This is a very fine example of an early production Colt Government Model pistol that was manufactured late in 1912. This was the first year Colt offered the "Government Model" pistols for sale. These pistols had the Colt high polish commercial blue finish with the fire blue trigger, hammer, slide lock, safety lock and rear sight until mid-1913 when Colt went to a slightly more subdued finish. The factory letter confirms the basic configuration (grips not listed) and that it was part of a pair shipped to Hackett, Gates, Huntry Hardware Co. in St. Paul, Minnesota, on September 27, 1912. It is fitted with checkered walnut grips with the larger diamonds around the grip screws. It retains its original sights with the narrow tapered, oval front sight and round top rear sight. It has the correct short hammer with the borderless checkering and sharp rear edge, first style checkered slide stop, thin, checkered thumb safety and third pattern magazine release lock. It has the first pattern recoil spring guide and cap. It is fitted with the early all blued barrel that has a rough milled finish on the back end of the barrel (chamber area and underside) and the high polished finish on the front end. The barrel is stamped with only a "5" on the underside over stamped with a letter "N". The pistol comes with a second pattern, Colt, two-tone punch and saw cut magazine with a lanyard loop on the underside of the base plate. The right side of the frame ahead of the trigger guard is roll-stamped "GOVERNMENT MODEL". The left side is stamped with the small serial number "C1170". The top of the frame is stamped with "4" and "S" inspection marks in front and behind the disconnector hole. The right side of the slide is roll-stamped with the early "COLT AUTOMATIC/CALIBER 45" below the ejection port. The left side of the slide is roll-stamped with the correct two-line Colt patent dates that ends in 1911 followed by the Colt Hartford two-line address block. The circled Rampant Colt is roll stamped on the left side of the slide behind the slide serrations, which is correct.

Very fine with 70% of the bright original factory high polish blue finish remaining, blue loss visible on the edges and high spots overall, the sides of the slide on the transition lines, muzzle area and front area of the frame. The front grip strap, main spring housing and rear edges of the frame show a sliver gray patina finish. 60% bright original niter blue remains on the small parts. The grips are both in fine condition with nice sharp distinct checking on both sides showing only minor handling marks. The "keyhole" style loop magazine is dented in both sides near the center. Mechanically excellent.