Colt Super .38 Automatic Government Model 4-DIGIT! Blue 1911A1 5″ Semi-Auto Pistol MFD 1929 1st Year!
SOLD FOR: $7,880.00
LSB#: 170601DN01
Make: Colt
Model: Super .38 Automatic
Serial Number: 1296
Year of Manufacture: 1929
Caliber: .38 Super
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine
Markings: The right side of the slide is marked “COLT”, “SUPER .38 / AUTOMATIC” and with a Rampant Colt logo. 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.”. The left front of the trigger guard is marked “1” and with a “VP in a triangle. The right front of the trigger guard is marked “20”. The right side of the frame above the trigger is marked “1296”.
Barrel Length: 5”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a short wide non-tapered bladed is fixed to the top of the slide. The rear sight is a square notched sight that is dovetailed into the top of the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are fully checkered walnut panels. The left panel has a patch of lightly compressed checkers under the top grip screw, and two smaller patches lower and to the front. The right panel has a couple of individual flattened checkers. There are no chips or cracks. The grips rate in about Fine-Excellent overall condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Factory Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright with sharp rifling. There is no erosion in the bore.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 95% of its metal finish. There is a takedown mark from the slide stop which extends into the trigger scallop and up onto the slide into the marking on the left side. The grip straps have thinned a bit with light marks on the frontstrap as from handling while wearing a ring. Finish is thinning slightly at all edges, most noticeably at the front of the slide on each side. The top of the slide has scattered light marks including a scuff at the front of the ejection port. The bottom edge of the right side of the slide has two small marks under the “.38” marking and there are a few spots of extremely light frosting above this marking. The front right of the slide has a few light scratches. The right side of the frame has a light scratch beneath the hammer pin and another just in front of the trigger guard on the dust cover. The trigger has light operational wear. The hammer has a couple of spots of very light frosting, as does the grip safety. The knurled, arched mainspring housing has thin finish on the rear face with one flattened diamond center just above the midline. This is a beautiful pistol; no question about its originality and just enough wear to indicate it wasn’t always a safe queen. The magazine release, recoil spring plug, slide release and safety knurling are very sharp. The trigger and hammer knurling have softened somewhat but are still well defined. The recoil spring plug shows light wear. The grip screws are thinned from handling and marked slightly by a screwdriver but have sharp slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol rates in about Fine – Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The trigger pull is crisp. The slide is tight on the frame. The action functions correctly. 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 with one correct, two-tone eight round magazine with light freckling in the unfinished portion and very light freckling on the floorplate. The floorplate is marked “.38 AUTO. / COLT”. Overall, the magazine is in about Fine-Excellent condition.
Our Assessment: The .38 Super cartridge was first introduced by Colt in 1928 as a higher pressure loading of the .38 ACP. It is capable of driving a 115 gr. bullet to nearly 1400 fps., producing almost 500 ft-lbs of energy. This is not quite up to the .357 Magnum, but was still capable of penetrating body armor and automobile bodies. Today, the cartridge is favored by many top pistol match competitors for its ability to make “Major” category with a lighter bullet offering less felt recoil than that produced with from a .45 ACP round. Colt first introduced the round in its 1911A1 frame, making it basically the same as the Government Model except for its cartridge. The 1911 pistol had already gained a reputation as a highly reliable pistol during WWI, Colt saw no reason not to capitalize on that reputation with a new caliber offering. This Super .38 pistol was made in the first year of production and is one of the best we have handled. The Super .38 pistols are highly prized by collectors, and this one certainly will be no different. It is exceedingly rare to find one in this high condition, much less a 1st year. Please see our photos and good luck!
CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable: This C&R eligible handgun CAN be transferred as a dealer sale in California and CAN be sold as a Private Party Transfer (PPT) at our Simi Valley shop. All cartridge firing handguns (even C&R’s) sold to a California resident must be DROS’d. This does not apply to out of state residents.
