Colt M1911 Pistol shipped to the Springfield Armory on May 13, 1918. The pistol has the WWI brush blue finish with checkered walnut grips and flat base, two-tone, magazine. The markings use the Gothic style lettering adopted by Colt in late 1917. The right side of the slide is marked: "MODEL OF 1911.U.S.ARMY" using the larger lettering a adopted around serial number 260000. The left side of the slide has the 1897-1913 patent dates in a two-line block separated from the two-line block Hartford address by the Rampant Colt trademark. "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" is marked on the left side of the slide above the trigger guard bow. The monogram "JMG" of Ordnance Inspector, Lt. Colonel John M. Gilbert is stamped on the left side of the frame above the magazine release. The serial number is located on the right side of the frame behind the slide stop hole. The "H" provisional inspection mark is present of the top of the slide above the firing pin stop and on the top of the barrel chamber perpendicular to the axis of the bore. A "P" proof is also stamped on the barrel chamber perpendicular to the bore axis. The pistol has the correct slide with late-style recoil spring housing, and flat top rear sight. The long hammer has the correct rounded rear edge. The safety lock is the 1914 pattern with thick thumb piece used until mid-1918. With Colt factory letter confirming the shipping information.

Excellent. The pistol retains approximately 95-97% of the crisp original brush blue finish. Most of the finish wear is confined to the main spring housing and grip strap. The barrel chamber retains about 70% of the original blue finish. The walnut grips are in excellent condition with sharp checkering and the grip screws retain most of the original blue finish. The two-tone blue magazine is in the same condition as the pistol and retains about 95% of the original finish. All markings are crisp. An excellent example of a WWI contract M1911 Pistol.