This is a fine representative example of a U.S. Navy contract Model Colt 1911 with the highly desirable "U.S. NAVY" marked slide. This example was shipped on July 30th, 1913, to the U.S. Navy Storekeeper, US Navy Yard, Brooklyn, N.Y., in a block of 1,000 pistols. These Navy marked pistols are very scarce and were only manufactured through the very early part of 1915 with all subsequent remaining Navy shipments having the standard "U.S. Army" marked slides. The slide is marked on the left side with the standard Colt factory two line, two block address/patent marks with the circled Rampant Colt behind the serrations and on the right side with the noted "MODEL OF 1911. U.S. NAVY" (with serifs) markings. It has the correct early, narrow front sight blade, with the correct rounded top rear sight. The frame is stamped with the intertwined initial "WGP", for Walter G. Penfield, U.S. Ordnance Inspector, along with "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" on the left side, with the serial number on the right side. It has the early features such as the early wide hammer with border-less checkering, the early pattern thin, thumb safety with undercut, the long trigger with the smooth face, the short grip safety, and flat mainspring housing with the lanyard loop. It is fitted with an early Springfield Armory replacement barrel that is stamped with "S" and "P" on the left side of the lug. The slide stop is a later production reparkerized replacement. It has the standard checkered grips with diamond patterns around the screws. It is complete with one all blued, pinned magazine with a lanyard loop on the base.

Fine, with 70% plus original blued finish with blue loss/gray patina most prevalent on the front grip strap, the face of the mainspring housing, and upper areas of the grip safety. The grips are in very good condition with nice distinct checkering on the sides showing wear across the tops of the checkered diamonds with small handling marks and dings in various areas. Mechanically excellent. Some replacement parts as noted above. A nice, honest original US Navy issue Colt Model 1911 pistol.