In House Shipping:
Make: Colt
Model: Commercial Ace
Serial Numbers: 9045
Year of Manufacture: 1938 (https://colt.com/serial-lookup), shipped May 3.
Caliber: .22 Long Rifle
Action Type: Single Action, Semi-Automatic with Removable Magazine
Barrel Length: 4 3/4"
Sights / Optics: The pistol has a flat-topped, square notched rear sight dovetailed to the rear of the slide, screw adjustable for windage and elevation. The front sight is a serrated ramped blade with a rounded front fixed to the front of the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are fully checkered walnut panels. The grips have minor handling wear with a few light nicks and compressed checkers, mostly on the right panel. The checkering is generally well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Excellent Condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is sharp. There are a few spots of minor erosion in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 9 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains approximately 98% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at some edges, mostly at the leading edges of the slide. There are a few light nicks and small scratches, mostly in the frontstrap and most notable on the top-right of the slide below the front sight. The left of the trigger has wear consistent with a previously installed trigger-shoe. There are a couple spots of minor oxidation in the left slide serrations. The action shows light operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Excellent Condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. This pistol does NOT have the floating chamber used on the Service Model Ace. We have not fired this pistol. As with all previously owned firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with one vintage original Colt “two tone” partially blued 10-round magazine stamped “COLT / ACE (in a diamond) / 22 L.R.” on the bottom floorplate. A Colt Archives letter is also included, indicating this pistol was manufactured March 17, 1938 and shipped May 3, 1938 to R.S. Elliott Arms Company of Kansas City, Missouri.
Our Assessment: This Colt Pre-War Commercial ACE Pistol was made in 1938 and is in Excellent Condition. It features a 4.75” barrel, 98% of its crisp, original blued finish, beautiful fully checkered walnut grips, a gorgeous original Colt “two tone” partially blued 10-round mag, good mechanics, and a mostly bright bore with sharp rifling (there are a few spots of minor erosion). A Colt Archives letter is also included, indicating this pistol was manufactured March 17, 1938 and shipped May 3, 1938 to R.S. Elliott Arms Company of Kansas City, Missouri. This would be a phenomenal addition to a Colt collection, especially one missing a pre-war Commercial Ace.