Serial # 712778 When one is putting together a collection of 1911s, some of the scarcest to obtain are the U.S. Army marked pistols made between 1937 (first year of manufacture since 1924) and 1941. They are prized acquisitions due to the extremely low number of military productions guns during this era. This particular example was manufactured in 1938, one of the lowest single year production models, with all the U.S. Army markings and exhibits all the correct properties. Left side of frame is stamped with a "P" and "H", right side of frame is stamped "United States Property M1911 A1 U.S. Army". The right side front trigger bow is stamped "77". Top of frame is stamped with a "G" along with "H.O.1". Left side of the slide has the patent dates with horse in center. Top of slide has a "P". Magazine is stamped "Colt .45 Auto", put together with two pins, no half tone. Left side of the barrel is stamped "Colt .45 Auto" with a "P" on the left lug and polished chamber. Balance of barrel is blued. Mint bore and action. All small parts are the checkered variation. Has the U-notch rear with low front sights. Walnut checkered panels and short checkered trigger. Finely finished in the original rust blue of which 95% of that finish still remains. Grips are near mint and sharp. Frame retains approximately 95% original blue with some high edge wear. Slide retains approximately 98% of its original factory blue with a little high edge wear. Features a 5" barrel chambered for the .45 ACP. Superior condition for a blued early pre-war Army 1911 semi-automatic. Very rare in this condition.

CORRECTION: Noted 1911 Colt expert, Eric Gustafson completely dissembled this colt and we are adding the following notes per his examination. U.S. Army pistols manufactured in 1938. The chamber or breech was milled in the white, but this barrel breech has been polished. The slide number does match. The bullet ramp is blued and the majority of ramps in this range were in the white. Eric feels that the blue finish is a bit brighter than normally seen and may have been reapplied, but not polished. Total production of this year is 1296 and there are no replacement parts anywhere in this weapon.