This is a very scarce example of one of 1,296 Colt Model 1911A1 pistols manufactured in 1938 under contract for the U.S. Army; per the included letter, it was part of a 350 piece shipment to Springfield Armory on July 23, 1938. The second lowest production year for the 1911/1911A1, 1938 marked the shift from the "Transitional 1911" (1911A1 features but still with 1911 nomenclature) to the full 1911A1, and could be considered the birth year for the pistol that would see America from World War II through the lion's share of the Cold War. Blade front and flat top notch rear sights, with the two-line, two-block address and patent dates on the left side of the matching numbered slide divided by the Rampant Colt, a "P/H" (Hauff) inspected frame with "W/VP" and "77" on the trigger guard. Fitted with a short milled trigger, long grip safety, checkered wide hammer, slide catch, thumb safety and arched mainspring housing, full checkered grips, unmarked two-tone magazine, and a replacement "COLT 45 AUTO" marked commercial production barrel with a polished hood and "P" on the left side of the lug.

Fair. Much of the surface has turned a streaked, mixed artificial brown and gray patina, with preserved blue in the protected areas, bright edge wear and mild spotting. The replacement grips are near mint, with some light dings. Mechanically excellent.