Make: Colt

Model: 1911

Serial Number: 18889

Year of Manufacture: 1913, shipped January 9 to Rock Island Arsenal

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 slide.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered walnut with smooth diamonds around the grip screws. The grips have light handling wear. There are a few scattered nicks and minor scuffing. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good-plus condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: The finish is Original. The short-spur hammer, early type safety, and barrel marked with a gothic "H" on the rear of the hood are correct for this period of production. The guide-rod is a later part. The barrel has been polished to white.

Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with sharp rifling. There is scattered light erosion and infrequent minor pitting in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 6+ out of 10.

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 75% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The majority of the balance is handling wear in the grip areas. The barrel has been polished to white. There is infrequent minor wear on the slide and the sides of the dust cover. There are some spots of minor surface oxidation. There are some light nicks, scuffs and scratches, a cluster of scratches in the frontstrap toward the bottom, and a light "idiot mark" below the slide stop on the left of the frame. 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 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 single 7-round two-tone punch-and-saw-cut "keyhole" magazine with lanyard-loop floorplate.

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 retains the majority of its original finish with a number of early features. This early 1911 will be a nice addition to any collection. Please see our photos and good luck!