WWI Colt Model of 1911 U.S. Army .45 ACP Semi-Automatic Pistol 1912 C&R
Archival record: Specifications and condition reflect the firearm as listed at the time of auction.
Final Auction Price: $3,392.00
The Colt Model of 1911 is one of the most important American military sidearms ever produced. Adopted by the United States Army in 1911, John Browning’s semi-automatic design would go on to serve through two World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, and decades of military and law enforcement use. This example was built on an early 1912 U.S. Army frame and later fitted with a replacement Colt commercial barrel and replacement slide, giving it a mixed-period configuration while retaining the historical significance of an early first-year production military frame.
Identification
MMA#: 260317MH002
Make: Colt
Model: 1911
Serial Number: 16964
Year of Manufacture: 1912
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action Type: Single Action semi-automatic pistol fed by removable magazine
Barrel Length: 5 inches, replacement Colt commercial barrel
Sights / Optics
The pistol is fitted with a flat-top U-notched rear sight dovetailed into the slide and a short rounded blade front sight fixed to the slide.
Stock / Grip Configuration & Condition
The grips are two-piece checkered walnut panels with smooth diamonds around the grip screws. The grips show scattered scuffs, scratches, compressions, and handling wear, more noticeable on the right panel. There is wear in the checkering along the bottom edges, though the checkering remains generally well defined elsewhere. There are no chips or cracks.
Overall grip condition: Good to Very Good.
Finish & Overall Condition
Type of Finish: Blued frame with Parkerized slide
Finish Originality: Original frame, slide refurbished at a later date
This pistol retains approximately 70 percent of its current metal finish. The slide finish is thinning along all edges with a notable spot of finish loss on the top surface. The slide also shows scattered small nicks and scratches. The frame shows scattered finish loss on the front strap, surface oxidation, and erosion on the sides of the frame beneath the grip panels. Additional scuffs, nicks, and scratches are visible, most notably at the bottom of the mainspring housing near the lanyard loop and under and ahead of the slide stop. The action shows operational wear. Screw heads are tool marked but retain usable slots. Markings remain clear.
Overall condition: Very Good in its current configuration.
Bore & Mechanics
Bore Condition: The bore is bright with sharp rifling and no erosion. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 10 out of 10.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The pistol has both a manual safety and grip safety. The trigger pull is crisp. The slide shows nominal play to the frame. This pistol was not test fired. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be desired before use.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories
Included is one 7-round magazine. The upper portion of the magazine is in the white and the top of the floorplate is marked “B.”
Our Assessment
The Colt Model 1911 was the result of years of development by John Moses Browning and Colt, combining a locked-breech operating system with the now-familiar reciprocating slide. At the time of its adoption, the design was revolutionary. Today, the 1911 remains one of the most enduring handgun platforms ever created, still admired for its ergonomics, trigger system, and service history.
This pistol is built on a very early U.S. Army Colt frame manufactured in 1912, placing it among the earliest years of 1911 military production. While the frame remains the historically significant foundation of the pistol, the slide and barrel are later replacements. The slide has been refinished, and the barrel is a replacement Colt commercial barrel. As a result, this pistol should be understood as a mixed-period example rather than an all-original early 1911.
Even so, it retains meaningful collector and historical appeal. Early 1912 frames are desirable in their own right, and this pistol still presents as a strong representative of the early Model 1911 pattern. The bore is excellent, the action functions correctly, and the overall wear reflects long use and later maintenance rather than neglect.
For collectors seeking a fully original early U.S. Army 1911, this example would not be that level of specimen. For someone interested in an early Colt military frame with shootable mechanics, a bright bore, and real World War I era character, this pistol remains an appealing and historically grounded piece.
The Mt. McCoy Auctions Difference
At Mt. McCoy Auctions, every firearm is carefully documented and professionally photographed to create a detailed archival record. Our descriptions are written to provide collectors and shooters with a clear understanding of condition, originality, historical significance, and long-term collectibility.
