This is an exceptional example of a rarely seen, exceptionally early production, Norwegian Kongsberg Model 1912. Norway has the distinction of being the first foreign country to adopt Colt's Model 1911 for military service, as well as being the first foreign country to produce them under license. From 1917 to the early 1930s approximately 20,000 of these pistols were produced at the Kongsberg plant. This pistol is a scarce example of the very earliest production at the Kongsberg factory which commenced after a couple small orders of a few hundred pistols from Colt. This example has a very early slide marking on the left, "COLT AUT. PISTOL M/1912", which was found on only the first 500 pistols produced. A similar example is pictured on p. 216 of "Colt Automatic Pistols" by Bady. The standard crowned proofs are also present on the left of the slide along with the matching serial number on the slide, frame, and small parts. The right side of the slide as the "1917" year of production with "A" below it. The pistol exhibits the standard dull military blue finish and is fitted with blade and notch sights, the later pattern extended slide stop which was likely arsenal replaced and numbered to the gun, numbered barrel bushing, checkered thumb safety, checkered wide hammer, short grip safety, smooth flat mainspring housing with lanyard loop, diamond pattern checkered grips, and an unmarked full blue magazine with a lanyard loop on the base.