Starting in September of 1920, the Ordnance Board began to make suggestions for modifications to the Model 1911 pistol based on experience from World War I, and by April of 1923 OCM Item 2890 was standardized and recommended by the department. A pilot series of 10,000 pistols was approved with some production issues arising throughout 1923, but by January 1924 the first "Improved Models" were being delivered and were also known as the Transitional Model 1911s. This example was shipped on 25 July 1924 to Springfield Armory. While they retained the nomenclature markings of the 1911, they were equipped with the signature features of the 1911A1 which included the dished frame sides, shortened trigger, elongated grip safety, and arched mainspring housing. The left of the slide is marked with the two-line, two-block patent dates and address separated by the Rampant Colt, while the right has the "MODEL OF 1911. U.S. ARMY" marking. The right of the frame has the U.S. property marking over the serial number while the left has the circled "WTG" monogram of Walter T. Gordon. The right of the trigger guard is marked "60". The blued barrel is marked with a conjoined "HP" on the chamber hood. It is fitted with a checkered slide stop and thumb safety, short checkered trigger, arched checkered mainspring housing with lanyard loop at the base, blade front and flat top notch rear sights, an "A" marked two-tone magazine, and a pair of correct fully checkered walnut grips.

Very fine, retains 95% plus of the original brushed blue finish with some light edge wear showing a smooth brown patina on the leading edges of the slide and a few scattered light handling/takedown marks. The chamber hood of the barrel has been cold blued and the muzzle has some oxidation. The grips are also very fine with a few scattered light handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.