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LOT 325
Exceptional and Highly Desirable
U.S. Navy Contract Colt Model 1911
Semi-Automatic Pistol - Serial no. 40496,
45 ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish,
walnut grips. Manufactured in 1913, one of
only 15,037 Model 1911 pistols manufactured
by Colt for the U.S. Navy with the desirable “U.S. NAVY” roll-mark on the
slide that was discontinued in April 1915 in favor for the standard U.S. Army
nomenclature, of which there were approximately 578,473 manufactured, making
the navy marked variation comparatively very scarce. This specific pistol falls with
in the 40,301 to 40,500 serial number range of 200 pistols shipped to the U.S. Navy
Yard of Brooklyn, New York, on August 3, 1913, as found in the table on page 158 of
“U.S. Military Automatic Pistols: 1894-1920” by Meadows. Features fixed oval blade
front and modified replacement notch rear sights, blued barrel with “P” and “H” marked
on the chamber hood and “J” on the recoil lug, checkered slide catch, magazine release,
and wide spur hammer, along with a smooth long trigger, short grip safety, and flat
mainspring housing with lanyard loop on the base. The left of the slide bears the two-line,
two-block Colt address and patent dates, with the Rampant Colt logo behind the slide
serrations, along with the desirable “MODEL OF 1911 U.S. NAVY” roll-marked on the right
side. The left of the frame bears the U.S. property marking and circled “WGP” (Maj. Walter
G. Penfield) inspection stamp, with the serial number on the right side. Fitted with a pair of
“double-diamond” checkered walnut grips and a two-tone magazine with “keyhole” relief cut
at the rear and pinned lanyard loop base.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, retaining 80% plus bright original blue finish with some light
edge wear, a modified replacement rear sight, thinning on the grip straps revealing mostly brown patina
and some minor pitting, light cycling wear, and
some light handling marks. The right grip is
very fine with the fine left grip displaying some
compression wear in the otherwise defined
checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 14,000 - 22,500
Only 15,037 U.S. Navy
contract Model 1911
Pistols were produced
with the Navy slide
marking, compared to the
approximately 578,473
with the standard U.S.
Army legend.
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