This excellent U.S. Colt Model 1911 Automatic Pistol was that manufactured in 1917. Included with the pistol is a copy of a Colt factory letter stating it was one of a lot of 200 Model 1911 pistols shipped from Colt to the Rock Island Arsenal on May 23, 1917. The pistol has the pre-WWI military blue finish, checkered, oil-finished walnut stocks and two-tone, lanyard loop magazine. The markings on the slide and receiver have the Roman style letters (serifed) used until September 1917. The hammer is the long style with rounded rear edge and the safety lock is the 1914 style with a machine cut under the thumbpiece. The barrel is blued and the top of the chamber is stamped with an "H" provisional acceptance mark followed by a "P" proofmark parallel to the axis of the bore. The receiver is stamped with an "H" in front of the disconnector hole, a "G" production order mark is stamped behind the disconnector hole, and a "V" assembler's mark is stamped to the right of the hole. An "H" provisional inspection mark is stamped on the rear of the slide above the firing pin hole. The serial number is stamped on the right side of the frame behind the slide stop hole. "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" is roll-stamped on the left side of the receiver ahead of the trigger guard. The circular "GHS" final inspection monogram of Maj. Gilbert H. Stewart is stamped above the magazine release. The right side of the slide is roll-stamped: "MODEL OF 1911.U.S.ARMY". The left side of the slide is roll-stamped with the Colt 1897-1913 patent dates in a two-line block followed by the Colt Hartford address in two lines. The Rampant Colt trademark is stamped behind the grip serrations on the left side of the slide. The initials "REC" are neatly stamped in Roman letters above the screw on the lower diamond of the left stock.

Excellent plus. The pistol has all of the original components and retains 99% of the original military blue finish. Wear is limited to some very minor storage marks on the sides of the slide and some light cycling marks on the barrel chamber. The stocks are in the same condition as the pistol with very sharp checkering. The markings on the slide and receiver are crisp. The magazine is excellent with 95% of the original two-tone finish. This is truly an exceptional example of a WW I 1917 production U.S. Colt Model 1911 semi-automatic pistol. One will not find a better specimen.