Custom Springfield 1911 Ed Brown Colt Government Clark .45 ACP Pistol

More Sold Fine Modern Arms

SOLD FOR: $2,525.00

LSB#: LSB260220SB002

Make: Springfield Armory frame, Colt Slide

Model: Custom 1911A1, MK IV Series ’70 Slide

Serial Number: NM3204

Year of Manufacture: Modern

Caliber: .45 ACP

Action Type: Single-Action, Semi-Automatic Pistol, Detachable Magazine Fed with Thumb Safety

Markings: The left side of the slide is marked “COLT’S MK IV/SERIES ’70 / GOVERNMENT MODEL / 45 AUTOMATIC CALIBER” with a Rampant Colt. The left side of the muzzle device is marked “CUSTOM BY / Ed Brown”. The right side of the muzzle device is marked “MAXI-COMP”. The right side of the slide is marked “COLT’S GOVERNMENT MODEL”. The right side of the frame is marked “SPRINGFIELD ARMORY / GENESEO IL. USA / NM 3204”. The top of the barrel is marked “Clark . .45 ACP”.

Barrel Length: 5.75″ Clark Custom Guns Barrel. 6 3/8″ with Ed Brown Maxi-Comp.

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a patridge blade dovetailed fore-to-aft and screw set into the muzzle device. The rear sight is a fully adjustable Wichita square notch sight, dovetailed into the slide.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two piece checkered wood with smooth grip screw diamonds. The checkering is crisp. There is light handling wear. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips rate in Excellent condition.

Magazine Quantity & Condition: 1x 7rd Magazine with a Shaw bumper, in Good condition.

Type of Finish: Hard Chrome

Finish Originality: Refinished

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is some fouling in the grooves. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 9/10. There is carbon buildup in the compensator.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 95% of its metal finish. The balance of the finish is strong throughout. There is modest handling and operational wear. There is rust on the breech face and inside the frame throughout the sides of the magwell. There is rust on the rear sight. The screw heads are tool marked with serviceable slots. Overall, this handgun rates in Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The trigger is crisp. The slide to frame fit is snug. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol includes a total of one magazine.

Our Assessment: The M1911 platform is one of the most customized handgun designs in American firearms history, originally adopted by the U.S. military in 1911 and later becoming a dominant platform for bullseye, IPSC, defensive, and custom shop work. This pistol brings together several notable names from that custom tradition, using a Springfield Armory frame, Colt MK IV Series ’70 Government Model slide, Clark .45 ACP barrel, and an Ed Brown Maxi-Comp compensator. The Series ’70 Colt slide ties the pistol visually and mechanically to one of Colt’s most recognized postwar commercial 1911 lines, while Clark and Ed Brown components point toward the target and competition world where accuracy work, compensators, adjustable sights, and hard chrome finishes were common upgrades. Chambered in .45 ACP, the cartridge most closely associated with the 1911 since its original military adoption, this custom build has the character of a period competition or precision-tuned Government Model rather than a standard factory pistol.

This example retains about 95 percent of its hard chrome finish, with strong overall coverage and modest handling and operational wear. There is rust noted on the breech face area, inside the frame along the magwell, and on the rear sight, while the screw heads show tool marks but retain serviceable slots. The checkered wood grips are in Excellent condition, with crisp checkering, light handling wear, and no chips or cracks. The bore is bright with sharp rifling and some fouling in the grooves, rating 9 out of 10 in this writer’s opinion, with carbon buildup also present in the compensator. The action functions correctly, the trigger is crisp, and the slide-to-frame fit is snug. The pistol includes one 7 round magazine with a Shaw bumper in Good condition. Overall, this is an interesting hard chrome custom 1911 built with desirable Colt, Springfield, Clark, and Ed Brown components, well suited for the collector of custom competition-style 1911 pistols. Please see our photos for a better understanding of the condition and good luck with your bids! – L.S.