A total of 15,037 of these pistols were manufactured by Colt with the desirable U.S. Navy slide marking, all of which were delivered prior to April of 1915. After that, all Model 1911 pistols delivered to the Navy would bear the standard U.S. Army nomenclature, of which there were approximately 578,473 manufactured, making this variation comparatively very scarce. This is an example of an early 1913 production, U.S. Navy contract Colt Model 1911 pistol that was shipped on 8 August 1913 to the Brooklyn Navy Yard (p. 515 "U.S. Military Automatic Pistols: 1894-1920" by Meadows/Ellis). The left side of the slide is marked with the standard two-line, two-block Colt address and patent dates with the Rampant Colt behind the serrations, while the right bears the desirable "MODEL OF 1911 U.S. NAVY" marking. The full blue barrel is marked "PH" on the chamber hood, "5" on the bottom, and "J" on the left of the lug. The left side of the frame has the U.S. property marking and "WGP" circled monogram above the magazine release, while the serial number is on the right. It is fitted with blade front and rounded top notch rear sights, checkered slide catch, thumb safety, magazine catch, and wide hammer, long smooth trigger, smooth flat mainspring housing with lanyard loop, a pair of diamond pattern checkered walnut grips, and a replacement full blue magazine. Includes a U.S. marked canvas magazine pouch and an extra two-tone magazine.

Fine, retains 60% plus of the original blue finish with the balance having thinned to a mix of grey and brown patinas and some scattered light spotting. The grips are very good with some scattered minor blemishes in the otherwise mostly well-defined checkering. Mechanically excellent. The magazine pouch is fine with some mild wear.