This is an outstanding example of a late WWI U.S. Army contract Model 1911 pistol as manufactured by the Colt Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company in 1917. This pistol was correctly manufactured with the new late style block letter markings without serifs with the Colt military brushed blue finish and not the late "Black Army" finish. The left side of the slide has the standard Colt factory two-line, two-block markings with the Rampant Colt behind the slide serrations. The right side is marked "MODEL OF 1911 U.S. ARMY". The left side of the frame is marked "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" and has the circled "JMG" proof of LTC J.M. Gilbert above the magazine release, and the right side is stamped with the serial number "221929". The pistol still retains the correct original WWI parts such as the checkered Colt wide spur hammer, flat mainspring housing, checkered slide stop and thick Type III thumb safety. It is fitted with a WWI Colt barrel that is marked over the chamber area with the separated "H" and "P" proof marks with a partial "P" proof on the right side of the lug and a very faint a number "5" on the underside of the barrel in front of the lug. This fine pistol still retains the original WWI Colt diamond pattern checkered walnut grips and is complete with a later production replacement all blued magazine manufactured by the Little company with a capital letter "L" stamped on the front lip of the floor plate.

Excellent with 90% plus of the original military brushed blued finish overall with only a hint of wear on the front edges of the slides with some thinning blue on the main spring housing and a hint of thinning on the front grip strap. The grips are in the same excellent condition with nice sharp distinct checkering overall. Mechanically excellent. A really nice condition WWI U.S. Colt Model 1911 semi-automatic pistol.