Developed in 1923 on orders from the Ordnance Department, the Improved Model 1911 pistols were equipped with a shorter trigger, dished out receiver sides, extended grip safety, arched mainspring housing and widened front sight, essentially making them the first government contract pistols to conform to the 1911A1 standard. Fixed sights, with the 2 line/2 block address and patent dates on the left side, divided by the Rampant Colt, and "MODEL OF 1911.U.S.ARMY" on the right. Captain Walter T. Gordon's "WTG" inspection mark on the left side of the frame, with "20" on the trigger guard and "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" on the right side. Equipped with a Colt barrel (conjoined "HP" stamp), checkered wide hammer, slide catch, thumb safety, trigger and mainspring housing, checkered grips and a World War I style two-tone magazine.

Excellent, possibly unissued, showing 99% of the attractive original Colt blue finish, with only a few very minor handling marks and the smallest amount of spotting on the front right side of the slide. All markings are crisp and deep. Excellent grips, with mild pressure dents. The two-tone magazine is in excellent condition with about 97% of the original finish. Mechanically excellent. A superb representative example of the Colt Improved Model 1911, an important piece of the development of the 1911 series of pistols.