Colt Model 1911 U.S. Navy

NOTE: this is an example of a previous customer restoration, and therefore the firearm is not for sale. Please browse the showroom for our current selection of restored, pre-owned and refinished firearms that are for sale, as well as other collections. Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to be among the first to learn about new additions to our website.

There’s a special kind of reverence that comes from holding one of the earliest government-issue Colt Model 1911s. Those first years when John Moses Browning’s masterpiece was just beginning its long, faithful service to American fighting men. And when that pistol carries the “MODEL OF 1911 U.S. NAVY” roll mark, the story deepens.

In 1912, the U.S. Navy received some of the earliest Colt Model 1911 pistols, specially roll-marked “MODEL OF 1911 U.S. NAVY.” Far fewer Navy-marked pistols were produced compared to Army contracts, making these early examples from the Navy issue especially scarce and highly sought after by collectors today.

This example—born in 1912 and entrusted to our shop for restoration in 2021—arrived with more than a century of honest wear. What it still carried, though, was its heritage: an early Navy pistol built when Browning’s design was still a fresh answer to the U.S. military’s call for a rugged, authoritative sidearm.

We performed a full period-correct restoration, beginning with meticulous surface preparation that recreated the crisp flats and clean radii of an early-production Colt. From there we applied an authentic charcoal blue finish to the slide, frame, and small parts, capturing the deep, reflective character of the 1912 originals. The iconic double-diamond panels were replaced with hand-checkered black walnut grips, shaped and finished to evoke the look and feel of the earliest Navy-issue guns.

The finished pistol stands today as a tribute to Browning’s genius, to Colt’s craftsmanship, and to the sailors who relied on these rare early Navy-marked 1911s in an age when America’s place on the world stage was still taking shape. For collectors, historians, and families who inherited one of these legendary service pistols, a restored 1912 Navy example is more than steel and walnut. It’s a direct connection to the earliest chapter of an American icon.

Restoring this 1912 Navy pistol was an honor, and we’re proud to return it to the world looking every bit as it did when it first answered its call to service.

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