Make: Colt

Model: 1911

Serial Number: C86879

Year of Manufacture: 1917

Caliber: .45 ACP

Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine

Barrel Length: 5”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a short blade with a serrated, ramped face fixed to the front of the slide. The rear sight is a square-notch dovetailed into the rear of the slide. The sights are not original to the gun.

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 scratches. There is light tool marking around some screw heads. The checkering is generally well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blued, parkerized hammer.

Finish Originality: Original to the parts. The sights, grip safety and hammer are not original to the gun. Some other small parts may be replaced.

Bore Condition: The bore is gray with well defined rifling. There is scattered light erosion in the bore with some more notable erosion and light pitting toward the breech-end, including some in the chamber. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 5+ out of 10.

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 85% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. Most of the balance is handling wear in the grip areas. There is some other scattered more minor wear. There are scattered minor nicks, scuffs and scratches with a light "idiot mark" under the slide stop on the left of the frame. There are a few more notable nicks. There is infrequent minor surface oxidation. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in 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 one two-tone 7-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. 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 scattered light wear wear in its original finish. The hammer, grip safety, and sights have been replaced. The pistol retains a fair bore and strong mechanics. All of the old 1911 Colts are collectable, and we are sure this isn’t going to be an exception. Please see our pictures and good luck in your bidding!