Colt pre-production sample U.S. Navy contract Model 1911 pistol manufactured near the start of the production of U.S. Navy marked pistols. The pistol is marked: "MODEL OF 1911 U.S.NAVY" on the right side of the slide and has the standard Colt patent marks, Hartford address and encircled Rampant Colt trademark on the left side of the slide. The frame is not serial numbered and lacks the "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" and Ordnance final inspection marks applied to regular production U.S. contract Colt Model 1911 pistols supplied to the Army, Navy and Marine Corps. The pistol has the high polish, "royal blue", finish on the frame, slide, grip safety and main spring housing that was applied to Colt Model 1911 pistols thru serial number 2400. The use of the "royal blue" finish on Army and Navy contract Model 1911 pistols was terminated on April 24, 1912. The trigger, slide stop, safety lock, hammer, rear sight, magazine catch and stock screws have the fiery, niter blue finish used on small components of early production pistols. The pistol has the early 'Type I' dimpled, magazine catch lock installed on early pistols until serial number 3189. The pistol barrel has a polished finish with a dull, 'brush blue' chamber top. An "H" provisional inspection mark is stamped on the chamber lip and on the rear of the slide. Both markings are stamped perpendicular to the axis of the bore. The top of the frame is stamped with the numerals "5" and "9" to the right of the disconnector hole. The pistol has an early, rounded rear sight, short hammer, early recoil spring plug with no crimp, old style recoil spring guide, safety lock with sharp edges and thin thumb-piece and early, machine checkered, slide stop. The pistol is fitted with an early, "Type 1/Third Style", two-tone, lanyard loop magazine with exposed base edge. The slide markings have slightly raised edges and the slide was apparently not polished after the markings were roll-stamped and before the pistol was blued. The components and features on this pistol are all consistent with those of early production, U.S. contract, Colt Model 1911 pistols manufactured prior to the start of production of "U.S. NAVY" marked pistols in March, 1912.

Excellent. The pistol retains nearly 95% of the original royal blue and niter blue finish on the slide, frame and small parts. Finish wear is limited to some light flaking on the bottom and edge of the slide recoil spring housing, some edge wear on the muzzle and lower left side of the slide, a small spot of flaking on the front edge of the ejection port, some edge wear on the main spring housing and grip safety and several minor handling and disassembly marks. There is some cycling wear on the right side of the trigger and the stock screws have about 50% of the niter blue finish. The barrel retains about 95% of the polished and brush blue finish. The stocks are in excellent condition with a few minor handling marks and bruises. The magazine is excellent and retains about 90% of the original, 'two-tone' blue and tempered finish. All of the markings on the slide, frame and barrel are extremely crisp. This is an extremely rare, possibly one-of-a-kind, Colt pre-production sample of a "U.S. NAVY" marked Model 1911 Automatic pistol with the very early, 1912 production features and magnificent royal blue finish.