Colt ~ U.S. PROPERTY ~ 1911 ~ .45 Auto ~ 1914 Production ~ Provenance Paper

This Colt Model M1911 was manufactured in 1914 with a brushed blued finish and a 5" barrel. The left side of the slide is marked "PATENTED APR.20.1897. SEPT.9,1902 / DEC.19, 1905. FEB.14, 1911. AUG.19, 1913" and "COLT'S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. / HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A." with the "Rampant Colt logo" at the end of the slide. The right side of the slide is marked "MODEL OF 1911. U. S. ARMY". The right side of the frame is marked "NO 97563". The left side of the frame is marked "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" and behind the trigger is marked "WGP" (Major Walter G Penfield Inspection Mark). The top of the barrel is marked "PH" witch is an early Colt. The left barrel lug is marked with an "J" and in front of the lugs is marked "5". The top rear face of the slide is marked "H". The flat on the top rear of the frame, around the disconnector is marked "H, R, a star, a square", and the right rail is marked with a square. The front sight is a fixed short-rounded blade. The rear sight is a "U" notch dovetailed into the slide. The grips are two-piece checkered wood with a diamond pattern around the screws. The thumb part of the hammer is a wide-checkered style. The magazine is a two-tone factory Colt magazine with a lanyard loop and a pinned baseplate with no markings. For a military firearm of this age it still remains in good surplus condition.