Colt Commercial Ace .22 LR Rimfire Semi-Automatic Target Pistol, 1931 C&R
SOLD FOR: $2247
LSB#: 210506MM05
Make: Colt
Model: Commercial ACE
Serial Numbers: 3230
Year of Manufacture: 1931 (https://colt.com/serial-lookup)
Caliber: .22 Long Rifle
Action Type: Single Action, Semi-Automatic with Exposed Hammer and Removable Magazine
Markings: 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. The right side of the slide is marked “COLT”, “ACE” in a diamond, “.22″ and “LONG / RIFLE”. The bottom of the slide at the rear on the left ear behind the firing pin plate is marked “H”. The right side of the trigger guard is marked with assembler’s mark “20”. The left side of the trigger guard is marked with inspector’s mark “3” and “VP” in triangle proof. The top of the frame to the right of the disconnector is marked “R”. The right side of the frame above the trigger is marked “3230”. The rear face of the slide, under the firing pin plate is marked “32” over the firing pin and “3”, “0” to each side of the slot for the plate’s retainer. The floorplate of the magazine is marked “COLT” over “ACE” in diamond over “22 L.R.”.
Barrel Length: 4 ¾”
Sights / Optics: The pistol has a flat-topped, square notched rear sight dovetailed to the rear of the slide, screw adjustable for windage and elevation. The front sight is a found blade fixed to the front of the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece faux-pearl panels with silver-colored Colt medallions. The grips have no notable wear or damage, only light handling marks. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Excellent condition as not original to the gun.
Type of Finish: The exposed metal surfaces have been polished bright.
Finish Originality: Remaining finish is Original, but most has been intentionally removed.
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore.
Overall Condition: Finish remains only on interior surfaces and the portion of the barrel concealed when the slide is forward. Otherwise, the metal surfaces have been polished bright. There is some scattered minor surface erosion which has been scrubbed out and light scuffing. There are some scattered minor scratches. The action shows light operational wear. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in about Very Good condition as polished.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The trigger is crisp and the slide has very little play to the frames. This pistol does NOT have the floating chamber used on the Service Ace. There is a manual safety as well as a grip safety and the hammer has a half-cock notch. 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 in a one-piece reproduction cardboard Colt Ace box with a Service Model Ace manual and a single 10-round magazine. The box has faint storage wear, in Fine-Excellent condition as reproduction. The magazine has blue finish on the bottom 2/3 with the top 1/3 in the white. The body has scattered light wear with scattered spots of discoloration from oxidation and some minor erosion. The string is strong and the feed lips are intact. Overall, the magazine is in about Very Good condition.
Our Assessment: This is a Colt Commercial Ace with a reproduction box and original-style magazine. The pistol is in Very Good condition as polished, having had most of the metal surfaces polished bright. The development of the Ace began in 1915 as Colt attempted to create a .22 caliber pistol based on the 1911 Government model design. The first Ace was assembled in 1930 and nearly 11,000 were made through 1947. While the intent was to produce a .22 version of the Government model, the Ace has a 1/4? shorter barrel, functions as a blowback rather than tilt-barrel and has significantly less recoil than the Government model, as compared with the later Service model Ace. This pistol would make a fine target pistol or recreational plinker, but would also make a nice addition to a Colt collection. Please see our photos and good luck!