Colt Commercial Government Model 1911 .45 ACP Semi-Auto Pistol, 1951 C&R
SOLD FOR: $2001
LSB#: 211025HE11
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 has been engraved “ROBERT MAYNARD” through the finish.
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 wood with smooth diamonds around the screws. The grips have no notable wear or damage, only light handling marks. The checkering is sharp. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Excellent condition as not original to the gun.
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 93% of its metal finish. The finish is lightly thinning at most edges. There is light handling wear in the grip areas. The sides of the frame show wear from previously installed grips, likely Coltwood which were replaced due to shrinkage. There are a few scattered minor marks with a more notable scratch on the top of the slide in front of the ejection port. There is an “idiot mark” below the slide stop on the left of the frame. The action shows light operational wear. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good-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 hinge-lid cardboard Colt box with model-matching label, the serial number hand-written on the bottom, and a single 7-round magazine. The magazine has light operational wear, intact feed lips and a strong spring. The box has scattered storage wear and tears at edges and corners which have mostly been repaired internally with tape.
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 Very Good-Fine condition with light handling and operational wear, retaining a great bore and strong mechanics. The Coltwood grips which would have originally been installed have been replaced, likely due to shrinkage, common for this material. A previous owner had the pistol inscribed with “ROBERT MAYNARD” on the left of the dust cover, but we were not able to uncover any information about Mr. Maynard. This is a beautiful pistol, perfect to add to any collection. Please see our pictures and good luck!