Colt Commercial Government Model 1911 .45 ACP Semi-Auto Pistol, 1951 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1575
LSB#: 210514MW59
Make: Colt
Model: Government Model, Commercial 1911
Serial Number: 249177-C
Year of Manufacture: 1951 (https://www.colt.com/serial-lookup)
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action Type: Single Action, Semi-Automatic, Detachable Magazine Fed Pistol
Markings: The left of the slide is marked “GOVERNMENT / MODEL”, “COLT”, “AUTOMATIC / CALIBER .45” and with a rampant Colt logo. The right of the slide is marked “COLT’S MFG. CO. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.”. The right of the frame is marked with the serial number. The left of the trigger guard has “Q” and a “VP” in triangle, the right has “4”. The barrel is marked “COLT .45 AUTO”. The left of the dust cover is engraved through the finish with “ROBERT MAYNARD”.
Barrel Length: 5”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a ramped blade with a serrated rear face staked to the front of the slide. The rear sight is a square notch dovetailed to the rear of the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered brown “Coltwood” plastic panels with rampant colts in circles. The grips have just slightly stretched screw-holes which are common with Coltwood grips due to shrinkage. There are a few minor marks, most notable around the bottom-left grip screw. Otherwise, the grips show only light handling marks. The checkering is sharp. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in about Fine condition and would rate Excellent but for the shrinkage.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright with sharp rifling. There is no erosion in the bore.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 96% of its metal finish. There are some scattered light scratches, most notable at the left-front of the slide and on the top in front of the ejection port. There is light operational wear, most notable on the bottom of the slide in front of the dust cover. The grip areas have some light marks. There is an “idiot mark” under the slide stop. The finish is thinning at some edges. The screw heads are lightly tool marked with sharp slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Fine condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The trigger is crisp. The slide has barely perceptible play to the frame. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with a total of two 7-round magazines, a one-piece hinged-lid cardboard Colt box with the serial number hand-written on the bottom of the tray portion and model-matching label on the lid portion, manual, .22 conversion kit manual (no kit included) and a cleaning rod. The magazines have light operational wear, intact feed lips and strong springs, in about Very Good-Fine condition. The box has scattered storage wear, tears at some edges and corners, in Good condition.
Our Assessment: The 1911 is one of the best pistols ever designed, seeing use in the US Military for the better part of a century and dominating pistol shooting sports for decades. This 1951 vintage commercial Government model is a great example of a post-war Commercial Government model. The pistol is in Fine condition with light handling and operational wear, retaining a great bore and strong mechanics. The Coltwood grips show some shrinkage, common for this material, but minor compared to other examples we have seen. In its original box, this is a beautiful pistol, perfect to add to any collection. Please see our pictures and good luck!