Interesting Colt Government Model 1911 - Extended Barrel & Magazine

Description

1/9/26 - Manufactured in 1916, this is an interesting example of a Colt Government Model 1911. The development of these pistols came about due to the need for more compact and rapid fire weapons in the trenches of World War I. With many countries developing and deploying early submachine guns, these pistols were an effort to simply modify an existing service weapon to fit the needs of the military. Due to the relatively short U.S. involvement in the war and the development of the Pedersen device for the Springfield Model 1903 rifles, there was not enough demand to drive development of the Model 1911 carbine any further, making surviving examples incredibly scarce. A very similar example is pictured and described on p. 252-253 of "Colt Automatic Pistols" by Bady. This particular example has an experimental 16 inch barrel, or an additional 10 3/4 inch from the muzzle and comes with a 12" long extended magazine.  The barrel is marked Colt .45 Auto though, indicating it to be a later-production example that was installed in this gun some time after leaving the factory.   It also comes with a spare standard magazine and standard barrel. The gun has retained about 97% of its original high polish bluing with very minor muzzle wear, one small dot of discoloration on the top of the barrel, a few tiny surface scratches here and there, and some tiny dings on the front strap. Fitted with minty checkered wood grips. Mint bore.