This Colt Transition or "Improved Model" 1911 A1 Pistol that was manufactured in 1924 and features the improvements proposed by the Ordnance Department following WWI which eventually led to the designation "Model 1911A1". These improvements include: (1) wider front and rear sight, (2) extended grip safety tang, (3) clearance cuts in the frame behind the trigger, (4) knurled trigger face (5) knurled and raised mainspring housing and (5) full checkered stocks. The slides of the Transition Model pistols retained the designation "MODEL OF 1911. U.S. ARMY" on the right side. Colt manufactured a total of 10,000 Transition Model 1911 Pistols between January 23 and July 25, 1924. The pistol has a brush blue finish with oil finished, full-checkered walnut grips and a two-tone, flat base magazine. The left side of the slide is roll-stamped with two-line patent dates and Hartford address separated by the Rampant Colt trademark that was adopted in May 1918. The right side of the frame is roll-stamped "UNITED STATES PROPERTY/No701736" in two-lines behind the slide stop hole. A small "60" assembler's mark is stamped on the left side of the trigger guard. The left side of the frame is stamped with the first style inspection mark used thru serial number 70200 which consists of the monogram "WTG" (CPT. Walter Gorton) within a single circle. The top of the frame has an "H" provisional inspection mark stamped ahead of the disconnector hole and a "G" (government contract) stamped behind the hole. An "H" is stamped on the rear of the slide above the firing pin stop. The Springfield Armory replacement barrel is blued, polished on area exposed by chamber, and marked with "S" and "P" on the left side of the lug. The pistol has the correct Model 1924 style slide stop, mid-1918 style safety lock with thick thumb-piece and smooth contour underneath the thumb-piece and long hammer.

Excellent. The slide, frame and small components retain 98% plus of the original brush blue finish. Finish wear is limited to traces of edge wear on the slide, several very minor scratches on the left side of the frame in front of the trigger guard and several tiny and barely noticeable dents on the left edge of the frame above the trigger. The barrel is a period Springfield Armory replacement with non-factory polished chamber area. The frame and slide markings are extremely crisp. The walnut stocks are in excellent condition with light handling marks and excellent stock screws. The two-tone Colt magazine is in excellent condition and retains more than 90% of the original finish. This is an outstanding example of a key Colt Model 1911 A1 variation.