A total of 15,037 of these pistols were manufactured by Colt with the desirable U.S. Navy slide marking, all of which were delivered prior to April of 1915. After that, all Model 1911 pistols delivered to the navy would bear the standard U.S. Army nomenclature, of which there were approximately 578,473 manufactured, making this variation comparatively very scarce. This is an example of a 1912 production, U.S. Navy contract, Colt Model 1911 pistol that was shipped on 5 October 1912 to the Brooklyn Navy Yard ("The Government Models: The Development of the Colt Model of 1911" by Goddard). The left side of the slide is marked with the standard two-line, two-block Colt address and patent dates with the circled Rampant Colt behind the serrations, while the right bears the desirable "MODEL OF 1911 U.S. NAVY" marking. The brushed blue later production replacement barrel is marked with "S" and "P" on the left of the lug. The left side of the frame has the U.S. property marking and "WGP" circled monogram above the magazine release, while the serial number is on the right. It is fitted with blade front and rounded top notch rear sights, checkered slide catch, thumb safety, magazine catch, and wide hammer, long smooth trigger, smooth flat mainspring housing with lanyard loop, a pair of diamond pattern checkered walnut grips, and a unmarked two-tone magazine with lanyard loop base. Provenance: The Dr. Robert Azar Collection

Very fine, retains 75% plus of the partially refinished blue finish, most noticeable on the grip strap, trigger guard, top of the slide, and mainspring housing, with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina, most noticeably on edges and the top of the slide. The replacement grips are excellent with a few scattered light handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.