Make: Colt

Model: Special Combat Government, Carry Model

Serial Number: SCGN0088

Year of Manufacture: 1992

Caliber: .45 ACP

Action Type: Single Action Semi-Automatic Pistol fed by Detachable Magazine

Barrel Length: 5"

Sights / Optics: The sights are a bar-dot-bar style. The front sight is a blade with a recessed dot, staked to the front of the slide. The rear sight is a square notch with two vertical white bars, one to each side of the notch, dovetailed and screw set to the rear of the slide. The front sight has what appears to be a tritium lamp in the center of the dot with a thin tritium bar below the rear sight notch.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece smooth wood with silver-colored Colt medallions. The grips have minor handling wear with only a few light marks. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Fine condition as not original to the gun.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore, but there is a little stubborn fouling. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 9/10.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 97% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at most corners. There are a few scattered minor marks. The action shows light operational wear. The screw heads are lightly tool marked with strong sockets. The markings are clear. Overall, this handgun rates in Fine-Excellent condition.

Mechanics: The action functions properly. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with a single 7-round Colt magazine.

Our Assessment: Colt's 1911 served the United States military through two World Wars and several other conflicts, is still in use by some units today, and has become popular with law enforcement, competitors, and recreational shooters across the nation. The design has seen some updates including a firing-pin block safety, higher profile sights, and more ergonomic grips, but the basic design and fantastic trigger remain the same after more than a century.

The popularity of the Government model has led to a huge variety of custom guns, after-market upgrades, and small design tweaks. This is an interesting example of a Colt Custom Shop pistol, the Special Combat Government, Carry model. Upgrades include a flared ejection port, bar-dot-bar sights, beavertail grip safety, skeletonized hammer and trigger, ambidextrous thumb-safety, checkered straight mainspring housing, and serrated frontstrap. The grips have been replaced, but the gun is otherwise just as it was tuned at the Custom Shop in 1992. This will make a great pony to add to the stable and should still prove to be a wonderful shooter. Please see our photos and good luck!