This is an excellent original example of an all inscribed original, pre-war Colt Government Model semi-automatic pistol. The included factory letter confirms the serial number, caliber, barrel length, factory inscription on the slide and finish with the type of stocks not listed. The pistol was shipped to Capt. F.F. Christine (address unavailable) on October 1, 1924 (factory order 8955/1). Frederick F. Christine enlisted as a private in the Aviation Section of the Signal Corps in June 1917. He served with the AEF in France, England, Belgium and Germany during WWI. He rose to the rank of captain while overseas and served as assistant in charge of aerial photography and chief of the aerial photographic section in the zone of American occupation in Germany. During the inter-war period, Christine served at various posts throughout the U.S. and Panama Canal Zone in the capacity of base supply officer and commanding officer of air depots. In 1939, he reported to Scott Field and was appointed base executive officer in 1941. He would leave Scott Field in 1942 to assume command of Jefferson Barracks, Missouri and the Air Corps Basic Training Center located there, and would go on to become the chief of staff of the second district, Army Air Forces Training Command in St. Louis, to organize the staff and training operations. After returning to Jefferson Barracks to oversee the transfer of the station from the Air Corps to the Army Ground Forces in 1944, Christine returned to Scott Field in the capacity of executive officer and would operate one of the leading separation bases of the Air Force. He retired in 1948 and past away ten years later at the USAF Hospital, Scott Air Force Base. Christine service records are included with the pistol. The pistol has the early commercial Colt two line patent/address markings that ends in 1913 on the left side, with: "COLT/AUTOMATIC CALIBRE .45"/Colt Rampant horse logo on the right side of the slide. The very scarce factory slide inscription is located on the right side, between the slide serrations and the factory markings, in three lines: "F.F. CHRISTINE/Captain Air Service/US. Army". The inscription has been cut/engraved in a script pattern with serifs on the letters. The matching serial number is located on the end of the slide under the firing pin stop. The frame is marked on the right side "GOVERNMENT MODEL" over the serial number "C139951". The top of the frame has the single letter "S" Colt inspector's proof, along with a single number "3" over the Colt "VP" (Verified Proof) inside the small triangle on the left side of the trigger guard bow. The barrel is a correct prewar model that has the all blued finish with the polished chamber area with an unusual small Colt inspector mark that consists of a circled "No.B" proof on the left side of the lug area. The pistol has all the correct Colt features such as the early style checkered slide stop, type two checkered thumb safety the arched mainspring housing, short grip safety, and wide Colt hammer with the checkered spur. It is fitted with a set of checkered walnut grip panels, without the diamond patterns and one original Colt half-tone blue magazine.

Excellent with 97% of the original blued finish overall, with minor blue wear on the edges and high spots overall, with several minor pin-prick pit spots on the right side of the slide in front of the Colt markings. These pits, while not large or obtrusive are worth mentioning. The grips are also in excellent condition with nice sharp checkering on both sides with only minor handling marks in a few places. Certainly and interesting inscribed Colt Government Model with military history.