Colt Government Model .45 ACP Pre-Series 70 (1951) – High-Polish Blue, Full-Size 1911, 5-Inch Barrel
This 1951 Colt Government Model is a commercial Pre-Series 70, built on the post-war 1911A1 pattern and finished in Colt's high-polish commercial blue with brushed rounds. It features the classic GI-style fixed sights, rear-only vertical slide serrations, and a standard-height ejection port. A C-suffix serial range, clear factory slide legends, and a bright, excellent bore make this full-size .45 ACP a strong example for collectors and enthusiasts seeking a clean mid-century Colt.
Condition
Overall Condition: Very good condition, showing only light, superficial signs of prior handling or use.
Bore Condition: Excellent - Clean, mirror finish, no signs of wear.
Bore Rifling: Excellent Rifling - Sharp lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: Minor superficial scratches and small handling marks are present.
What’s Included
- One 8-round steel single-stack 1911 magazine
Built on the 1911 platform, this Government Model is a full-size .45 ACP with a 5-inch barrel and an 8+1 capacity. It is a commercial-production Colt from the 1950s, identified as a Pre-Series 70 with a C-suffix serial range, aligning it with the desirable post-war 1911A1 configuration.
The pistol wears Colt's high-polish commercial blue with brushed rounds. Factory markings include the slide legends 'GOVERNMENT MODEL COLT AUTOMATIC CALIBER .45' with the Rampant Colt on one side and 'COLT'S MFG. CO. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.' on the other.
The barrel hood is correctly marked 'COLT 45 AUTO'.
Features are true to the era: GI-style fixed sights with a staked blade front and square-notch rear, rear-only vertical slide serrations, and a standard-height (un-lowered) ejection port. It retains the arched mainspring housing and brown checkered plastic stocks with Colt medallions.
Controls and internals follow the classic Colt pattern, including a short, grooved trigger; a wide-spur, checkered hammer; a textured slide stop; and a checkered recoil spring plug. Safety systems include a manual thumb safety, grip safety, inertia firing pin, and a half-cock notch. Made in the USA, this example presents as a clean, collectible mid-century Colt with an excellent bore and period-correct details.