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. This particular model comes with a factory letter, identifying it as part of a 500 pistol delivery made to the Springfield Armory on July 25, 1924, with the letter explicitly calling it a "Transition Model" and calling out the "new style" trigger, safety and mainspring housing. Fixed sights, with the two line, two 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 "60" on the right upper front of the trigger guard and "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" on the right side. Equipped with a checkered wide hammer, slide catch, thumb safety, trigger and mainspring housing, and fitted with checkered walnut grips and a two-tone magazine. The U.S. Boyt holster is dated 1942.

Very fine. The pistol retains 80% of the slightly faded original blue finish. The blue is thin on the grip strap, bottom of the trigger guard, main spring housing and grip safety. There is some holster wear and finish loss on the front edges of the frame. The slide has nearly all of the original blue finish; wear is limited to minor handling and storage marks with very light finish loss on the edges. The grips are excellent with sharp checkering. The slide and frame markings are crisp. The magazine is excellent with 98% of the original blue finish. The holster is excellent showing typical flex wear with tight stitching. This is a desirable example of the 10,000 Model 1911 "Transition Model" pistols manufactured in 1924.