Make: Colt
Model: Service Model Ace
Serial Number: SM43784
Year of Manufacture: Ca. Late 1980s
Caliber: .22 LR
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto Pistol with Removable Magazine
Barrel Length: 5"
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade fixed to the front of the slide. The rear sight is an Elliason square-notch adjustable for windage and elevation in a base pinned to the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered wood with gold-colored Colt medallions. 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: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 10/10.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 98% of its metal finish. The action shows light operational wear. Otherwise, there are only light handling marks. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Excellent condition.
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 10-round 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. Yet, it could be expensive to train thousands of soldiers to use the 1911 while feeding it .45 ACP, moreso at the outset of WWII when the US Military would see the greatest expansion in its history. The Colt Ace had been introduced in 1931 as a .22 Long Rifle version of their Government Model, but it was dimensionally different and had significantly less recoil than the real thing. David "Carbine" Williams adapted his floating-chamber design to intentionally increase the recoil of the .22 LR cartridge to the point that it was similar to that of .45 ACP, even allowing the use of the same recoil spring. This became the Service Model Ace and allowed for drastically reduced practice costs when training GIs to use their 1911s.
The model was discontinued at the close of WWII, but was reintroduced by Colt in 1977. This example was produced in the 1980s and is in Excellent condition with its strong Colt Blue finish. This is a nice specimen of a Service Model Ace, sure to take a prized place in a Colt or US Military handgun collection or to be a fun plinker out on the range. Please see our photos and good luck!
