
Colt Commercial Government Model 1911 .45 ACP Semi-Auto Pistol, 1912 C&R
SOLD FOR: $3,099.00
WOA#: WY240530TP047
Make: Colt
Model: Commercial Government Model 1911
Serial Number: C1634
Year of Manufacture: 1912 (https://www.colt.com/serial-lookup)
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Automatic Pistol with Removable Magazine
Factory Markings: The left side of the slide is marked “PATENTED APR 20, 1897 / SEPT. 9,1902. DEC. 19, 1905. FEB. 14,1911” and “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. / HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A.”, with a Rampant Colt logo behind the slide serrations. The right side of the slide is marked “COLT AUTOMATIC / CALIBRE 45?. The rear face of the slide is marked “S” under the firing pin plate. The right side of the frame is marked “C1634” over the trigger and “GOVERNMENT MODEL” on the dust cover. The top of the frame is marked “5” and “S” around the disconnector. The left front of the trigger guard is marked with a “VP” Verified Proof in a triangle and at the rear with “K”. The underside of the barrel in front of the lug is marked “G”, the left link-lug is marked “P”, the left of the chamber “COLT 45 AUTO”.
Barrel Length: 5”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a rounded blade fixed to the front of the slide. The rear sight is a flat-bottom notch with a rounded top dovetailed into the top of the slide. The rear sight is not original to the gun.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered walnut with smooth diamonds around the grip screws. The grips have light handling wear. There are some light nicks and scratches with a more notable ding at the bottom edge of the right panel. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good-plus condition.
Type of Finish: Blue, Fire-Blue Small Parts
Finish Originality: Professionally Restored, the barrel is not original to the gun.
Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with sharp rifling. There is scattered minor erosion and stubborn fouling, mostly in the grooves. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 7+ out of 10.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 87% of its current metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. Most of the balance is handling wear in the grip areas. There is scattered very faint surface oxidation. There are minor nicks and thin scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear, a little shallow. The rampant colt is double-struck. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good-plus condition as refinished and not parts-original.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The pistol has a grip safety as well as a frame mounted manual safety and a half-cock safety on the hammer. The slide has minor 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 single 7-round refinished two-tone magazine with lanyard-loop floorplate.
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.
Having secured a contract for the US Military sidearm, Colt also offered the pistol to the commercial market as the “Government Model”. This is a Colt commercial Government Model made in 1912, shortly after the introduction of the model. During this period, Colt was producing both commercial and U.S. military pistols, it would only be a couple of years before many began to be purchased by the initial belligerents of the Great War and only a couple more before the United States joined in. This example has been restored, and quite skillfully done. The fire-blue small parts look just right and the markings are well preserved. It retains a good bore in its replacement barrel and has strong mechanics. All of the old 1911 Colts are collectable, and this will be a neat example to add to any collection. Please see our pictures and good luck in your bidding!
Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud
