal Police Government Model and a fairly scarce variant of all of the Government Models. It will make a great display with other Argentine handguns or in a 1911 collection. Please see our photos and good luck!