Early Colt Commercial Government Model 1911 .45 ACP Pistol, 1913 C&R
SOLD FOR: $2,925.00
LSB#: LSB260221WD019
Make: Colt
Model: Government Model
Serial Number: C4997
Year of Manufacture: 1913 (https://www.colt.com/serial-lookup/), shipped January 14, 1914.
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto fed by Removable Magazine
Barrel Length: 5?
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a rounded blade staked to the front of the slide. The rear sight is a round-top “U”-notch dovetailed to the rear of the slide. The top of the rear sight has tool marks.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered walnut with smooth diamonds around the grip screws. The grips show handling wear, more notable at their bottom edges. There are some light nicks, scuffs and scratches, including a few tool marks around the screw heads. The checkering is generally well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good-plus condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Refinished. The barrel has been replaced, some other small parts may have been replaced.
Bore Condition: The chrome-lined 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 about 9 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 65% of its current metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There is fairly evenly scattered finish wear, a little more notable in the grip areas. Most worn areas appear to have been treated with cold blue and are going to a light patina. There are some scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is an “idiot mark” on the left of the frame under the slide stop. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from tool marked with strong slots to disfigured with usable slots. The markings are clear, some are a little soft. Overall, this pistol is in Good-plus condition as refinished and not all parts-original.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. It has both a manual and grip safety and the trigger pull is crisp. The slide has light play to the frame. We did not fire 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 a two-tone lanyard loop floorplate magazine and a Colt Archives letter. The letter indicates that this pistol shipped January 14, 1914 to Phelps Dodge Corp. in Douglas, AZ as one of six guns of the same type in the shipment. Correspondence with Phelps Dodge is included which indicates the pistol most likely stayed in their inventory until 197.
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. This is a quite early Colt Model 1911 Government Model made in early 1913. The pistol has has a new finish applied and a few parts replaced but retains early features such as the long-leg guide rod, checkered slide stop and thumb-safety. The pistol is starting to show its age, but is a neat example of one of the early Government Model pistols.
The included Colt Archives letter indicates original purchase by the Phelps Dodge Corp. in Douglas, AZ. A previous owner corresponded with Phelps Dodge who indicated that this pistol likely stayed in their inventory until 1975 when pistols were “made available for sale by the surplus/salvage dept. at Copper Queen Branch to Phelps Dodge employees”. This pistol will make a good addition to any collection with its included provenance and is a prime candidate for restoration. Please see our pictures and good luck in your bidding!
-Bud