Lot 236

U.S. Navy Contract Colt Model 1911 Semi-Automatic Pistol

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U.S. Navy Contract Colt Model 1911 Semi-Automatic Pistol

Estimate: $7,500 - $11,000

Current Bid: $6,500

(1 Bid)

by Rock Island Auction Company
August 21, 2026 9:00 AM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Highly Desirable First Year Production U.S. Navy Contract Colt Model 1911 Semi-Automatic Pistol Manufactured in 1912, the first full year of production for the U.S. Model 1911. A total of only 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 a fine example of the U.S. Navy contract Colt Model 1911 that was shipped on 9 November 1912 to the Brooklyn Navy Yard according to p. 514 of "U.S. Military Automatic Pistols 1894-1920 by Meadows. It is finished in the military brushed blue finish that was adopted in April of 1912. 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 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. The later production blued barrel is marked "P H" on the chamber hood and "5" on the bottom in front of the lug. 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 two-tone magazine with pinned lanyard loop base. This specific pistol is listed not listed on p. 526 of "U.S. Military Automatic Pistols: 1894-1920" by Meadows, however, serial number 13423 just one digit ahead of this one is listed as having been issued to troop transport USS Chaumont (AP-5) on 7 March 1934, which later became the hospital ship USS Samaritan during World War II.

Manufacturer: Colt

Model: 1911

BBL: 5 inch round

Gauge: 45 ACP

Finish: blue

Grips: walnut

Serial Number13424

Class: Curio & Relic Handgun

  • Provenance: The Gus Cargile Collection
  • Condition: Fine, retains 60% plus of the original blue finish with the balance mostly a smooth grey patina, some scattered patches of light pitting concentrated on the front grip strap and upper right of the slide, and some scattered light dings. The grips are also fine with some minor handling marks and well-defined checkering. Mechanically excellent. The U.S. Navy marked Colt Model 1911s are hard to come by!

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000