Originally ordered in 1916 and 1917, the Colt Russian Contract Government model pistols were ordered by the Imperial Russian government from Colt. The order called for approximately 51,100 45 caliber handguns, with Great Britain serving as an intermediary in the purchase; the Russians had a standing line of credit with Britain based on gold reserves held in-country, which was tapped to pay for the pistols. Britain's role as go-between is the source of the signature marking on the left side of the frame, "ANGL. ZAKAZIE"(transliterated) for "English Orders". The Russian Contract pistols otherwise bore only standard Colt markings. By 1916, the situation on the Eastern Front was already getting well out of hand for Russia, and in 1917 they would go through the February and October Revolutions, which brought about both the fall of the Imperial government and the successor Provisional Government and led to the rise of the Soviet Union. Additionally, some reports of the final assassination of Tsar Nicholas II and his family put a pair of Colt 45 ACP pistols among the weapons used by the Bolshevik party, in particular one used by Yakov Yurovski, leader of the squad who is noted has having fired the opening shot directly into the Tsar's chest. Russian Contract Government Model Colts are very rare on the American market in any condition, as virtually none were ever exported by the Soviet Union. Blade front and flat top rear sights, with the two-line, two-block address and patent dates on the left side of the slide, Rampant Colt behind the serrations, and the caliber marking on the reverse. The frame bears the aforementioned contract marking, with "VP/2" on the trigger guard, and is fitted with a long smooth trigger, wide checkered hammer, short grip safety, smooth mainspring housing, checkered grips, an unmarked magazine, and a "COLT 45 AUTO" marked barrel with a large "G" ahead of the lug.