Colt 1911 Model ACE .22 Match, Pre-War, Restored Blue 4 ¾” SA Semi-Automatic Pistol, MFD 1931 C&R
SOLD FOR:$1,536.00
LSB#: 160701GD02
Make: Colt
Model: ACE
Serial Number: 3441
Year of Manufacture: 1931 (FIRST YEAR OF PRODUCTION)
Caliber: .22 Long Rifle
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto with Exposed Hammer and Removable Magazine
Markings: The right side of slide is marked “COLT”, “ACE” in a diamond, and “22 LONG / RIFLE”. The left side of the slide is marked ““COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A. / PAT’D APR.20,1897 SEPT.9,1902. DEC.19,1905. FEB.14,1911. AUG.19,1913.” and with a Rampant Colt logo. The left front of the trigger guard is marked “3” and with a “VP” in a triangle. The right front of the trigger guard is marked “20”. The right side of the frame is marked “3441”.
Barrel Length: 4 ¾”
Sights / Optics: This pistol is mounted with a flat topped square notch rear sight that is dovetailed into the slide and adjustable for windage and elevation. The front sight is rounded blade fixed to the top of the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered walnut and appear to be aftermarket grips. The checkering shows very light wear with two minor mars in the left grip and light oil staining around the lower grip screw in the left grip. The grips rate in about Excellent condition.
Type of Finish: The pistol has a highly polished blued finish.
Finish Originality: The finish is has been professionally restored.
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 99+% of its current metal finish. There is a small handling mark in the right front side of the slide. There are also a few spots of pitting under the finish: one on each lower side of the slide just in front of the frame and another on the left side of the slide in the middle of the markings. There are also very light scratches under the finish on the right front edge of the trigger guard. The checkering on the hammer, mainspring housing and recoil spring plug show light wear while the safety, slide release and magazine release checkering is sharp. The grip screws are sharp and the markings are clear. Overall, this pistol rates in about Fine condition as re-finished.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The trigger breaks crisply at about 4 lbs. 7 ozs. and the slide is tight to the frame. The pistol has a manual safety as well as a grip safety and a half-cock hammer. We have not fired this pistol.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: There is one blued magazine included with this pistol. It is marked on the floorplate with “COLT”, “ACE” in a triangle, “22 L R” and “SERVICE MODEL”, indicating it is from the “Service Model Ace” pistol. The magazine shows spots of light pitting under its finish. The magazine is in about Fine condition as refinished.
Our Assessment: This is a Colt Ace semi-auto pistol designed to shoot .22 L.R. ammunition. This is a great pistol with many of the features of the Government Model 1911A1 except that it has adjustable target sights and a slightly shorter barrel. It was designed so that you could target practice with nearly the same sized frame as that used by your .45 1911. With the cost of ammunition today, this makes even more sense than it did way back in 1931 when this Ace was produced. This pistol has been professionally restored and has about 99+% of its current finish remaining. It has about 95% of its nickel finish remaining. This is an extremely nice looking pistol with a great bore. The collectors should have interest in this pistol, as there were only about 11,000 made, and there sure won’t be any more of them. It was made in the first year of production, and this should really get their interest. Some high-end collectors buy a restored pistol like this one as a placeholder, thinking they will replace it in the future when a nice “original” comes along, only to find the same pistol in their collection decades later because they never found one they liked better.
