Description
Item Description
Bryant Ridge Co. is pleased to present this HIGHLY COVETED LOW SERIAL semi-automatic pistol today for a penny-start auction, this is the Colt Government Commercial 1911!
This is a super early first-year production of the Colt "Government Model" 1911 pistol manufactured in 1912. The factory letter confirms that this example was shipped to the loan account on May 31, 1912, with the address unknown, in a shipment of one to William Sherer, Jr, with a blue finish and 5-inch barrel chambered for .45 ACP.
According to our research, you will see that this piece still retains the ORIGINAL parts, which is truly a Rarity! Some of the original parts that still remain on this EXTRAORDINARY 1911 that are most times removed or switched out are:
Original “C” faced barrel
Original short hammer
Original Magazine Catch
Original slide release
Original Grip Screws
Original Grips
Original Sights
The above list is just a few examples among many items that make this example amazingly original, as we have no reason whatsoever to believe that anything is not original.
As Colt enthusiasts know, an item being shipped to the “loan account” was extremely common when the firearm was a salesman sample, a gift of some kind from between Colt Executives or to Certain Dignitaries.
According to the previous owner/collector; Mr. Sherer was a sales manager at Colt during the time that this item was shipped to him, making this piece most likely a salesman sample!
We have researched Mr. William Sherer Jr., and we have found very little information pertaining to him. We did find that Mr. William Sherer Jr. was an apprentice to Mr. Alonzo Alford, who is considered a pioneer in the New York gun trade. In the 1880's Mr. Sherer joined the Schoverling, Daly, & Gales firm and remained there until 1889, when he became an employee of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, where he remained for some 23 years. He was the Far East (eastern portion of the world reached by ship) salesman. "It is important to note that according to this account, Mr. Sherer left Winchester Repeating Arms Company in 1912 which is when this example was shipped to a Mr. William Sherer Jr. on the Colt Loan Account"
The Colt Archives letter does not elaborate on this in the letter, as the above history is the oral account of the previous collector/owner. The information that we found about Mr. Sherer is also oral, as we did not find this in any historical or Winchester / Colt employment records. One can easily connect the dots and come to the conclusion that, most likely, this item was shipped to Mr. Sherer, serving Colt in a position in the sales department. However, the Colt Archives is the authority on this and did not specifically elaborate on whether Mr. Sherer was an employee within the company at that time, why it was shipped on the loan account, or what capacity this firearm served within Colt.
These early Colt Government pistols, in any condition, are extremely difficult to obtain as they saw heavy use when first introduced and are some of the best Colts ever produced, given they had all hand-fitted parts with a beautiful early Colt high polish commercial blue finish, niter blue small parts, and finely checkered walnut grips.
This Early Colt Government 1911 has all the early features, including early style Colt slide markings, a narrow rounded half-moon front sight, a rounded rear sight with a small round sight cut, a thin checkered thumb safety with a sharp edge, and milled undercuts and an early short checkered slide stop release. This example also bears a Very Low serial number, “C104”, making it the 104th one to have been produced. This makes it EXTEMELY sought after by Colt and firearm collectors worldwide!
*Please note that the Magazine, although being a genuine Colt early production magazine, post dates this example and would not have shipped with it from the factory to Mr. Sherer.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Manufacturer: Colt
Model: Government 1911
Serial: C104
Date Shipped from Colt: May 31, 1912
Caliber: .45 ACP
Finish: Blue
Barrel Length: 5"
Optics/Sights: Fixed Blade Front with Fixed U-Notch Rear
Stock/Grips: Double-Diamond Checkered Walnut Grips
Action: Semi-Automatic
Markings: Standard / The right side of the slide is marked "COLT AUTOMATIC/CALIBRE 45", and the left side has the early two-line, two-block markings of: "PATENTED APR.20, 1897 SEPT. 9, 1902.DEC.19, 1905. FEB.14, 1911" followed by "COLT'S PT. F.A. MFG. CO./HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A." with the Rampant Colt behind the slide serrations. The front left side of the frame is marked with the very rare, early first-style Colt serial number (C104), and "GOVERNMENT MODEL" is on the right side of the frame. The left trigger guard bow is stamped with the Colt "VP/Triangle" proof mark, and an "R" is stamped on the lower left part of the trigger guard.
