Make: Colt
Model: 1911
Serial Number: C93168
Year of Manufacture: 1917
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine
Barrel Length: 5", High Standard
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a short rounded blade fixed to the front of the slide. The rear sight is a "U"-notch dovetailed into 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 fairly even handling wear with some tool marks around the screws. There are a few spots of compressed checkers, most notable in front of the bottom diamond on the left panel. There are some other scattered light marks. The checkering is generally well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in about Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original to the parts, the barrel is not original to the gun.
Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with sharp rifling. There is scattered light erosion and stubborn fouling in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates about 7/10.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 75% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The most notable finish loss is handling wear in the grip areas with some other scattered wear. There are scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches with tool marks on the right of the frame at the shanks of the thumb safety and slide stop. There is some minor oxidation and infrequent minor surface erosion, mostly on the slide. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from tool marked with strong slots to disfigured with a usable slot. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in about Very Good 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 a single two-tone 7-round magazine and a signed letter from Rick Hacker with historical details and noting that the pistol has been in his collection since the late 1980s.
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 is a fairly early Colt commercial Government Model made in 1917 during WWI. The pistol is in Very Good condition, showing wear wear in its original finish consistent with its age. The barrel is a WWII-era replacement made by High Standard, retaining a fairly good bore. The pistol comes from the collection of noted gun writer, NRA Field Editor and winner of the John T. Amber Literary Award, Rick Hacker. His included letter indicates that he researched the pistol and found it shipped to Baker, Hamilton and Pacific Co. in San Francisco, CA in a 50 gun shipment. All of the old 1911 Colts are collectable, and we are sure this isn't going to be an exception, especially from the Hacker collection. Please see our pictures and good luck in your bidding!
