Manufactured in 1912, the first year of production for the model, these early production Government Model pistols are fairly rare in any condition. With a total production of over 138,000, the scarcity of these pistols on the U.S. market is somewhat surprising, however the vast majority were purchased under foreign contract, with 83,444 being drawn by the eleven largest foreign contracts alone. These early production pistols received the desirable early high polish blue finish and bright nitre blue small parts, which is estimated to have been used on only 5,000 pistols. This example is listed by Goddard in "The Government Models: The Development of the Colt Model of 1911" as being shipped to Remington U.M.C. on 6 September 1912, likely as a cartridge test pistol. This specific pistol is also pictured on p. 148-149 of the same book. The frame is marked with the serial number on the forward left portion of the frame, a feature that was only seen until serial number C2250. The left side of the trigger guard is marked with the Colt "VP" proof and "R", while the right forward section of the frame is marked "GOVERNMENT MODEL". The left side of the slide has the two-line, two-block patent dates and address followed by the circled Rampant Colt behind the serrations. The right side of the slide has the standard two-line caliber designation. The trigger, magazine catch, slide stop, thumb safety, and hammer are all finished in bright nitre blue. The later production replacement barrel is unmarked and has a polished chamber. It features blade and notch sights, long smooth trigger, checkered slide stop, checkered thumb safety, wide checkered hammer, short grip safety, and a smooth flat mainspring housing with a lanyard loop at the base. It is fitted with a pair of diamond patterned checkered grips and a correct two-tone "keyhole" magazine with a lanyard loop base. Interestingly, the military contract companion to this pistol, serial number 50 Colt Model 1911, is also available in this auction, giving a collector a unique opportunity to own a "matching" early production military and commercial pair! Provenance: The Dr. Robert Azar Collection