This is a excellent example of an original, early Colt transitional Model 1911A1 pistol manufactured in 1924. It is accompanied by a Colt factory letter dated June 2012, stating was in a shipment of 1,000 pistols shipped to the US Government/Springfield Armory in Feb 1924 and also stipulates that these pistols were all shipped with the new M 1911A1 improvements. These transitional models fall into the serial number range between 700001-710000 making them a very short production model. This specific series of pistol was the start of the new improved Model 1911A1 U.S. Army adopted service pistols. The pistols retained the Model 1911 slide markings but were produced with the 1911A1 improvements/modifications of: (1) extended grip safety tang, (2) knurled and arched mainspring housing, (3) radius clearance cuts machined into the frame behind the trigger, (4) cut back trigger with a knurled face and (5) wider front sight blade. The slide has the Colt two-line, two-block, 1897-1913 patent dates followed by the factory address with the Rampant Colt logo between the two blocks on the left, and the right side roll-stamped: "MODEL OF 1911 U.S. ARMY", and the slide is correctly not numbered on the rear. The right side of the frame is stamped "UNITED STATES PROPERTY/No 701655", and the left side is stamped with the U.S. Ordnance inspector's initials "WTG" for Captain Walter T. Gordon. The top of the frame is stamped with an "H" provisional inspection mark along with a "G" government production order mark. This early pistol is fitted with a later wartime barrel stamped "HS" for High Standard, with a "P" proof on the right side of the barrel lug. It is fitted with the early, correctly checkered slide stop, checkered thumb safety, arched and checkered mainspring housing and the wide spur hammer. The pistol has the brush military blue finish and is fitted with the full-checkered walnut grips adopted in 1924 and is complete with an early all blued, Colt commercial magazine that is marked "COLT/45 AUTO" on the base plate. It comes with a reproduction Colt marked cardboard shipping box, some craft paper and a newly manufactured lanyard cord.