Colt Ace Model 22 Automatic Pistol, serial number 46, manufactured in 1931. The pistol has the Colt high-polish pre-war blue finish with full checkered walnut stocks and two-tone magazine. The barrel chamber is polished bright. The slide is fitted with the distinctive Ace half-moon target front sight and windage and elevation adjustable Partridge type rear sight. The mainspring housing base, correctly, is not fitted with the lanyard loop found on Colt Government Model .45 Automatic Pistols. The right side of the frame is marked with the serial number "46" behind the disconnector hole and "20" on the right front trigger guard bow. The left front trigger guard bow is stamped with a "3" assembler's mark above the Colt "Triangle/VP" proofmark. "R" is stamped on the top of the frame to the right of the disconnector hole. The right side of the frame is roll-stamped with the distinctive Ace mark that consists of "COLT" followed by "ACE" with a diamond border and ".22 LONG./RIFLE". The left side of the frame is roll-stamped with the two-line, elongated, Colt Hartford address and 1897-1913 patent dates followed by the Rampant Colt trademark. The magazine floor plate is roll-stamped: "COLT/ACE/22LR" in three lines. The pistol is complete with the original purple factory cardboard carton with the blue and white end label. The pistol serial number, "46" is written in grease pencil on the bottom of the carton also, "F.O. 2245" and "JOB 10023/1" is marked on bottom. The carton interior has the Colt advertising printed on the lid and bottom.

Excellent plus. The pistol is in nearly new condition and retains nearly all of the bright original high polish blue finish. (A barely noticable bright spot on the bottom of the trigger guard and a small nick in the left stock below the lower stock screw are the only exceptins to this). The magazine shows slight more handling wear and retains 98% of the original two-tone finish. The carton is in very fine condition. The edges of the lid have some flaking and there is a two-inch break in the left side of the lid opposite the end label. The end label is in excellent condition, the carton interior is very good and the serial number on the bottom of the carton is legible. This is an extraordinary example of a rare two digit number, first year production Colt Ace .22 Automatic Pistol with the original factory carton.