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 42,801 to 43,800 serial number range of 1,000 pistols shipped to the U.S. Navy Yard of Brooklyn, New York, on August 23, 1913, as found in the table on page 158 of "U.S. Military Automatic Pistols: 1894-1920" by Meadows and confirmed by the included factory letter. Features fixed oval blade front and early rounded notch rear sights, blued barrel with "P" and "H" marked on the chamber hood, 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 a "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.

Exceptionally fine retaining 85% plus original blue finish with some minor edge wear, some minor thinning on top of the slide and on the grip straps revealing some brown patina, some minor spotting/freckling, minor pitting under the grips, and otherwise minor handling marks. The grips are very fine with an ill-fitting left panel, but otherwise crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.