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
The M1911 (Colt 1911 or Colt Government) is a single-action, recoil-operated, semi-automatic pistol chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge. The pistol's formal U.S. military designation as of 1940 was Automatic Pistol, Caliber .45, M1911 for the original model adopted in March 1911, and Automatic Pistol, Caliber .45, M1911A1 for the improved M1911A1 model which entered service in 1926. The U.S. military procured around 2.7 million M1911 and M1911A1 pistols during its service life. The pistol served as the standard-issue sidearm for the United States Armed Forces from 1911 to 1985. It was widely used in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The M1911A1 was replaced by the adoption of the 9mm Beretta M9 pistol as the standard U.S. military sidearm in 1985. However, the U.S. Army did not replace the M1911A1 with the Beretta M9 until October 1986, and due to the M1911's popularity among users, it has not been completely phased out. Modernized derivative variants of the M1911 are still in use by some units of the U.S. Army Special Forces, U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy.
Model: Government 1911
Serial: C104
Date Shipped from Colt: May 31, 1912
Caliber: .45 ACP
Finish: Blue
Barrel Length: 5"
Optics/Sights: Fixed Blade Front with Fixed U-Notch Rear
Stock/Grips: Double-Diamond Checkered Walnut Grips
Action: Semi-Automatic
Markings: Standard / The right side of the slide is marked "COLT AUTOMATIC/CALIBRE 45", and the left side has the early two-line, two-block markings of: "PATENTED APR.20, 1897 SEPT. 9, 1902.DEC.19, 1905. FEB.14, 1911" followed by "COLT'S PT. F.A. MFG. CO./HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A." with the Rampant Colt behind the slide serrations. The front left side of the frame is marked with the very rare, early first-style Colt serial number (C104), and "GOVERNMENT MODEL" is on the right side of the frame. The left trigger guard bow is stamped with the Colt "VP/Triangle" proof mark, and an "R" is stamped on the lower left part of the trigger guard.
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
The M1911 (Colt 1911 or Colt Government) is a single-action, recoil-operated, semi-automatic pistol chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge. The pistol's formal U.S. military designation as of 1940 was Automatic Pistol, Caliber .45, M1911 for the original model adopted in March 1911, and Automatic Pistol, Caliber .45, M1911A1 for the improved M1911A1 model which entered service in 1926. The U.S. military procured around 2.7 million M1911 and M1911A1 pistols during its service life. The pistol served as the standard-issue sidearm for the United States Armed Forces from 1911 to 1985. It was widely used in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The M1911A1 was replaced by the adoption of the 9mm Beretta M9 pistol as the standard U.S. military sidearm in 1985. However, the U.S. Army did not replace the M1911A1 with the Beretta M9 until October 1986, and due to the M1911's popularity among users, it has not been completely phased out. Modernized derivative variants of the M1911 are still in use by some units of the U.S. Army Special Forces, U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy.
These early Colt Government pistols, in any condition, are extremely difficult to obtain as they saw heavy use when first introduced and are some of the best Colts ever produced, given they had all hand-fitted parts with a beautiful early Colt high polish commercial blue finish, niter blue small parts, and finely checkered walnut grips. This Early Colt Government 1911 has all the early features, including early style Colt slide markings, a narrow rounded half-moon front sight, a rounded rear sight with a small round sight cut, a thin checkered thumb safety with a sharp edge, and milled undercuts and an early short checkered slide stop release.
This example also bears a Very Low serial number, “C104”, making it the 104th one to have been produced. This makes it extremely sought after by Colt and firearm collectors worldwide!
Condition/Contents:
Condition/Contents:
This example is in fine condition for its age. The Fire Blue accents are still fully visible and round off this beautiful piece. This example will also ship with the Colt Archives Letter and one magazine!
Return Policy:
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Return Policy:
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Shipping Details
Handgun Standard Shipping with Insurance $50.00
Long Gun Standard Shipping with Insurance $70.00
Any orders placed with magazines that are not compliant with your state, county, or city regulations will not ship with your order.
We strive to ship orders within the close of the following business day after payment and documentation is received.
Payment Details
We accept all forms of Payment including Personal Check, Business Check, PO Money Orders, Certified Check, Etc.
Please note we place a 7 business day hold on shipment, for all non-certified payments.
Payment MUST be received within 14 days.
Return Policy
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Additional Details
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About Us
From a small town hobby, to a leader in the investment and collector grade firearms industry. Bryant Ridge Firearms is here to offer the best in quality and customer service when you are looking to unload your collector grade firearm collection.
