Make: Colt

Model: Service Model Ace

Serial Number: SM39019

Year of Manufacture: 1981

Caliber: .22 Long Rifle

Action Type: Single Action Semi-Automatic with Removable Magazine

Barrel Length: 4 3/4”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade fixed to the front of the slide's rib. The rear sight is a square notch adjustable for windage and elevation in a base pinned to the rear of the rib.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered “double diamond” wood panels. The grips have no notable wear or damage, only light handling marks. The checkering is well defined. 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: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is sharp. There are a few spots of minor erosion in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 9 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 95% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. There are some scattered minor nicks, scuffs, and scratches. There are a few spots of faint oxidation. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in about Fine Condition.

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

Box, Paperwork & Accessories:This pistol comes with two vintage original Colt blued 10-round magazines stamped "COLT / .22 L.R." with a Rampant Colt on the bottom floorplates.

Our Assessment: The Colt Ace was introduced in 1931 as a .22 Long Rifle pistol similar in shape and manual of arms to their famous 1911 Government Model. Though certainly a promising concept, the Ace suffered from a few major drawbacks. First, it could not properly mimic the .45’s recoil, and second, it could not generate sufficient blowback strength from the .22 cartridge to force the slide completely back for ejection and reloading. In 1937, the legendary inventor David Marshall “Carbine” Williams patented the “floating chamber device”, and Colt introduced this marvel feature that same year on their new model of .22 LR 1911, dubbed the Service Model Ace. Williams’ device gave the Service Model Ace a recoil duplicating that of the Government Model .45, allowing shooters the use of relatively inexpensive .22 ammunition to simulate the larger cartridge. Being that the Service Model Ace was introduced in the depths of the Great Depression, the cost savings on ammunition was a significant selling point. Over 13,500 Service Model Aces were made from 1937-1945. As with many other Colt models, production ceased at the end of WW2, that is until popular demand encouraged their reintroduction, and post-War Service Model Ace pistols were made from 1978-1989.

This Colt Service Model Ace was made in 1981 and is in Excellent Condition. It features a 4.75” barrel, 95% of its crisp, original blued finish, an attractive set of after-market two-piece checkered “double diamond” wood grips, two original Colt blued 10-round mags, and a mostly bright bore with sharp rifling (there are a few spots of minor erosion). It would make for a very classy plinker, or be a wonderful addition to a Colt pistol collection, especially one which needs a post-war Service Model Ace to spice it up.