This is a very rare example of one of approximately 1,300 Colt Model 1911A1 pistols ever manufactured in 1938 under contract for the U.S. Army. The Colt 1911A1s as manufactured in 1938 were some of the very first true Model 1911A1 U.S. Army contract pistols delivered with the totally new 1911A1 part configurations, prior to World War II. This exceptional pistol is actually 1 of 246 pistols shipped to the Commanding Officer, Springfield Armory in August 1938. It has a brush blue finish and checkered walnut stocks with the original factory milled/polished feed ramp. The right side of the frame is marked "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" above the serial number "No 713616" to the rear of the slide stop hole, with "M1911A1 U.S. ARMY" located on the right side of the frame in front of the slide stop hole. The top of the frame (interior rear) is stamped with the small oval with the initials, "H.O.L" which has been tentatively identified as Major Herbert O'Leary (inspected serial numbers 712,350-713,645) along with the letter "G" indicating the Colt production order code next to the disconnector hole. The "H" final inspection mark of Chief Ordnance Inspector Fredrick W. Hauff is stamped on the frame immediately behind the magazine release. Meadows notes (p.35,36) the H stamp was inconsistently applied, citing this specimen as an example bearing such mark. A gothic "P" is stamped above and slightly to the rear of the magazine release and also on top of the slide in front of the rear sight. A "4" Colt sub-inspection mark and the Colt "VP/Triangle" verified proofmark are stamped on the left side of the trigger guard bow. The opposite side of the trigger guard bow is marked "77". The pistol serial number "713/616" is stamped on the rear of the slide above and below the firing pin hole. The left side of the slide is marked with Colt's 1897 to 1913 proofmarks in two lines followed by the Rampant Colt and the Colt's two-line address. The pistol has the short pattern wide spur hammer with border-less checkering, arched checkered mainspring housing, the short horn grip safety with the checkered thumb safety and slide stop lock. It has the correct checkered walnut grips. The barrel is a later WWII replacement that is stamped with "HS" on the right side of the lug and a single "P" on the left side. It is complete with one unmarked all blued factory magazine with a capital "A" on the front lip of the base plate. It is complete with a unmarked brown commercial leather shoulder holster, similar to the later M3 holsters.

Very fine with 80% plus of the original WWII Colt blued finish overall with the majority of the wear confined to the front grip strap and the mainspring housing. The sides of the frame and slide both show most of the blued finish overall, with some thinning and very minor blue loss on the top area of the slide along the transitions lines on the edges of the slide. The grips are also in very good condition with nice visible checkering showing wear and minor handling marks over the tops of the checkering mixed with some minor handling marks. A very rare early Colt Model 1911A1 pistol in superior condition .