Manufactured in 1931, the first production year for the Colt Ace Pistol, this example retains the original Colt "Black Box", with manual, numbered test target, correct end-label and factory-standard black pencil hand numbering on the underside. The pistol is marked with the one-block, two-line address and patent dates on the left side of the slide ahead of the Rampant Colt, the "ACE" nomenclature on the right side, "20" and "W/VP" on the trigger guard, and the Ace markings on the underside of the weighted two-tone single-stack magazine. Fittings are factory-standard for the era with half-moon front and adjustable square-notch rear sights, checkered wide hammer, short milled trigger, long grip safety, arched checkered mainspring housing and fully checkered grips. An extra magazine and two spare recoil springs are also included.

Excellent, with 90% of the original high polish blue finish, showing some bright wear along the edges, a gray patina on the grip straps, and a few tiny areas of pitting at the rear of the slide and on the mainspring housing. The rear of the hammer spur has been squared off by an unknown party. The box is rough, with lost sections of material, tape repairs, and an inventory label applied to the underside. Mechanically excellent.