Manufactured in 1912, the first official year of production for the U.S. contract Colt Model 1911 pistol. It is listed on p. 514 of "U.S. Military Automatic Pistols: 1894-1920" by Meadows as being included in a 500 gun shipment to Augusta Arsenal in Georgia on 15 November 1912. The serial number has the "No" ("o" underlined) prefix which began with serial number 4501. The left side of the frame has the U.S. property marking and the "WGP" inspection mark. The later production replacement slide has the two-line, two-block patent dates (last date1911, making it only one year or less after the frame) and address on the left with the uncircled Rampant Colt behind the slide serrations and the model and army nomenclature on the right. These early pistols saw heavy use and it is likely that this slide was replaced sometime during its service life. The blued barrel is marked "5" on the bottom and "H" on the rear edge of the chamber hood. It has blade front and the correct early round-top notch rear sight which was phased out in 1913. It is fitted with a long smooth trigger, checkered slide release and thumb safety, short grip safety, wide checkered hammer, and a smooth straight mainspring housing with a lanyard loop on the base. The grips are diamond pattern checkered and the two-tone magazine has a lanyard loop on the pinned base.

Extremely fine, retains 85% plus of the original high polish blue finish with a couple small patches thinned to a grey patina on the upper left of the slide showing some light surface pitting, some scattered light handling marks, and a light takedown mark on the left of the frame. The grips are very fine with a few scattered minor blemishes in the otherwise crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. Many of these early Colt 1911s saw hard use in World War I, leaving few high condition examples like this available to collectors!