This is a fine restored example of a scarce early U.S. Model 1911 .45 caliber automatic pistol that was manufactured by the Springfield Armory in 1914 and is fitted with a "first" Model Springfield Armory "Gallery Practice Pistol" conversion kit. Between December 1912 and April 1917 Springfield Armory manufactured approximately 27,855 Model 1911 pistols. It was the only U.S. Army service pistol ever actually produced within a Government Armory. As noted this example has the Gallery Practice pistol conversion kit of which only "25" are known to exist. This design was actually adopted from the original M1903 rifle that employed the Hoffer-Thompson .22LR conversion that uses a steel 45 ACP chamber insert to house the actual 22 LR cartridge and which also feeds though a standard M1911 magazine. The barrel is actually a specially machined 22 LR barrel, similar in shape to the M1911 barrel, however the .22 cal bore was eccentric to the axis of the barrel thus allowing the standard (CF) firing pin to be used with the rimfire cartridges. It also required a special magazine that looked like a standard M1911 magazine except it had a round top steel follower that would the steel chamber inserts to feed through the action. The .22 RF cartridge didn't have enough energy to cycle the slide so it had to be hand cycled after each shot. This design is pictured and briefly described on pages 438-441 in the excellent reference book "U.S. Military Automatic Pistols 1894-1920" by Meadows. The actual pistol is a correct M1911 manufactured by Springfield Armory in Oct 1914. The frame is stamped with serial number, "No 107073" with the left side stamped "UNITED STATES PROPERTY", with the small Ordnance "shell and flame" insignia above the magazine release button. The right side of the slide is stamped with the Springfield Armory Spread Wing Eagle/Shield motif followed by "MODEL OF 1911.U.S.ARMY.", while the left side is stamped with the three-line Colt patent markings followed by "SPRINGFIELD ARMORY/U.S.A.". The U.S. Ordnance "shell and flame" insignia is stamped behind the slide serrations. The front sight is correctly machined as part of the slide. The Springfield Armory "S" mark is stamped on the back side of the barrel bushing flange and back side of the slide stop. The barrel is unmarked which is correct as these were basically test pieces. It is fitted with a set of WWI, diamond pattern checkered walnut grips and is complete with an original Springfield Armory lanyard loop magazine with the double folded edges on the base plate, which is correctly stamped ".22" on the underside. This rare pistol complete with one original steel 45 ACP chamber insert.

Very fine with 98% of a professionally restored rust blued finish with only a hint of edge wear. The markings are clear and distinct overall. It is fitted with an equally nice set of checkered walnut grips. The 22 LR conversion barrel is completely original and so it the magazine and chamber insert. A very rare and seldom encountered First Model Springfield Armory Gallery Practice pistol.