Make: Colt

Model: Government Model 1911-A1

Serial Number: C234602

Year of Manufacture: 1948

Caliber: .45 ACP

Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine

Barrel Length: 5"

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a short blade with a serrated, ramped face fixed to the front of the slide. The rear sight is a square notch dovetailed into the rear of the slide.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered Coltwood synthetic with large reinforcement rings around the screws and reinforcement ribs on the interior. 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.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original. Slides were not serialized in this period of production.

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion but there is a scattered stubborn fouling. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 8/10.

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 96% of its metal finish. The finish is lightly thinning at some edges. There are a few scattered small marks. The action shows light operational wear. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are generally clear, markings on the right of the slide and frame appear poorly struck. Overall, this pistol is in Fine 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: Included is a single 7-round Colt magazine. A SSN has been hand-scribed on the spine of the 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. 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. Having secured a contract for the US Military sidearm, Colt also offered the pistol to the commercial market as the "Government Model".

This 1948 vintage commercial Government model is a nice example of a post-war Commercial Government model. There are a lot of variations of the 1911/Government style pistols and these early post-war guns are a nice find for the collectors. This example is in Fine condition, showing signs of limited use over the last 75+ years, retaining a nice bore and strong mechanics. It is also a neat variant produced for the commercial market with grips originally made for the military during WWII. This is an interesting and functional pistol, perfect to add to any collection. Please see our pictures and good luck!