An impossible gun to find these days and if found, seldom offered for sale.. They don’t get much earlier then this in the Colt S/A Collecting Fraternity.  All visible serial numbers  match and there’s the proper A (Ainsworth) on the top of the back strap and on the trigger guard.   I didn’t remove the grips as there a perfect factory fit and I didn’t want to take a chance on damaging them . These are varnished grips with much original finish and never had a cartouche.  I beleive this gun didn’t pass the final military inspection and was subsequently sold on the commercial market.  The barrel has the proper address with the broken ‘O’ and as you can see there’s some dings from what I would assume was a pistol whipping.  When the barrel was cut to 5 1/2"  a brass front sight was installed. Outside of the barrel being shortened during it’s period of use, this is exactly the way this Colt left the factory.  Nobody’s  gotten there hands on it to stretch the barrel or phoney it up in any way. This is truly an investment firearm.
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