Make: Colt
Model: Government Model
Serial Number: C200439
Year of Manufacture: 1940, Shipped July 3.
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto fed by 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 flat-top "U"-notch sight dovetailed to the rear of the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece full-checkered walnut. The grips show minor handling wear with only a few light marks, mostly on the right panel. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Fine condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original, the slide is serial-matching.
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is infrequent faint erosion and a little stubborn fouling in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 8+/10.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 94% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. There are some scattered minor scratches and a light "idiot mark" under the slide stop on the left of the frame. There are scattered tiny freckles of minor oxidation. The action shows light operational wear. The screw heads are tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good-Fine 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 Colt magazine and a Colt Archives letter. The letter indicates that this pistol was manufactured June 28 and shipped July 3, 1940 to Cullum and Boren Company in Dallas, TX as one of six guns of the same type in the shipment.
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 Colt commercial Government Model made in 1940, after WWII had started, but before America's entry. It incorporates the updates applied to the 1911A1 including relief cuts in the frame on each side behind the trigger, a short, checkered trigger, and arched mainspring housing. During this period, Colt also serial-marked the slide, so it is nice to know that the slide is original to the frame. Perhaps of greatest interest to the discerning collector is the Swartz safety system. Pre-dating the Series 80 firing pin block by more than four decades, the Swartz safety was actuated by the grip safety rather than the trigger. Government Models actually equipped with the Swartz safety are scarce, they were installed in a serial range where a large portion of production went overseas to Brazil or were frames transferred to military production after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Many Swartz safety frames were used to produce Super .38 or National Match pistols, rather than a standard Government Model.
The pistol is in Very Good-Fine condition, appearing to have seen light, responsible use over the last 86 years. All of the old 1911 Colts are collectable, and this will be a great example to add to any collection. Please see our pictures and good luck in your bidding!
