This Colt Model 1911 Government Model Pistol was manufactured in 1914 and presented to "COL. F.T. FISHER". Colonel Francis Torriano Fisher, CB, had a 39 year career in the British Army and was a senior officer in the Royal Ordnance Department in 1914. He served as superintendent of the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield Lock during most of WWI. The pistol presumably was a gift (bribe in today's terminology) from Colt to Col. Fisher to encourage the British Government to purchase Model 1911 Pistols (some 13,300 Model 1911 Pistols were sold to the British military between 1915 and 1919). The pistol is engraved with the inscription "COL. F.T. FISHER/FROM/COLTS Pt F.A. Mfg Co." on the underside of the frame ahead of the trigger guard. The top and sides of the slide are covered with deeply cut and skillfully executed scroll engraving. The sides of the frame, underside of the trigger guard, bottom of the grip and the mainspring housing are decorated in similar scroll patterns. Both the slide stop and safety lock have light engraving. The edges of the frame above and behind the trigger are finely checkered. The engraving coverage is at least Colt "B". The pistol has a high polish blue finish. The right side of the slide has the standard marking "COLT AUTOMATIC/CALIBRE 45" in a panel in front of the ejection port. The left side of the slide has the Colt 1897-1913 patent dates in a two-line block surrounded by engraving. The two-line Hartford address is enclosed in a second engraved panel ahead of the slide serrations. The Rampant Colt motif is located on the left rear of the slide behind the serrations. The right side of the frame is marked "GOVERNMENT MODEL/C 8833" behind the slide stop hole. The Colt "VP/triangle" proof mark is stamped on the upper left side of the trigger guard bow and a small "b" inspection mark is located on the trigger guard bow just ahead of the junction with the frame. The top of the frame is marked with a "G", "*" and "S" to the right of the disconnector hole. The left side of the slide is stamped with a British "crown/V" proofmark just above the Rampant Colt. The top of barrel chamber is polished and is stamped with two British proofmarks. A "J" is stamped on the right side of the barrel lug. The pistol is complete with two lanyard loop magazines and steel cleaning rod. The pistol is contained in a 11 1/2 inch by 8 1/2 inch fitted case. The case exterior is covered with maroon leather and embossed "COL. F. T. FISHER" in gold letters. The interior is lined with cream-colored chamois leather. The inside of the lid is embossed "COLT'S/HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A". Part of the Colt marking is obscured by oil stains and the impression of the spare magazine. Approximately 140 Model 1911 and 1911A1 pistols were factory engraved prior to WWII. Only about 160 were factory inscribed or monogrammed. Factory cased Government Model pistols are even more rare. A copy of a factory letter indicates that the Colt records show the pistol was sent to Colt’s shipping room on November 28, 1914, but provide no details on the engraving or inscription. It is not uncommon for this to occur. This pistol was ordered from within the factory from the hierarchy as its mission was very important to Colt businesswise.

Excellent. The pistol retains over 95% of the original blue finish. The pistol has light handling wear with some minor wear on the grip strap and high points of the slide and frame. There is some very minor pitting on the left edge of the slide and frame at the muzzle. The grips are excellent. Both of the two-tone magazines have moderate finish wear and are in very good condition. The cleaning rod is excellent. The leather case exterior is fine. The leather cover shows light handling wear. The interior is fine. The chamois leather is oil stained, and the lid has the impression of the pistol, magazine and cleaning rod. Although somewhat stained, the interior lining is complete. This recently discovered inscribed cased and engraved Colt Government Model Pistol is a one-of-a-kind Colt Automatic that would be a key piece in the most advanced Colt automatic pistol collection. This is a very rare opportunity to own one of the finest factory engraved, factory cased, factory presented Colt Government Model 45 Automatics in existence.