This is an exceptional example of a U.S. Army issue M15 General Officer pistol. The M15 pistols were manufactured solely by Rock Island Arsenal starting in the early 1970s through approximately 1985 when the US Army adopted the Beretta M9 Beretta pistol. These pistols were fabricated by using a standard M1911A1 pistol, milling off old markings and then applying the new markings and shortening the slide and barrel assembly to 4 1/2 inches, installed a high profile front and rear sight, serrated main spring housing with the National Match style checkered front grip strap. The left side of the slide was marked with "General Officer Model/RIA", and "Serial No. GO 247" is on the right side of the frame above the grips. The grips are checkered walnut and the right side has inlaid into it a cast Ordnance emblem that consists of the "crossed-cannons/leather belt" insignia with "ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL" on the belt and the Shell/Flame and Ordnance Bomb. While the left grip panel is inlaid with a small silver name plate, this one is still blank. The pistol has a highly polished blue finish on most the parts, and the barrel is chrome plated. The magazine also has a polished and blue floor plate and is electro-penciled with the pistol serial number (247) on the lower left side.