USN Colt Model of 1911 U.S. Navy .45 ACP Semi-Auto Pistol, MFD 1915 C&R
Sold For: $4,700
LSB#: 201001DW13
Make: Colt
Model: Model of 1911, U.S. Navy
Serial Number: 109662
Year of Manufacture: Shipped March 5, 1915 To U.S. Navy Yard, Brooklyn (“Colt .45 Service Pistols”, Clawson, p382)
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine
Markings: The left side of the slide is marked “PATENTED APR.20.1897. SEPT.9.1902. / DEC.19.1905. FEB.14.1911. AUG.19.1913” and “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. / HARTFORD. CT. U.S.A.”, with a Rampant Colt logo at the rear of the slide. The right side of the slide is marked “MODEL OF 1911. U. S. NAVY”. The right-side slot on the underside of the slide is marked “8” at the rear. The rear face of the frame is marked with a vertical, sans-serif “H” above the firing pin plate. The right side of the frame is marked “No 109662”. The left side of the frame was marked “UNITED STATES PROPERTY” on the dust cover, this marking has been removed. Behind the trigger on the right is a circled “GHS” (Col. Gilbert H. Stewart, Colt M1911 and M1911A1 .45 Pistols 1915-1919). The flat on the top rear of the frame is marked “H” and “R” at the disconnector, the right rail at the feed ramp and the concave portion in front of the feed ramp each have a small diamond. The top of the barrel at the chamber has a “P”.
Barrel Length: 5”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a short rounded blade fixed to the front of the slide. The rear sight is a flat-top “U” notch dovetailed into the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered walnut with smooth diamonds around the grip screws. The relief at the bottom-rear of each panel for the mainspring housing pin fits far enough from the edge of the pin to indicate that they are reproduction grips. The grips have light handling wear with some smoothed checkers behind the left panel’s top diamond and a few scattered light marks. There are no chips or cracks. The checkering is generally sharp. Overall, the grips are in about Very Good-plus condition as not original to the gun.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Most remaining finish is original, the left of the dust cover where the US Property marking was removed has been cold-blued.
Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with sharp rifling. There is some scattered light erosion in the bore, most just in front of the chamber.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 70% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges with finish wear extending back from leading corners. The frontstrap is mostly worn to white with handling wear in the mainspring housing and grip safety. There is some other scattered light wear, nicks and scratches. The worn areas and marks through the finish show scattered discoloration from oxidation. The left of the dust cover has a gray coloring of old cold-blue where the US Property marking was removed. The controls show light handling wear. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in about Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The trigger pull is crisp and the slide has light play to the frame. 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 7-round magazine which has a lanyard loop baseplate pinned to the body. The surfaces appear to have had their finish stripped, showing minor etching and discoloration. The feed lips are intact and the spring is strong. Overall, the magazine is in about Good condition.
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. This pistol was shipped in early March 1915 to the U.S. Navy Yard in Brooklyn, NY. The pistol is in Very Good condition retaining about 70% of its blue finish with a decent bore and strong mechanics. The US Property marking on the dust cover was removed, likely the result of a common misconception that it was illegal to own US Proper marked items. It has also been equipped with a nice set of reproduction grips, which helps to make the pistol look quite nice despite its age. All in all, it is a nice example of a fairly early Navy Model 1911. This pistol will make a nice addition to a US Martial arms or Colt collection. Please see our photos and good luck!
CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable (THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO OUT-OF-STATE RESIDENTS): This C&R Pistol CAN be sold as a dealer sale in California and CAN be transferred as a Private Party Transfer (PPT) as our Simi Valley location. All C&R firearms must be transferred through your local dealer OR at our Simi Valley location; we cannot ship directly to a C&R holder in California. Out of state residents can disregard this section – your local laws apply.
