This is a fantastic example of an all original unaltered U.S. Property marked, Colt Model 1911 Semi-automatic pistol that was manufactured in early 1913. The pistol still retains all of the early production parts and is verified by the Colt factory letter as being one of 500 pistol shipped to the Springfield Armory in March 1913. The markings are all in Roman letters with serifs stamped as follows: left side of the slide, in the two line, two block Colt factory patent and address markings followed by the Rampant Colt behind the slide serrations. The right side of the slide is marked: "MODEL OF 1911 U.S. ARMY". The forward section of the left side of the frame is stamped "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" with the right side stamped with only serial number, "24471". The frame is stamped with the circled initials "WGP" for Major Walther Penfield the US Ordnance inspector. This pistol still retains the early round top rear sight and the narrow half-moon front sight, early checkered thumb safety with thin thumb piece, first pattern slide stop without the plunger groove, the short horned grip safety, and wide hammer spur and the flat main spring housing. It is fitted with an early Colt military contract barrel that is marked with only a small "H" on top of the chamber, a single very small "P" proof on the rear of the barrel hood and a single small number "5" on the underside of the barrel in front of the lugs. It is fitted with the correct early diamond checkered walnut grips. Complete with one very early original punch and saw-cut magazine that has the early lanyard loop on the base plate and the late 1913 indent on the upper right side of the feed lip.

Excellent with 98% of the original early Colt blue finish overall with slight edge wear on the front of the slide and very minor scratches on the main spring housing and the left side of the frame next to the inspector proof. The grips are excellent with nice sharp checkering on both sides with only minor handling marks. This is probably one of the best very early all original 1913 manufactured M1911 pistols we have had to offer in a long time. A beautiful pistol certainly for the advanced collector.