Colt Model of 1911 U.S. Army .45 ACP 5″ Semi-Automatic Pistol 1918 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,625.00
LSB#: LSB260416SS010
Make: Colt
Model: Model of 1911 U.S. Army
Serial Number: 260186
Year of Manufacture: 1918 C&R / (Colt Serial Lookup)
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action Type: Single Action, Semi-Auto Pistol with Detachable Magazine
Magazine Quantity & Condition: 1x 7-round magazine. The magazine shows operational use. There is corrosion staining and freckling. Overall, the magazine rates in Very Good condition.
Barrel Length: 5″
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a short thin metal blade fixed to the slide. The rear sight is a flat-top square notch dovetailed to the slide.
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” / “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO.” / “HARTFORD. CT. U.S.A.” and the Rampant Colt logo at the rear of the slide. The right side of the slide is marked “MODEL OF 1911. U.S. ARMY”. The rear of the slide above the firing pin is marked with an inspector mark. The left side of the frame is marked with “UNITED STATES PROPERTY” and “JMG” inspector mark near the magazine release. The left side of the frame has the Augusta Arsenal stamps, which have been chalked. The right side of the frame is marked with the serial number, which has been chalked. The barrel is marked “HS” near the barrel link. There are inspection stamps on the interior of the frame. The bottom of the magazine is marked “19200-” / “ASSY 5508694” / “MFR. 1M291”.
Stock Configuration and Condition: The grips are a two piece checkered plastic with interior strengthening ribs. The checkering remains sharp and defined. There are minor handling marks and compression dents. There are no cracks or chips. Overall, the grips are in Excellent condition.
Type of Finish: Parkerized
Finish Originality: Arsenal Refurbished
Bore Condition: The bore is bright with defined rifling. There is erosion and pitting within the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates about 7/10.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 90% of its refurbished finish. There are scattered scratches and compression marks across the metal surfaces. There is finish loss at the muzzle and frames leading edges. There is corrosion freckling and staining throughout. There is corrosion and pitting that has been covered with finish. The barrel shows operational wear and some freckling. The screws are sharp with light tooling. The markings range from light to legible. There is a lanyard loop attached to the base of the frame. Overall, this pistol rates in Very Good-Fine condition as arsenal refurbished.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The safeties function properly. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork, and Accessories: 1x 7-round magazine, black plastic case.
Our Assessment: The Colt Model of 1911 U.S. Army is one of the most historically significant American service pistols, designed by John Moses Browning and adopted by the U.S. military for its rugged single-action operation, .45 ACP chambering, and battlefield reliability. Original World War I Colt production pistols are highly collectible, and arsenal-refurbished examples add another layer of military history, often showing later replacement parts, updated finishes, rebuild markings, and evidence of extended service life. This example was manufactured in 1918, bears U.S. Property and JMG inspection markings, and was later arsenal refurbished with Augusta Arsenal markings.
This Colt Model of 1911 U.S. Army is a .45 ACP single-action semi-automatic pistol with a 5″ barrel, fixed blade front sight, flat-top square-notch rear sight, Parkerized arsenal-refurbished finish, and two-piece checkered plastic grips with interior strengthening ribs. The pistol retains about 90% of its refurbished finish, with scattered scratches, compression marks, muzzle and leading-edge finish loss, corrosion freckling and staining, and areas of corrosion and pitting under the later finish. The grips rate in Excellent condition, showing minor handling marks and compression dents, sharp defined checkering, and no chips or cracks. The bore is bright with defined rifling, though erosion and pitting are present, rating about 7/10 in this writer’s opinion. The barrel is marked “HS,” indicating a later High Standard replacement barrel, and the included 7-round magazine shows operational wear with corrosion staining and freckling, rating in Very Good condition. The action and safeties function properly, though the pistol has not been test fired. Overall, this is a Very Good-Fine condition arsenal-refurbished 1918 Colt Model of 1911 U.S. Army with strong U.S. martial appeal, clear service history indicators, Augusta Arsenal rebuild interest, and a useful included magazine and black plastic case. Please see our photos for a better understanding of the condition and good luck with your bids! -MY