Post-War Colt Commercial Government 1911 .45 ACP Semi-Auto Pistol, 1948 C&R
SOLD FOR: $2,925.00
LSB#: WY240925JT075
Make: Colt
Model: Government Model, Commercial 1911
Serial Number: C234024
Year of Manufacture: 1948, shipped February 14.
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action Type: Single Action, Semi-Automatic, Detachable Magazine Fed Pistol
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 “Coltwood” synthetic with large reinforcement rings around the screw holes and reinforcement ribs on the interior. The grips have no notable wear or damage, only light handling marks. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Excellent condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with sharp rifling. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 8.5 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 97% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at some edges. There are some minor nicks, scuffs and scratches, mostly in the top of the slide. The action shows light operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in excellent 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 and a Colt Archives letter. The letter indicates that this pistol shipped February 14, 1948 to Belknap Hardware & Mfg. Company in Louisville, Kentucky as one of 100 guns of the same type in the shipment.
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 1948 vintage commercial Government model is a nice example of a post-war Commercial Government model. The earliest post-war pistols used some military parts, and that can clearly be seen on this pistol with its military-style grips, clip-point grip safety tail, and checkered thin hammer. There are a lot of variations of the 1911/Government style pistols and these early post-war guns are a nice find for the collectors.
This example is in Fine condition, showing signs of limited use over the last 75+ years, retaining a decent bore and strong mechanics. It is a neat variant produced for the commercial market with some parts originally made for the military during WWII. This is an interesting and functional pistol, perfect to add to any collection. Please see our pictures and good luck!
