This is a desirable example of a British Contract Colt Government Model semi-automatic pistol with the "W" prefix serial number. Towards the end of WWI the British ordering office was issued Contract No. "U.S. 6755-MM264" for 5,000 Colt 1911 Government model pistols, with this specific pistol being shipped as "1 of 300" in Feb 1918 to the British Air Service/Royal Air Force. The slide is marked "COLT AUTOMATIC/CALIBRE .455" with the left side marked with the two-line, two-block patent and address slide markings with the Rampant Colt behind the slide serrations. The frame is marked on the right side "GOVERNMENT MODEL" over the "W 91645" serial number. The left side of the frame and upper area of the trigger guard bow are marked with single "broad arrow proof" over the British "Crossed Pennant" proofmark, with a British "Crown/G6/F" proofmark applied at Colt by the final British inspector with the Colt "VP" Verified Proof directly below that. It has an early Colt blued barrel with a polished chamber areas that is stamped with only a "P O" on the underside in front of the barrel lug. The barrel is not stamped with the "455" caliber designation; however, a 455 auto cartridge fits inside the chamber. This fine example has the early checkered slide stop, the early type two checkered thumb safety with the flat mainspring housing, short grip safety, wide Colt hammer with the checkered spur and the checkered walnut grip panels. It has the correct British contract half-tone magazine with a lanyard loop on the bottom that is marked "CAL.455 ELEY".

Very fine with 85% plus of the original blue showing edge and high spot wear overall with the sides of the slide and frame showing numerous small little nicks, dings and scratches overall from handling that is typical of British issue WWI pistols. The very good grips show distinct checkering on the sides mixed with numerous small handling marks and with some heavier wear on the center of the right grip where it looked like someone tried to freshen the checkering. It is a very fine example of a desirable WWI British contract Colt M1911 semi-automatic pistol.