This is an exceptional example of a U.S. Navy marked Colt Model 1911 pistol which includes a Colt factory letter. The Colt letter states this Colt Government Model semi-automatic pistol was shipped to the Brooklyn Navy Yard as part of a lot of 1,000 pistols on August 30, 1912. The slide, frame, grip safety and main spring housing have the military blue finish adopted in April 1912. The trigger, slide stop, safety lock, rear sight and hammer have a high polish blue finish. The barrel is blue with a brush blue finish on the top of the chamber. The lanyard loop, "punch-and-saw cut" magazine has a muted, two-tone finish. The walnut grips are oil-finished. The pistol has the early style components which include: (1) first style recoil spring plug, (2) Type II, slotted, magazine catch lock, (3) round top rear sight, (4) short spur hammer, and (5) 'punch-and-saw cut' magazine. The right side of the slide is roll-stamped: "MODEL OF 1911. U.S. NAVY". The right side of the slide has the early style markings with 1911 patent date and encircled Rampant Colt trademark behind the slide serrations. The left side of the frame is roll-stamped: "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" ahead of the trigger guard and stamped with the Ordnance "WPG" monogram above the magazine release. The serial number: "No 4860" is stamped on the right side of the frame ahead of the slide stop hole. The top of the frame is stamped with an "H" provisional inspection mark and "1" assembler's mark in front of the disconnector hole. An "H" provisional inspection mark is stamped horizontally on the rear of the slide above the firing pin stop and on the barrel chamber lip. The bottom of the barrel is stamped with a "3" Colt inspection mark. The U.S. Navy received approximately 15,037 M1911 pistols with "U.S. NAVY" marked slides between 1912 and 1915. The 7,000 U.S. Navy marked M1911 pistols manufactured and delivered in 1912 are some of the most desirable of all Colt M1911 U.S. contract pistols.

Exceptionally fine. This scarce pistol retains 85% plus of the original blue finish. The slide has typical holster wear at the muzzle with scattered minor scratches and handling marks. The blue on the face of the grip strap and lower half of the mainspring housing has faded to a smooth blue-gray patina. The edges of the frame and contact areas of the safety lock and slide stop show minor handling wear. The barrel is in very fine overall condition with 80% of the blue and brush blue finish with some cycling marks on the top of the chamber. The "keyslot" style magazine is also in very fine overall condition and retains 80% of the two-tone finish. The slide and frame markings are crisp. The grips are in excellent overall condition with sharp checkering and only very limited handling wear. This is a very fine example of a scarce and highly desirable, 1912 production, U.S. Navy contract Colt Model 1911 pistol.