This is a fantastic example of an all original, very early "U.S. Navy" contract Colt Model 1911 Semi-Automatic Pistol that was shipped to the Brooklyn Navy Yard as part of a lot of 1,000 pistols on 1 June 1912. These U.S. Navy contract pistols with the early U.S. Navy marked slides and early style small serifed lettering and serial numbers are probably one of the most difficult of the standard issue Model 1911s to acquire. There were a total of approximately 15,037 of these early style, U.S. Navy marked slides produced in total and this was changed (to standard U.S. Army markings) after 1915 as the Army, who was the Ordnance proponent for service pistols wanted standard markings and serial number placement, throughout the Model 1911 production, so their survival rate in original unaltered condition is extremely low, since they were in service for the next 80 years. The left side of the slide has the standard Colt two line, two block address and patent marks with the circled Rampant Colt logo behind the serrations. The right side has the rare Navy markings of: "MODEL OF 1911. U.S. NAVY", with the early and correct sideways stamped provisional letter "H" directly above the firing pin stop. The right side of the frame is stamped with the circled "WGP" inspector mark of Major Walter G. Penfield's, U.S. Ordnance inspector with the "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" on the left side with the smaller sized serial numbers "No.3093" (with serifs) on the right side. This beautiful pistol has all the early features, such as the early, half-moon front sight blade, with the rounded notch rear sights, short, wide checkered hammer spur, long smooth face trigger, short grip safety, flat mainspring housing, early pattern 1912 checkered thumb safety and checkered, diamond walnut grips as noted above. This pistol is fitted with the correct style early Colt all blue barrel that is stamped with the early sideways stamped provisional letter "H" on the rear face of the sight hood with a single number "3" sub-inspector's mark on the underside in front of the barrel lug. The pistol has an early style half-tone, lanyard loop magazine with the pinned on base plate. It is complete with an original Rock Island Arsenal marked 1912 dated Model 1911 leather holster. This early pattern holster has the very rare early style short drop down belt attachment, with the "US" marked flap.

Excellent with 99% plus of the original blue finish overall with some minor edge and high spot wear with some blue flaking on the rear mainspring housing and minor scratches on the front grip strap. The walnut grips are excellent with nice sharp distinct checkering on both sides with a minor scratch on the lower left side with some small light pressure dents on the upper right side. The holster is very fine overall with nice tight stitching and excellent markings. There is some minor leather surface loss on the front flap. Undoubtedly the finest U.S. Model 1911 Colt Navy we have ever offered at auction!