Colt Navy M1911A1 sn 710xxx
1937 Production, 1st Variation
Presented below is Colt Navy M1911A1 1937 pistol serial no. 710xxx.
The 1937's are also referred to as "Transition Models", since they,
like the 1924 pistols, display "Model of 1911 U.S. Army" on the
slide despite a preponderance of 1911A1 features. Military branches
did not place orders for M1911A1's from 1925 to 1936 which explains
the 11 year hiatus where no service 1911A1's were introduced (ref.
Clawson).
This example is without P proofs on both receiver and slide, representing
the first 1937 variation (later pistols after about 711001 have the
P proofing). Both Colt's verified proof (VP) mark on the left
trigger guard and the practice of stamping a matched serial no. on
the slide began during this production period at 710001. Also of
note is the absence of inspector's cartouche where usually seen
near the slide release. The top of the frame has a G stamp but no
H marking. The slide also lacks the H marking, but the disconnector
recess is the shallow, dished variation that first appeared in 1937.
7110xx was one of 500 pistols delivered to Springfield Armory on March 18,
1937. Most surviving 1937's are known to be in rough condition. However,
in this example the original brushed blue finish shows fairly good preser-
vation. Pistols 710001-711605 were issued to both Army and Navy branches;
711606-712349 were exclusively Navy-issue. Interestingly enough, many of
the 1937 Navy pistols were issued after the Dec. 7, 1941 attack on the
U.S. at Pearl Harbor (ref. Springfield Research Service).
The 1937 military contract Colts are highly treasured as they are among
the rarest of the blued M1911A1's, with rarity and value rank approaching
that of the Singer.
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