This is an excellent example of an early Colt commercial Model 1911 Government Model pistol manufactured in mid 1914. Based on the early success of the standard military Model 1911 pistols Colt marketed a commercial version. These early Colts exhibited the desirable high polish blue finish with checkered walnut grips. The accompanying factory letter lists this pistol with a 5 inch barrel in .45 caliber, blue finish, and type of stocks not listed when shipped to Shapleigh Hardware Co., St. Louis, on April 28, 1914. The left side of the slide has the early two line, two block Colt patent and address marking "PATENTED APR. 20. 1897/SEPT. 9.1902. DEC.19.1905. FEB.14.1911" and "COLT'S PT. F.A. MFG. CO./HARTFORD.CT.U.S.A." all in the early serif letters and numbers with the Rampant Colt behind the slide serrations. The right side of the slide is marked "COLT AUTOMATIC/CALIBRE 45". The right side of the frame is "GOVERNMENT MODEL" over the serial number "C5730". It is fitted with all the early parts that consist of the early style rounded rear sight, checkered slide stop release, early 1914 thin pattern checkered thumb safety, wide checkered Colt hammer with the long smooth trigger and flat mainspring housing. The barrel is an early blue unmarked Colt commercial model with the polished chamber area. It is fitted with the early diamond pattern checkered grips, and two tone blue magazine with lanyard loop on the bottom and lanyard loop on the frame heel.

Very fine with 85% plus of the original high polished blue finish overall showing wear and finish loss on the front and rear grip straps, the trigger guard bow, the edges and high spots overall as well as the front edges of the sides of the slide. The grips are in fine condition with nice checkering on both sides. Mechanically excellent. A solid representative example of an early and desirable Colt Government Model pistol.