In House Shipping:
Make: Colt
Model: Government Model, "Pre-National Match"
Serial Number: C154412
Year of Manufacture: 1927 (reference Factory Letter)
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine
Barrel Length: 5”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a 1/10" blade fixed to the front of the slide. The rear sight is a square-notch dovetailed to the rear of the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered walnut panels. The grips have even very minor handling wear. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Fine Plus Condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original, the slide is serial-matching. The "P.H.R." inscription on the left side of the dust cover was factory inscribed.
Bore Condition: The Match Barrel's bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is no erosion in the bore, but there are a couple of spots of minor erosion in the chamber. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 8 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 98% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at some corners. There are some tiny nicks and scratches. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Excellent Condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this handgun. As with all previously owned firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with one correct original ca. 1927 “two tone” partially blued 7-round magazine, a Colt Archives factory letter, and a packet of information about Jensen Distribution Services. The Colt Archives factory letter confirms that this pistol was sent on June 28, 1927 as the only gun of its type in the shipment to Jensen, King, Byrd Company in Spokane, Washington. The letter confirms the following Special Features: “"P.H.R" inscribed on receiver / Furnished with a match barrel / and Patridge type sights.” Jensen, King, Byrd Company was originally founded in 1883 as a hardware store. More recently, they were renamed Jensen Distribution Services, a massive wholesale hardware distributor that serviced over 11 western states. They were acquired by the well known ACE Hardware in 2015 after 132 years in business; an incredible display of corporate longevity.
Our Assessment: Colt's National Match pistols were first advertised as a factory option in 1932, with a prototype having been sent to the Camp Perry matches in 1930. The National Match pistol was essentially a factory target pistol built on the Government Model frame, but with a hand-honed action, match barrel, and Patridge sight. Production would be continued until 1942 and resumed in 1957; at that time it was re-branded as the Gold Cup National Match. As far back as the early 1920s, however, there were some Government Model pistols special-ordered from Colt with essentially the same features as the National Match prior to it being a factory option, leading collectors to term these scarce pistols the "Pre-National Match".
This Factory Lettered Colt “Pre-National Match” Government Model 1911 .45 Pistol was made in 1927 and is in Excellent Condition. It’s confirmed by the included Colt Archives factory letter as being ordered with a match barrel and Patridge sight. Not only is it a "Pre-National Match", it’s even factory inscribed with "P.H.R." along the left side of the dust cover; the exact significance of that inscription remains unknown, but it’s likely the proud original owner’s initials. The letter also indicates the shipping destination; it was sent on June 28, 1927 as the only gun of its type in the shipment to Jensen, King, Byrd Company in Spokane, Washington. It features a 5” barrel marked “MB” in a circle on the left lug, about 98% of its lustrous, original commercial “high polish” blued finish, crisp two-piece checkered walnut grips, a beautiful original “two tone” partially blued 7-round mag, and a mostly bright bore with sharp rifling and no erosion (there are a couple of spots of minor erosion in the chamber). Any Colt “Pre-National Match” pistols are highly prized by collectors. With its factory inscription, Excellent Condition, and lettered special order features, this spectacular beauty is in the upper echelon of Colt 1911s.