1918 production year

Nice! @ZoidMeister @Melter942

 

Got that Deadpool patina... do not refinish it.

 

I’m not liking that serial number with the odd 77 ending. Also, it is absent the United States Property frame marking of a 1911 war time frame. Still nice patina and vintage piece.
That 1918 shipment allotment had a total of 319,746 pieces of Colt 1911s. The largest of all production prior to the A1 modification series. And also the most copied and fraud pieces because of that high run quantity.

 

@Tross
The grip panels Are plastic A1 style. Used on post 1924 production. That should have checkered wood with diamonds to be period correct.
The only mark I see that leans toward Government is on the left side frame above the mag release. Appears to be an eagles head with a S and a number (not legible). If you break it down there should also be a letter stamp around the disconnector hole.

 

Serial number is legit. All were not stamped perfectly. Looks like it has been sandblasted rather than rusted (maybe to remove USP). You would have more money in a restoration than the pistol would be worth when restored.

 

As others have said, leave as is...

 

The roll marks on the slide and the serial stamping are still in very good legible condition. I don’t believe the gun has been reconditioned, refinished or sand blasted. The pitting appears to be caused by a natural wet moist fairly even extended time environment.
As stated, leave it be and just clean it up with some penetrating oil and maybe some fine bronze wool. Some replacement period correct grips new springs and go shoot it.

 

Look at the enlarged version of the left side that shows the patent dates. You can see the irregular shapes of the blasting media plainly, not smooth rust pits.

 

I like it just the way it is.

 

Beauty as it is