Lot 215

1912 Produced U.S. Navy Contract Colt M1911 Pistol Number "1568"

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1912 Produced U.S. Navy Contract Colt M1911 Pistol Number "1568"

Estimate: $7,500 - $12,000

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 1912 First Year Production Four-Digit Serial Number "1568" U.S. Navy Contract Colt Model 1911 Semi-Automatic Pistol Manufactured in 1912, the first official year of production for the U.S. military contract Colt Model 1911 pistols, with this four-digit example being from the U.S. Navy contract. Only 15,037 Colt Model 1911 pistols were manufactured with the desirable "MODEL OF 1911 U.S. NAVY" roll-mark on the slide, which was discontinued in April 1915 in favor for the standard U.S. Army nomenclature, of which there were approximately 578,473 manufactured, making the navy marked variation comparatively very scarce. This pistol falls within the range of 500 pistols (serial numbers 1,501 to 2,000) in the second navy contract shipment sent to the U.S. Navy Yard of Brooklyn, New York, on April 10, 1912, as shown in the table on page 158 of "U.S. Military Automatic Pistols: 1894-1920" by Meadows. It has fixed rounded blade front and notch rear sights, the two-line Colt patent dates and address in two block on the left of the slide followed with a circled Rampant Colt behind the serrations, the U.S. Navy model designation on the right of the slide, a later production replacement parkerized barrel with "P" over "H" on the chamber hood and "P" on the lug, the U.S property marking and circled "WGP" inspection monogram on the left of the frame, and the early "No." prefix serial number (discontinued around serial number 4,501) on the right of the frame. Fitted with a long smooth trigger, checkered slide catch and thumb safety along with a wide spur hammer, a flat smooth mainspring housing with a lanyard loop on the base, a pair of "double diamond" pattern checkered walnut grips, and an early pattern blued magazine with a pinned lanyard loop floor plate.

Manufacturer: Colt

Model: 1911

BBL: 5 inch round

Gauge: 45 ACP

Finish: blue

Grips: walnut

Serial Number1568

Class: Curio & Relic Handgun

  • Condition: Very good, retaining 40% original bright blue finish on the frame and slide with smooth grey and brown patina on the balance, minor pitting, numerous light scuffs, scratches, and scrapes, moderate wear, and clear markings. The left grip panel is very good with light rub wear and well defined checkering, with moderate rub wear and defined checkering on the fair right grip panel. Mechanically excellent.

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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