This is a highly desirable pre-war Colt National Match semi-automatic pistol that was originally shipped to the "loan account" of Albert Foster Jr., President of Colt Firearms Company and has been subsequently assembled with a "U" serial numbered Colt 22-45 Service Model ACE conversion kit. Both are stored/housed in walnut factory case. Both the Colt National Match pistol and the Colt Service Model ACE conversion kit are accompanied with Colt factory letters dated October 1994. The National Match pistol was originally sold in June 1939. It was returned to the factory and reshipped to "L. Babchin" in New Jersey in July 1939. The conversion kit was shipped to A-H Gun Service, Hackensack, NJ, on July 29, 1939, as a 1 gun shipment. These early National Match pistols were manufactured with basic accuracy enhancements of the time which included hand fitting of the slide to the frame for a close tight fit and then hand fitting a specially selected Match barrel and front bushing. The other improvement was the hand honing and fitting of all the critical internal parts to provide a super smooth, glass like action. This National Match pistol is doubly scarce in that it is fitted with the rare early pre-war Schwartz safety device. Colt began production of the National Match Government Model .45 in 1932, and only a very limited number were actually produced before the outbreak of WWII, primarily due to the manufacturing cost. The slide has the standard two-line, two-block markings of the Hartford address with the 1897-1913 patent dates. The obverse is marked in one-line "NATIONAL MATCH COLT" followed by "AUTOMATIC/CALIBER.45" followed by the Rampant Colt trademark. The frame is marked "GOVERNMENT MODEL" above the serial number (C194645). "60" is on the trigger guard bow, and a "P" assembler's mark is over the Colt "VP/Triangle" proofmark. The slide has the matching serial number under the firing pin stop. The left side of the barrel lug is stamped with the encircled letters "M.B." with "COLT 45 AUTO MATCH" directly above that on the barrel. There is a capital "G" Colt provisional inspector stamp on top of the frame by the disconnector hole. The feed ramp is polished bright. The half-tone magazine is marked "COLT/45 AUTO" on the floor plate. The complimentary Colt conversion kit has the same style two-line, address and patent dates on the left side with "COLT SERVICE MODEL CONVERSION/ACE/.22 LONG RIFLE/UNIT 22-45" markings on the right side. As noted, this example has the wartime serial number of "U-1004" on top indicating manufacture in 1941/42. It is fitted with the early Colt fully adjustable rear sight and the pre-war wide, high target front sight. The conversion kit includes the original 22 LR barrel with its floating chamber, the ejector, firing pin and recoil spring, guide and cap, slide stop lever and "COLT 22/ACE L.R./SERVICE MODEL" marked magazine. Both the pistol and conversion kit have their original high polish commercial blue finish with original checkered walnut grips. As noted, everything is housed in a factory presentation case with a French fitted interior with green felt lining.

Excellent with 90% plus of the original blue finish with only minor edge and high spot wear overall, some thinning/scratches and a couple very fine pin-prick erosion spots on the front grip strap, and the usual drag line under the slide stop lever. The grips are also excellent with nice, sharp, distinct checkering on both sides showing only minor handling marks. The conversion kit is also excellent with 98% of the original blue finish overall and only minor edge wear on the front edges of the slide and the outside area of the barrel from cycling and light firing. The factory presentation case is fine with most of the refinished varnish visible on the outside and the hinges and lock complete (no key). A desirable documented cased Colt National Match pistol and 22-45 conversion unit.