Make: Colt

Model: Government Model

Serial Number: C157289

Year of Manufacture: 1930

Caliber: .45 ACP

Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto fed by Removable Magazine

Barrel Length: 5”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a rounded blade fixed to the front of the slide. The rear sight is a square notch dovetailed to the rear of the slide.

The .22 Conversion Unit has a ramped blade fixed to the front of the slide and an adjustable square notch Improved Stevens sight dovetailed to the rear.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered walnut. The grips have minor handling wear with a few compressed checkers. The checkering is generally well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good-plus condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: The pistol has been Refinished, the conversion unit's finish is Original to the parts, some parts are not original to the unit.

Bore Condition: The bore is gray with well defined rifling. There is scattered erosion and minor pitting in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates about 6 out of 10.

The conversion unit bore is semi-bright with sharp rifling. There is some scattered pitting in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates about 7 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 90% of its current metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. There is handling wear in the grip areas. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are generally clear. Overall, this pistol is in about Very Good condition as refinished.

The conversion unit retains about 90% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. The unit shows operational wear. The pre-War style ejector has had a retaining spring installed. There are a few minor scuffs and light handling marks. Overall, the conversion unit is in Very Good condition as assembled.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this pistol. As with all previously owned firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol and conversion unit come in a custom wood presentation case fit for the pistol in the top hinge-lid tray and a drawer fit for the conversion unit and a reproduction hinge-lid cardboard Colt Conversion Unit box. One two-tone 7-round .45 magazine and one 10-round .22 magazine are included as well as one vintage 50-round "dogbone" box of Remington Kleanbore .22 LR ammunition. Keys for the case are included.

Our Assessment: The Colt 1911 .45 ACP semi-automatic pistol was designed by the legendary firearms inventor John Moses Browning, and developed for the US Army. The Model 1911 was the end-result of a series of developments by Browning, starting with his 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, but he also developed the concept of "the slide", a feature now synonymous with semi-automatic handguns. Colt also found great commercial success with the design, dubbing it the "Government Model".

This is a 1930 vintage Government Model that comes with a handsome display case fit for the pistol and a .22 Conversion Unit. The set will make a wonderful display in any collection. Please see our photos and good luck!