Colt Commercial Government Model 1911 .45 ACP Semi-Auto Pistol, 1953 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,035.00
LSB#: WY240905BH002
Make: Colt
Model: Government Model, Commercial 1911
Serial Number: 264854-C
Year of Manufacture: 1953 (https://www.colt.com/serial-lookup)
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action Type: Single Action, Semi-Automatic, Detachable Magazine Fed Pistol
Markings: The left of the slide is marked “GOVERNMENT / MODEL”, “COLT”, “AUTOMATIC / CALIBER .45” and with a rampant Colt logo. The right of the slide is marked “COLT’S MFG. CO. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.”. The right of the frame is marked with the serial number. The barrel is marked “COLT .45 AUTO”.
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 swirl plastic with rampant colt in circle, reinforcement rings around the grip screws and reinforcement ribs on their interiors. The grips show minor handling wear with only a few small marks. The checkering is well defined. Overall, the grips are in 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 a little stubborn fouling. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 8 or 9 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 85% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There is handling wear in the grip areas. There are small patches of light pitting on each slide flat toward the front. There are scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in about Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The trigger is crisp. The slide has light 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 magazine. There is a tiny crack at the rear of the left feed-lip.
Our Assessment: The 1911 is one of the best pistols ever designed, seeing use in the US Military for the better part of a century and dominating pistol shooting sports for decades. This 1953 vintage commercial Government model is a neat example of a post-war Commercial Government model. The pistol is in Very Good condition with handling and operational wear, retaining a good bore and strong mechanics. The grips are the brown-swirl plastic which replaced “Coltwood”, so there’s none of the shrinkage associated with the earlier grips. This is a nice pistol, perfect to add to any collection. Please see our pictures and good luck!
Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud
