Colt National Match First Model

[H3nchman]

Good Morning. My dad was just gifted this pistol. I searched the serial number and it appears its a Colt 1911 Government Model and 1st National Match. Serial is in the c170xxx range. The relative who gave the pistol to my dad said the barrel had been replaced about 1959. The pistol originally belonged to my great grandfather who purchased it around 1933 or so. Can you guys give me any more info on it? sorry I only have one picture for now.

[GM4spd]

The frame appears to be a 1911 and not a 1911A1. Has a long trigger and
no scallops behind the trigger. The grips are definitely not correct. The barrel
being replaced further hurts collectibility. The slide may very well say
NM but that does not mean t is a NM pistol. If you are able to remove the
firing pin retainer,check and see if there are six numbers under it. If there
are ——see if they match the serial number on the frame. Also,I don’t
believe NM pistols came out until 1935,they would have bee built on A1 frames
not 1911 frames. Something is wrong with your description of the serial
number. It might be a C17000 not C170,000. The frame of the pistol in
your picture appears refinished.

[H3nchman]

Colt's database said the serial belonged to a national match. I'll check the slide serial when I can. I knew the grips were replaced. This is more of an heirloom, but I want to learn as much about it as I can.

[highpower]

You need to make your pictures a little bigger.

[BarrettM99]

It’s awesome that it belongs in the family and you know it’s history. It’s really special. I wish I had something like that from my family. No matter what anyone says, always keep it in the family.

[H3nchman]

The slide does not say national match. That came from the colt website. There is no serial number by the firing pin hole.

[Kevfin]

I agree that value is in it being a family heirloom. Would like to think some of my guns would be handed down to my great grand kids

[highpower]

The Colt website does have some misleading information when it comes to post WWI-pre WWII 1911 serial numbers. It seems to list every gun as a "National Match" when nearly all are not.

OP, I suspect that the slide may not be original to the gun. While I have not personally handled very many Pre WWII commercial Colt 1911's, on those that I have seen, all had the serial number stamped behind the firing pin stop.

The grip panels should be checkered walnut.

[H3nchman]

The slide number does match the frame.

[onelonehorseman]

The slide number does match the frame.

That is a plus!

[highpower]

The slide number does match the frame.

If the slide matches the frame number, then you have a commercial government model and that is a very nice gun indeed. An original barrel and grips can be found, but be prepared to spend some serious $ for them.