Manufactured in 1913, in the second year of contract production. The included factory letter confirms this pistol was part of a 500-piece shipment to the Commanding Officer of the Rock Island Arsenal in Illinois on March 1, 1913. Aside from the traditional "Not Listed" grips, the letter confirms the major features of the pistol. Many of these early 1911s were subjected to hard service in multiple American wars, subjected to field armorer repairs or arsenal rebuilds, and even after leaving government inventories were often used hard, leaving few particularly choice examples to be found. Blade front and round top rear sights, with the two-line, two-block address and patent dates ahead of the Rampant Colt on the left side of the slide, "MODEL OF 1911 U.S. ARMY" on the right, Penfield "WGP" inspected frame, long smooth trigger, wide checkered hammer, short grip safety, flat mainspring housing, an unmarked two-tone magazine, and a barrel marked "P H" on top of the hood and "5" ahead of the lug. Includes an early pattern brown U.S. leather flap holster, marked "1914 H.E.K." on the rear, with a swivel-equipped hanger and a buckling thigh strap.

Exceptionally fine, near excellent, with 85% plus of the bright original blue finish, showing areas of gray patina, concentrated on the front strap, along with edge wear concentrated on the right side of the slide and frame. The exposed portion of the rear top original barrel retains 97% original blue. The grips are excellent plus, with a few light dings on the otherwise crisp checkering and a small amount of play in the right panel. The holster is good, with some staining and cracking. Mechanically excellent.