SOLD - Very Rare Rock Island Arsenal M15 General Officer's Model

Description

9/5/24 - This is an original example of the very rare M15 General Officer pistol. A Rock Island Arsenal made gun, SN 538. The gun is in very good, original condition with a very nice profile that shows only minor high edge and muzzle wear. The majority of the finish loss is on the front strap.  The M15 RIA pistol was developed in the 70s as a replacement for the Colt M1903 and M1908 General Officer guns. It was made from the existing stock of M1911 Colts and was modified with a shorter slide, high quality internals and a beautiful high polish finish and chromed small parts. A metal plate was inletted in to the left grip which could then be engraved with the General’s name if desired.  The other grip had the Rock Island cross cannon cartouche inletted in the wood.  Slide legend and the serial number on the right side were gold filled for a very nice contrasting look.  Only 1004 of these were made, before being superseded by the Beretta M9 pistol, making them the rarest General Officer pistols.  They were all produced from 1972-74, though issued slowly over a period of ~10 years. Most were returned back to the arsenal and very few were retained by the general officers at retirement.