Manufactured in 1912, the first official year of Colt Model 1911 pistol production for the U.S. military. This example falls within a shipment of 500 pistols (serial number range 14,501 to 15,000) listed in the tables on page 515 of "U.S. Military Automatic Pistols: 1894-1920" by Meadows and page 380 of "Colt .45 Service Pistols" (1991 publication) by Charles Clawson, sent to the U.S. Benicia Arsenal in California on November 23, 1912. Features correct fixed oval blade front and rounded notch rear (phased out during 1913 production) sights, a commercial replacement blued barrel with polished chamber hood, a short grip safety, smooth long trigger, straight mainspring housing with a lanyard loop on the base along with checkered slide stop, thumb safety, magazine release, and wide spur hammer. The slide bears the two-line, two-block patent dates and Colt address on the left with circled Rampant Colt behind the serrations, along with the U.S. Army model marking on the right side and "H" marked at the top of the hammer recess. The left side of the frame bears the U.S. property marking and circled "WGP" (Maj. Walter G. Penfield) monogram inspection mark, with the early "No" ("o" with underline) prefix serial number on the right side. Fitted with a pair of diamond pattern checkered walnut grips and correct unmarked two-tone blued magazine with "keyhole" relief cut and pinned lanyard loop base.

Fine, retaining 60% plus bright original high-polish blue finish with some mild cycling wear on the barrel, some scattered light edge wear, mostly brown patina visible on the grip straps, some scattered minor patches of freckling, and some light handling marks. The grips are very good with wear on bottom edges and light scuffing in the otherwise defined checkering. Mechanically excellent.