Originally ordered in 1916 and 1917, the Colt Russian Contract Government Model pistols were ordered by the Imperial Russian government from Colt. When placing the order, the government of Great Britain acted as an intermediary, using a line of credit established by the Russians and backed by hard gold reserves held in Britain to cover the bill. Britain's role as go-between is the source of the signature marking on the left side of the frame, "ANGL. ZAKAZIE"(transliterated) for "English Orders". The Russian Contract pistols as-issued otherwise bore only standard Colt markings. By 1916, the situation on the Eastern Front was already getting well out of hand for Russia, and in 1917 they went through the February and October Revolutions, which brought about both the fall of the Imperial government and the successor Provisional Government and led to the rise of the Soviet Union. Additionally, some reports of the final assassination of Tsar Nicholas II and his family put a pair of Colt 45 ACP pistols among the weapons used by the Bolshevik party, in particular one used by Yakov Yurovskyleader of the squad who is noted has having fired the opening shot directly into the Tsar's chest. Russian Contract Government Model Colts are very rare on the American market in any condition, as virtually none were ever exported by the Soviet Union. This particular Government Model comes with a bit more of its history than typically seen. First, the included factory letter notes it as part of a 4,000-piece grouping earmarked for shipment to "Government of Russia" on November 29, 1916, with the grips "Not Listed" and the other main features confirmed. By the 1990s, the pistol had made its way to Germany (likely via communist East Germany prior to reunification) and was inspected at the Cologne proof house in 1996, with the date and shield added to the frame, and the "eagle/N" proof on the frame, barrel and slide. An additional set of boxed "2-11" stamps, likely a date code, are present on either side of the frame, with a "TR" in a circle on the trigger guard. Finally, the pistol returned to the United States, with a laser engraved import mark being placed on the side of the magazine well. Blade front and flat top rear sights, with the two-line, two-block address and patent dates on the left side of the slide, Rampant Colt behind the serrations, and the caliber marking on the reverse. The frame bears the aforementioned contract marking, with "VP/U" on the trigger guard, and is fitted with a long smooth trigger, wide checkered hammer, a later long grip safety, smooth mainspring housing, checkered grips, an unmarked pinned full blue magazine, and a blued barrel marked "45 ACP" atop the chamber and "1" ahead of the lug.

Fine as period refinished, with 80% of the dark blue overall, showing some covered patches of shallow pitting, scattered dings and dents, edge wear and other handling marks. The grips are very good, with some denting and light chips. Mechanically excellent. A difficult to find and highly desirable variation of the Colt Government Model Semi-automatic Pistol tied to a critical period in world history.