Colt Ace .22 LR (1933) Pre–Service Model 1911, Blued, Adjustable Rear Sight, Personalized to Lieut. Murray C. Aspinall
This 1933 Colt Ace is an original, pre–Service Model .22 LR built on the 1911 platform with straight-blowback operation and a fixed barrel. It is personalized to Lieut. Murray C. Aspinall with an inscription on the left slide, and it bears the Colt VP Verified Proof on the left side of the trigger guard. The pistol features classic pre-WWII Colt rollmarks, a blued finish, adjustable rear target sight, and comes with a period-correct two-tone magazine.
As an early Ace variant, it combines 1911A1-style frame details with .22 LR efficiency, making it a distinctive and collectible example from the interwar era. The included leather belt holster adds period utility, while the magazine’s side witness slot and pinned floorplate align with correct features for the model and timeframe.
Condition
Overall Condition: Very good condition, showing only light, superficial signs of prior handling or use.
Bore Overall Condition: Excellent - Clean, mirror finish, no signs of wear.
Bore Rifling: Excellent Rifling - Sharp lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: There is minor finish wear on the high edges. The checkered walnut grips show light handling wear. The left slide carries a personalized inscription reading "LIEUT. MURRAY C. ASPINALL."
What’s Included
- 1x 10-round single-stack .22 LR steel magazine (two-tone) with side witness slot and pinned floorplate
- Leather belt holster with snap retention strap
Built as the original Ace variant before the Service Model changes, this pistol uses straight-blowback operation with a fixed barrel and no floating chamber. It retains 1911A1-style frame elements including a short trigger with scalloped relief cuts, single-side manual thumb safety, grip safety, a wide-spur checkered hammer, a checkered arched mainspring housing, and a smooth front strap.
The slide shows vertical rear serrations, the classic Colt address and patent block with Rampant Colt logo on the left side, and the right-side "COLT ACE" diamond/.22 LONG RIFLE rollmark. Its sights consist of a fixed front blade and an adjustable rear target sight. The finish is blued on both the carbon-steel slide and frame.
Personalization to Lieut. Murray C. Aspinall appears on the left slide, adding clear provenance to the piece. A Colt VP Verified Proof is stamped on the left side of the trigger guard, consistent with factory inspection practices of the period.
The included period-correct two-tone 10-round magazine features a side witness slot and a pinned floorplate, aligning with the correct style for early Ace pistols. Capacity is 10+1 with the supplied magazine.