Manufactured in 1912 and shipped October 5th to the General Storekeeper at the U.S. Navy Yard in Brooklyn, New York, bearing the original "MODEL OF 1911. U.S. NAVY" (serifed) nomenclature on the right side of the slide. When Colt began production of the 1911, they originally provided different nomenclature for the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, and would ship the pistols directly to the appropriate facilities, though World War I would bring about the abandonment of all but the Army nomenclature to speed up production, which would continue through the remainder of military 1911/1911A1 contract deliveries. As the Navy marked 1911s were among some of the earliest 1911s received by the military, many were used and mishandled to the point of virtual destruction, and many more were subjected to arsenal overhaul or later part retrofits, (this example has a later style magazine screw in lieu of the early "dimple" style), leaving surviving examples rare in any condition. Blade front and round-top notch rear sights, with the two-line, two-block Colt patents and address on the left side of the slide ahead of the Rampant Colt, "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" and "WGP" (Penfield) on the left side of the frame. Fitted with an early style "H" marked Colt barrel, long smooth trigger, wide checkered hammer, short grip safety, checkered slide stop and thumb safety, flat mainspring housing with lanyard staple, checkered hardwood grips with diamond patterns around the screws and a later production replacement two-tone magazine.

Very fine, with 50% of the original blue finish, showing areas of brown patina on the slide, bright gray on the grip straps and along the edges, areas of mild pitting and scattered spotting and handling marks. The heavily worn grips are good, with some mild chipping and dings. Mechanically excellent.