One of a 200 Government Model Automatic Pistol shipment from Colt to the London Armory Company on October 31, 1916 as part of a contract for 2,200 pistols with the British War Office. This Colt Government Model semi-automatic pistol is chambered for the 455 Webley. The left side of the slide is marked with the two line, two block Colt patent dates and Hartford address, with a crossed flags proof over the Rampant Colt behind the serrations. The right side of the slide is marked "COLT AUTOMATIC / CALIBRE 455". The left side of the frame is marked "GOVERNMENT MODEL / W62924". The serial number prefix "W" indicates Webley, but the magazine is correctly marked "CAL .455 / ELEY". It has been suggested that Colt employees were confused by the Webley and Eley cartridges. The British Ministry of Munitions designated the pistols Colt Automatic Pistol, Calibre .455 Webley. Additional cross flag proofs are found on the left side of the frame and trigger guard. Checkered slide stop, thumb safety and wide spur hammer, with straight mainspring housing, blue barrel with polished chamber and checkered diamond grips.

Excellent. The pistol retains approximately 95-97% bright original blue finish with gray on the high edges and gray patina forming on the grip straps. The left side of the slide and frame have a few minor scratches. There is a large compression indentation on the right panel, otherwise the grips are excellent with some minor dings and scratches. Overall the checkering is crisp. Mechanically excellent. Writer has seen very few .455 w-prefix Colt Government Models as nice as this excellent example.