Make: Colt

Model: Custom Government Model, Commercial 1911

Serial Number: C228278

Year of Manufacture: 1947

Caliber: .45 ACP

Action Type: Single Action, Semi-Automatic, Detachable Magazine Fed Pistol

Barrel Length: 5”

Sights / Optics: The top of the slide has a full-length solid rib installed. The front sight is an under-cut blade pinned to the front of the rib. The rear sight is a square notch adjustable for windage and elevation, pinned to the rear of the rib.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered walnut. The grips have even light handling wear with a few nicks, most notable on the right panel. There is some minor discoloration. The checkering is generally well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good-plus condition as not original to the gun.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Refinished, likely original to customization.

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

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 87% of its current metal finish. The finish is thinning at some edges. The balance is mostly in scattered finish loss where light oxidation or minor erosion was scrubbed out. There are a few minor nicks and scratches. There is patterned wear on the sides of the trigger, possibly from a previously installed shoe. The slide serrations have compressions under the finish. The frontstrap has aggressive texturing with more moderate texturing on the mainspring housing. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slot. The markings range from clear to worn and incomplete. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good condition as customized.

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 7-round magazine.

Our Assessment: The 1911 is one of the best pistols ever designed, seeing use in the US Military for the better part of a century and dominating pistol shooting sports for decades. In addition to its long military and law enforcement pedigree, sportsmen have been customizing 1911s for decades due to the wide availability of after-market parts and gunsmith upgrades.

This example was built on a 1947 vintage commercial Government Model. The sights have been replaced with target sights on a full-length solid rib and the grips have been replaced with checkered walnut (a significant improvement over the post-war Colt grips which tended to shrink and crack). The result is a nice example of a post-war target pistol. The pistol is in Very Good condition with light handling and operational wear, retaining a nice bore and strong mechanics. This is a beautiful pistol, perfect to add to any collection. Please see our pictures and good luck!