Colt "Black Army" M1911 at auction

An exceptional Colt "Black Army" M1911 is up for grabs at Rock Island Auction.

all original (near new) and unaltered example of a late WWI "Black Army" M1911 pistol as manufactured by the Colt Manufacturing company. This pistol is a late all blued Model 1911 that has the block style marking and the Black Army type finish that is found only in the last of US Army Model 1911 contract pistols. This Black Army finish is actually a collector term to identify and differentiate these pistols from the earlier all blue Model 1911s. This type of finish was actually due to a change in the bluing process that occurred in 1918 when Colt went to a gas-fired oven blued process which gave the pistols a rougher finish with a dark black color. This specific pistol falls into the generally accepted serial number block (285,000-350,000) when this change took place. The left side of the slide is marked "PATENTED APR. 20.1897. SEPT.9.1902 / DEC. 19. 1905. FEB.14.1911. AUG 19.1913" followed by "COLT'S PT. F.A. MFG. CO." over "HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A." with the Rampant Colt in the middle of the markings and the left side of the slide is marked with "MODEL OF 1911. U.S. ARMY". The left side of the frame is marked, "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" and it has the circled "JMG" proof of LTC J.M. Gilbert, the government inspector assigned to the Colt factory. The right side of the frame has the serial number of the pistol, behind the slide stop pin hole. It still has the correct early WWI parts such as the Colt wide checkered spur hammer, smooth flat main spring housing, checkered slide stop and thumb safety, and the Colt barrel which is marked with the single separated "P" and "H" proof on top of the chamber area. It has the original diamond checkered walnut grips and is complete with one half-tone magazine.

Estimated Price: $5,500 - $7,500