Post-War Colt Commercial Government 1911 .45 ACP Semi-Auto Pistol, 1957 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,426.00
LSB#: LSB250720WD019
Make: Colt
Model: Government Model, Commercial 1911-A1
Serial Number: 280017-C
Year of Manufacture: 1957 (https://www.colt.com/serial-lookup)
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action Type: Single Action, Semi-Automatic, Detachable Magazine Fed Pistol
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 minor handling wear with a few minor marks. The grip screw holes show slight stretching from shrinkage, common to this material but much more minor than many we have seen. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good-Fine condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is no erosion in the bore, but there is scattered stubborn fouling. In this writer’s opinion, this bore rates 8 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 90% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at some edges. There are scuffs on the top of the slide in front of the ejection port, the chin of the slide, and the grip straps. There are some other scattered tiny nicks and scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. 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: Included is a single 7-round Colt 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.
This 1957 vintage commercial Government model is a nice example of a post-war Commercial Government model. The pistol is in Very Good condition with a lot of its original finish left, retaining a strong bore and mechanics. Its Coltwood plastic grips show some shrinkage, but it hasn’t caused the cracks, chipping, or warping that is common to the material. This is a nice vintage Colt to add to your collection. Please see our pictures and good luck!
Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud
