This is a fine example of an extremely rare 1st Year U.S. Navy contract Colt Model 1911 pistol that was manufactured in 1912. It is documented that the Navy marked, Colt Model 1911s were only manufactured through the end of 1914 and into early 1915. All other Navy contracts pistols shipped after that time were fitted with the standard "U.S. Army" marked slides. This rare pistol was shipped circa March 1912, as part of the second contract delivered from Colt in a 500 gun shipment to the U.S. Navy Yard in Brooklyn, NY. The right front end of the frame extension is stamped with the correct second variation (1/16 size) serial number "No.561". It is fitted with the correct first pattern U.S. Navy marked slide that is roll marked on the left side with the early Colt factory two line, two block address/patent marks with the correct "circled" Colt Rampant Horse logo behind the serration. The right side of the slide is roll marked with "MODEL OF 1911. U.S. NAVY" (with serifs) markings. It has the correct early, narrow front sight blade, with the rounded top, rear sight. The left side of the frame is stamped with the intertwined initial "WGP" for Walter G. Penfield, U.S. Ordnance Inspector, along with "UNITED STATES PROPERTY". It has a post WWI Springfield Armory parkerized, replacement barrel that is stamped with only an "S P" inspection/firing proof on the left side of the lug. It is fitted with a blued wide spur hammer with the border-less checkering, a type 1 magazine catch, a first pattern, thin thumb-piece thumb safety with the stepped underside transition area, a blued milled long trigger with the smooth face, a blued short grip safety, and a flat, smooth mainspring housing with the lanyard loop. It has the standard checkered grips with diamond patterns around the screws. It comes with a first pattern magazine (showing no blue finish) with the double pinned floorplate with the lanyard loop on the underside. The top rear area of the magazine has the undercut sharp corners.

Fine with 60% of the original blue finish still remaining with blue loss on the underside of the trigger guard bow and front grip strap with a gray brown patina finish on the mainspring housing. The slide also shows some light thinning of the blue on the transition lines mixed with a very light browning on the lower edges of the sides. The grips are in very good condition with nice visible checkering on both sides with minor wear across the tops of the checkering, mixed with minor handling marks. As noted it has original parts except the barrel which is a post WWI replacement and although the thumb safety, slide catch and trigger are the correct type/style they are later replacements as their finish is inconsistent with the rest of the pistol. Notwithstanding, this is still a very nice looking early WWI US Navy contract Colt Model 1911 pistol with the rare U.S. Navy marked slide.