TUE DEC 17, EXCEPTIONAL CONDITION, US WWI COLT MODEL 1911 US ARMY PISTOL, EARLY 1919 PRODUCTION, “BLACK ARMY” VARIANT, NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND THIS INTACT!

IN 98%+ MINT CRISP, VERY HARD TO FIND CONDITION LIKE YOU JUST NEVER SEE, WE HAVE A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF AN EARLY 1919 PRODUCTION “BLACK ARMY” COLT 1911 US ARMY SERVICE PISTOL.  THIS PISTOL IS 100% CORRECT EXACTLY AS IT LEFT COLTS.  THIS PISTOL WAS SHIPPED OUT IN APRIL 1919 TO THE RESERVE ARMY ORDNANCE DEPOT IN SOUTH SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK.  

THESE LATER 1919 PRODUCTION PISTOLS WERE FINISHED IN A BLACK OXIDE FINISH WHICH WAS A MORE EXPEDIENT PROCESS THAN THE EARLIER BRUSHED BLUE FINISH. THEY ARE KNOWN TO COLLECTORS AS “BLACK ARMYS” DUE TO THE DULLER DARKER LOOK.    OVER TIME THIS BLACK OXIDE FINISH WAS NOT VERY DURABLE AND RAPIDLY TURNED BROWN OR FLAKED OFF ALTOGETHER.

THIS PISTOL IS A TOP EXAMPLE AS IT SHOWS ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT OF THIS AGING. COLLECTORS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN CHALLENGED IN FINDING A DECENT EXAMPLE OF THIS PISTOL, ITS MUCH EASIER TO FIND A BRUSHED BLUE GUN IN TOP CONDITION.  THIS IS A TOP EXAMPLE OF THE BLACK ARMY COLT AND THEY JUST DON’T COME UP FOR SALE THIS WELL PRESERVED VERY OFTEN.  BLACK ARMY’S THIS NICE ARE EXTREMELY RARE AND NEARLY IMPOSSOBLE TO FIND.