This pistol was manufactured in 1918 and shipped to Springfield Armory as part of a lot of 3,900 pistols on March 19, 1918. It has the brush blue finish adopted in 1917 and is fitted with checkered oil-finished walnut stocks with diamonds surrounding the stock screws. The slide has the old style recoil spring housing utilized to about serial number 275000 and block style markings. The left side of the slide is roll-stamped with 1897-1913 patent dates in a two-line block followed by the Colt Hartford address in two-lines. The Rampant Colt trademark is located behind the slide serrations. The right side of the frame is roll-stamped with the serial number "No 256705" behind the slide stop hole. The left side of the frame is roll-stamped with the "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" marking ahead of the trigger guard. The final inspection "JMG" monogram (LTC John M. Gilbert) is stamped above the magazine release. The "H" provisional inspection mark is stamped on the top of the frame above the disconnector hole, on the rear of the slide above the firing pin stop and on the top of the barrel chamber. A Colt "G" (Government Contract) mark is stamped on the top of the frame behind the disconnector hole. The barrel has the same dull blue finish as the frame and slide and the top of the chamber is stamped with a "P" proofmark and "H" inspection mark perpendicular to the axis of the bore. The pistol has the correct late recoil spring guide, 1911 style slide stop, 1914 style safety lock and long hammer with borderless checkering. The pistol has a two-tone flat base magazine with "A" (American Pin Co.) marked floorplate tip. The pistol is complete with a 1918 holster rig that consists of: (1) a pistol belt marked "L.C.C. & Co./AUG. 1918, (2) russet leather Model 1916 holster made by Warren Leather Goods Co. and dated "1918", (3) Mills magazine pouch dated November 1918, (4) first aid pouch made by "The Miller-Hexter Co." and dated "4-18", (5) brass field dressing and (6) 1917 dated lanyard. The magazine pouch contains two flat base two-tone WWI magazines marked "R" (Risdon Mfg. Co,) on the floor plate tips.

Excellent. The pistol is all original and retains nearly 95% of the crisp original brush military blue finish. The finish on the grip strap below the trigger guard is a faded smooth brown patina. The remainder of the pistol shows almost no handling or storage wear. All of the markings are extremely crisp. The stocks are in near new condition with sharp checkering. All four stock screw are in perfect condition. The magazine in the pistol is in excellent plus condition with 95% or more of the two-tone finish. The spare magazines are both excellent and retain more than 90% of the original finish. The pistol belt, magazine pouch, first aid pouch and lanyard are in nearly new condition with minimal wear and clear markings. The holster is missing the elk hide tie-down strap but is in very fine-excellent condition with sharp markings. This is an excellent example of an early 1918 production Colt Model 1911 semi-automatic pistol with complete holster rig that would be difficult to improve upon.