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LOT 3306
1913 Production U.S. Navy Contract Colt Model 1911 Semi-Automatic Pistol - Serial no. 39324, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. A total of 15,037 of these pistols were manufactured by Colt with the desirable U.S. Navy slide marking, all of which were delivered prior to April of 1915. After that, all Model 1911 pistols delivered to the Navy would bear the standard U.S. Army nomenclature, of which there were approximately 578,473 manufactured, making this variation comparatively
very scarce. This is an example of an early 1913 production, U.S. Navy contract Colt Model 1911
pistol that was shipped on 30 July, 1913, to the Brooklyn Navy Yard (page 515 “U.S. Military
Automatic Pistols 1894-1920” by Meadows/Ellis). The left side of the slide is marked with the
standard two-line, two-block Colt address and patent dates with the Rampant Colt behind
the serrations, while the right bears the desirable “MODEL OF 1911 U.S. NAVY” marking. The
much later production replacement commercial barrel is blued with a polished chamber hood
marked “COLT .45 AUTO”. The left side of the frame has the U.S. property marking and “WGP”
circled monogram above the magazine release, while the serial number is on the right. It is
fitted with blade front and rounded top notch rear sights, checkered slide catch, thumb safety,
magazine catch, and wide hammer, long smooth trigger, smooth flat mainspring housing with
lanyard loop, a pair of diamond pattern checkered walnut grips, and a two tone magazine with
a pinned base with lanyard loop.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 90% of the original blue finish with the balance having thinned
to a smooth grey patina, primarily on the mainspring housing and edges, a light takedown
mark, and some scattered light handling marks. The grips are very good with some scattered
minor handling marks and a few scattered light blemishes in the otherwise crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. An exceptional example of a U.S. Navy contract Colt Model 1911 pistol!
Estimate: 8,500 - 13,000
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 nomenclature.
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