Make: Colt

Model: 1911

Serial Number: 30107

Year of Manufacture: 1913, shipped May 2 to San Antonio Arsenal, Texas.

Caliber: .45 ACP

Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine

Barrel Length: 5”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a round blade fixed to the front of the slide. The rear sight is a round-top "U"-notch sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. The rear sight has impact damage on the top with the rear edge slightly peened.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered walnut with smooth diamonds around the grip screws. The left panel has light handling wear with more notable wear on the right. There are some scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches, also more notable on the right panel. There are tool marks around the screw heads. The checkering is worn smooth in some spots and in others is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original to the parts, the hammer is a later short-spur style.

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

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 50% of its metal finish. There is fairly evenly scattered finish wear, a little more notable in the grip areas. Most worn areas are going to a light patina with infrequent minor erosion. There are scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches with a thin "idiot mark" on the left of the frame below the slide stop. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The magazine catch retainer shows more notable tool marking with a usable slot. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Good condition.

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 with a Plant Brothers & Co. 1918-dated belt, P.B. & Co. 1918 dated double magazine pouch, a Perkins Campbell 1917 dated M1916 holster and a total of three 7-round magazines. Two magazines are two-tone, the third is a WWII-era M.S. Little magazine. One of the two-tone magazines has a short, thin crack on the rear of the left feed-lip.

Our Assessment: The 1911 and 1911-A1 pistols served the military of the United States from 1911 to 1985, through two World Wars and the Korean and Vietnam wars. They gained a reputation as a reliable handgun with plenty of stopping power, and are held in high regard by those who have used them. The design was the end-result of a series of developments by famous gun designer John Browning, starting with the 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, he developed the concept of "the slide", which is now synonymous with semi-automatic handguns.

This is an early example of a 1911, made in 1913 before the outbreak of the Great War. The pistol was originally shipped to the San Antonio Arsenal in Texas. The pistol has honest wear consistent with its age and service, retaining original finish and some early design features, though the hammer has been replaced with a later-production long-spur style part. Early features of this pistol include the four-date patent marking on its slide, round-top rear sight, long-leg guide rod, early-style thumb safety and correct "P" and "H" marked barrel. Despite its age, the pistol still retains strong mechanics. This early 1911 will be a nice addition to any collection and will display well with its early features, original finish and included rig. Please see our photos and good luck!