Make: Colt

Model: Government Model

Serial Number: W109620

Year of Manufacture: 1919

Caliber: .455 Webley Self-Loading (Eley)

Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine

Barrel Length: 5”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a round blade fixed to the slide. The rear sight is a “U”-notch dovetailed into the slide.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered walnut with smooth diamonds around the grip screws. The grips have moderate handling wear with scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. There are tool marks around the grip screws. The checkering is generally well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original

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

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 65% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. Most of the balance is in fairly evenly scattered finish loss from oxidation that was cleaned out. There are several scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is some minor surface oxidation. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with serviceable slots. The markings are generally clear, some of the unit markings are irregularly struck. Overall, this pistol is in 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 magazine with a lanyard ring on the floorplate and the top portion left in the white. The floorplate is marked "CAL. 455 / ELEY" around the lanyard loop. A copy of the Colt Archives letter is included indicating the pistol shipped March 25, 1919 to the British Ministry of Shipping in New York, NY as one of 300 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, 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 quality of the pistol was not lost on those from foreign countries, and there have been examples used all around the world. Demand was high enough that Colt chambered their Government model for the British self-loading service cartridge, .455 Eley (Webley Auto). There were some government contracts and also many were purchased by British officers who frequently purchased their own service sidearms.

This example has a “W” serial prefix, indicating that it came from a British government purchase "during" the Great War (between the Armistice and the Treaty of Versailles), in 1919. While there were many different users of this model, they are most associated with the Royal Flying Corps and nearly all would end up in the service of the re-named Royal Air Force. The markings on this pistol indicate that it saw service in the No. 5 Flying Training School in Shotwick, just on the English side of the Welsh border south of Liverpool. It shows wear consistent with having been carried in service, but still retains about 65% of its original blue finish and strong mechanics. The pistol has standard British inspection and acceptance marks as well as commercial proofs from when it left service. It does not have an import marking, indicating it arrived in America prior to 1968. This will be a great pistol to add to a WWI, British, Aviation, or Colt handgun collection. If you have a good source of .455 Webley Self-Loading ammo, it could also be a fun shooter. Please see our photos and good luck!