Manufactured in 1912, bearing "MODEL OF 1911. U.S. NAVY" (serifed) nomenclature on the right side of the correct period slide. When Colt began production of the 1911, they originally provided different nomenclature for the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, and would ship the pistols directly to the appropriate facilities, though WWI would bring about the abandonment of all but the Army nomenclature to speed up production, which would continue through the remainder of military 1911/1911A1 contract deliveries. As the Navy marked 1911s were among some of the earliest 1911s received by the military, many were heavily used to the point of virtual destruction, leaving surviving examples scarce in any condition. Blade front and round-top notch rear sights, with the two-line, two-block Colt patents and address on the left side of the slide ahead of the circled Rampant Colt, "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" and "WGP" (Penfield) on the left side of the frame. Fitted with a later production replacement smooth trigger, wide checkered hammer, short grip safety, checkered slide stop and thumb safety, flat mainspring housing with lanyard staple, checkered hardwood grips with diamond patterns around the screws and a two-tone pinned-base magazine with a "keyhole" cut in the spine. The barrel is marked "5" ahead of the lug, and "H" on the back of the chamber hood.

Very fine, with 70% original blue finish, showing a "burnished" gray patina on the top rear and forward portion of slide with brown spotting on the grip straps, leading edges and underside of the frame, some dings and takedown lines around the slide stop, bright edge wear and scattered spotting and handling marks overall. The grips are very fine, with some dents and scuffs. Mechanically excellent.