The Combat Elite pistols started production before the 1991A1 models, and were the successors to the Combat Government pistols. Combat Elites were built on Series '80 pistols with the "Mark IV" rollmarks in two calibers, .45 ACP and .38 Super. The frames were stainless steel and the slides were blued carbon steel. While (many of) the pistols shipped with neoprene wraparound grips, the front straps were serrated. The right side of the slides were rollmarked " * Combat Elite *", where the "*" denotes a star.
Combat Elites were made in two basic styles, pre-enhanced and enhanced. The first pistols were pre-enhanced and came with Commander rowel hammers, a Commander-like grip safety, high-profile fixed sights, and a short trigger. The slide serrations were the traditional vertical Colt style. The later pistols were enhanced pistols and came with a flattened slide top, Elliason adjustable rear sights, a lowered and flared ejection port, a long trigger, slanted National Match slide serrations, an elongated Commander hammer, a downward slanting beavertail grip safety, and an undercut triggerguard. The enhanced pistol serial numbers should end with an "E".
It should also be mentioned that enhanced Combat Elite slides were sold on the aftermarket and used to assemble faux Combat Elites. I know because I built one for my own use. A rear Combat Elite should have a "CG" serial number prefix. There have been other Elite pistols, including the 10mm Delta Elite, an Elite 10/.40, and a 9x19 "Elite IX".
The pistol mentioned by the thread starter sounds like a pre-enhanced pistol. These pistols are more desirable than the later enhanced pistols, mostly due to the sights, rowel hammer, and grip safety.
