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 extremely early, three-digit serial number 549, 49th produced, 1912 production, U.S. Navy contract Colt Model 1911 pistol that was shipped on 7 March 1912 to the Brooklyn Navy Yard ("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 circled Rampant Colt behind the serrations, while the right bears the desirable "MODEL OF 1911 U.S. NAVY" marking. The later replacement, blued barrel is marked "G/N" on the bottom in front of the lug and "COLT 45 AUTO" on the bottom left. The left side of the frame has the U.S. property marking and faint "WGP" circled monogram above the magazine release, while the serial number is in the early forward position on the right. It is fitted with replacement blade front and flat 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 two-tone magazine with a pinned base with lanyard loop.