This is an exceptional example of a rare Colt factory engraved Super Match pistol. As noted in the letter this specific pistol was a 1 gun shipment to Colt's Mfg. Company at "Camp Perry Ohio" for the 1935 National Matches. Based on that it is obvious this pistol was intended as an advertisement piece that was put on display at the Colt booth. Based on that information, this specific pistol could actually be one of the very first Colt Super Match pistols manufactured in this caliber, as these pistols were made between 1935 and 1941. Only 36 factory engraved Model 1911A1s in this caliber are recorded in the Colt ledger. The total production of this model was estimated between 3000-5000. This pistol has a beautiful Master level vine, scroll and geometric engraved pattern that covers approximately 75% of the pistol with a light punch dot background for shading. The engraving is exceptional in its lay-out and symmetry which has been nicely intertwined in the Colt markings on this slide. It has the correct hand polished Colt pre-war blue finish with smooth ivory grips. The Colt factory letter verifies the .38 super caliber, blue finish, ivory grips, factory engraved, shipped to the Camp Perry National Matches, August 1935 on order number, 14359/2, as a 1 gun shipment. These pistols were made to the same exacting standard as the Model 1911 45 ACP National Match pistols manufactured during this time, but in the highly accurate and highly efficient 38 Super cartridge. These "Match" pistols all featured a hand-honed and hand-fitted slide and frame with minimal tolerance to improve accuracy, along with a hand-polished trigger and sear groups giving one of the smoothest actions of all the Colt semi-automatic pistols. The slide is fitted with a target ramp front sight with hand stippling on top and an adjustable target rear sight. It is correctly numbered (17109) under the firing pin retaining plate. The right side of the slide is marked "COLT/MATCH /SUPER 38/AUTOMATIC" followed by the Rampant Colt motif. The opposite side of the slide has the Colt two-line factory address/1897,1902, 1905, 1911 and 1913 patent marking. The left upper portion of the trigger guard bow is marked with a "4". It has all of the standard Model 1911A1 style features such as the Colt blue barrel with polished chamber area that is marked "COLT 38 SUPER" on the left side below the chamber area, the checkered slide stop, checkered thumb safety, Colt checkered wide spur hammer and arched main spring housing with the checkered face of the trigger. It is complete with an original half-tone blue magazine that is marked on the base plate "COLT SUPER/38 AUTO". Comes in a handmade walnut display case with a black felt interior lining.

Excellent with 98% of the original Colt factory high polished blue finish overall. The engraving is exceptional overall and very nicely accents the pistol. The ivory grips are also excellent overall with a nice smooth aged appearance showing nice grain on both sides. The only noticeable thing is that the hammer was re-polished or replaced at some point and a correct one should be reinstalled. These were not engraved so it should be a very easy restoration and would improved the pistol. The case is very good and serves as an excellent storage/display case.