Colt Government Model Pre-Series 70 .45 ACP, 5" Barrel, 1948 Commercial 1911, High-Polish Blued Slide, Matte Gray Frame
This 1948 Colt Government Model is a commercial Pre-Series 70 .45 ACP, built on the full-size 1911 platform with a 5-inch barrel. It features classic postwar M1911A1 architecture, a high-polish blued slide paired with a matte gray frame, and fixed sights. A C-prefix serial range denotes civilian production, adding clear context for collectors of post-WWII Colt pistols.
Condition
Overall Condition: Good condition, showing some signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Condition: Good - Clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Bore Rifling: Excellent Rifling - Sharp lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: The firearm presents minor scratching and small blemishes consistent with handling wear. The bore is clean and shiny.
What's Included
- Colt Government Model Pre-Series 70 .45 ACP pistol
- One 7-round steel single-stack 1911 magazine (no brand markings visible)
Built in the United States in 1948, this commercial Government Model represents the Pre-Series 70 era in .45 ACP with a 5-inch barrel and 7+1 capacity. It is a full-size 1911 with a carbon steel frame and slide, wearing a high-polish blued slide over a matte gray frame.
It follows the M1911A1 pattern with relief cuts behind the trigger, a short solid trigger, an arched mainspring housing without a lanyard loop, and a spur hammer. Safety features include a thumb safety, grip safety, and half-cock notch.
The slide has rear-only vertical serrations and a standard, non-lowered ejection port. Sights are fixed iron: a fixed front and a small square-notch rear. The slide displays polished flats in high-polish blue, while the frame is a uniform matte gray without polished flats, giving the pistol a two-tone presentation.
Markings include the Hartford address on the right slide and "GOVERNMENT MODEL COLT AUTOMATIC CALIBER .45" with the Rampant Colt on the left slide. Proofs noted are an "E" on the left trigger guard bow and a "0" on the right bow. A C-prefix serial range identifies it as a civilian-production Government Model.
It retains a standard GI-style recoil system and is fitted with fully checkered brown grip panels. The configuration matches the classic commercial Government Model profile from the immediate postwar period.