Colt custom shop ID

[Clifford]

A friend of mine is looking at buying a nice Colt 1911 but is trying to find some info on it first. It's a full size blued pistol, on the left side of the slide it is marked "Military Academy class of 1998". On the right side it is marked "Duty will not wait". The serial number is USCC98-0XX.

The gun is at a pawn shop and the employees didn't have any info about it. The price is right, he just wanted to know more about it before he buys. I'm guessing it's a colt custom shop limited run with USCC being the first 4 in the serial number.

If anyone has any info about this gun or the "military academy" its tied to I would love to hear it. I will try to get some picks posted if I can get there to look at it tomorrow.

 

[Oro]

Sounds to me like a USMA graduation gun.

Each year cadets graduating from the USMA (West Point) can purchase from Colt a 1911 or a Peacemakers (or both). I thought they usually had some gold scroll work but I don't know what was standard, or perhaps it varies year to year. I have only seen one or two examples that acquaintances/alumni own.

Based on the s/n, sounds to me like it must mean "United States Corp of Cadets, Class of 1998." Odd this would end up in a pawn shop. I would rarely ever say this but I'd run the s/n with the local PD to check if it was stolen. These don't end up on the used market.