Make: Colt

Model: 1911 Transitional Model

Serial Number: 707278

Year of Manufacture: 1924

Caliber: .45 ACP

Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto with 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 “U” notch dovetailed to the slide.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece fully checkered walnut panels. The grips have minor handling wear with a few scattered light marks. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Fine condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original

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 6+/10.

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 90% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. The grip areas show minor handling wear. There is some scattered faint surface oxidation. There are some light nicks, scuffs and small scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good-plus condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired 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 one 7-round two-tone American Pin Co. magazine.

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. This is a Colt Model 1911 “Transitional Model” made in 1924. It is slightly different than the 1911 pistols made during WWII and incorporates many of the changes Colt put into their commercial pistols as well as changes suggested by the government, almost all of which are found on the 1911A1 models, but the slide is still marked “1911” (These pistols were retroactively given the 1911A1 designation in 1926) and has a rounded front sight blade, rather than the later serrated, ramped blade. There were 10,000 made, in serial number sequence between 700001 and 710000, with a thousand at the end of the sequence designated National Match pistols. The transition models retained their rounded front sight, but the sides are straight, not tapered, for better visibility, and the “U” notch rear sight was made slightly larger. The recoil spring and mainspring were made slightly weaker to make it easier to rack the slide and the grips were changed to eliminate the smooth diamonds around the grip screw.

This pistol is in Very Good-plus condition with 90% of its original finish remaining. It has a correct barrel with "HP" monogram and "K" markings. The checkered walnut grips show fairly minor wear. For collectors of WWI and WWII 1911 and 1911A1 pistols, the transition models are quite rare compared with the standard 1911 or 1911A1 models. This example's high condition will make it a wonderful addition to any collection. Please see our photos and good luck!