[1911Collector]

Earlier this week, I discovered this Service Model Ace. A serial number lookup indicates it's from 1978. It was used, but very little. It came with two magazines, the original manual and paperwork, as well as the styrofoam from the box (although not the box itself).

I took it home and spent an hour cleaning up it. Here it is afterward:

Normally I don't shoot .22 LR, but this looked so out of place among the Kimbers, Rock Islands, and other guns it was in the case with, I decided to give it a good home (I have a new, unfired Service Model Ace from 1980 that I bought a few years ago).

While the rimfire pistols made by Walther look like real Colts, are inexpensive, and fun to shoot, there's no mistaking them for this. This is the real deal, and the craftsmanship is exquisite.

 

[Jimmy2Dogs]

Earlier this week, I discovered this Service Model Ace. A serial number lookup indicates it's from 1978. It was used, but very little. It came with two magazines, the original manual and paperwork, as well as the styrofoam from the box (although not the box itself).

I took it home and spent an hour cleaning up it. Here it is afterward:

View attachment 837446

Normally I don't shoot .22 LR, but this looked so out of place among the Kimbers, Rock Islands, and other guns it was in the case with, I decided to give it a good home (I have a new, unfired Service Model Ace from 1980 that I bought a few years ago).

While the rimfire pistols made by Walther look like real Colts, are inexpensive, and fun to shoot, there's no mistaking them for this. This is the real deal, and the craftsmanship is exquisite.

A Colt like that deserves a good home. Kudos to you for giving it one.

 

[kenhwind]

Selling the one I had was a mistake, sometimes you have to but the SM ACE I should have kept.

 

[824tsv]

Are you able to share the serial# or part of it? Can you post a pic of the magazine including the floor plate?

 

[1911Collector]

Are you able to share the serial# or part of it? Can you post a pic of the magazine including the floor plate?

Sure. Serial number is SM20358. Here are pictures of one of the magazines:

 

[kenhwind]

Mine came with the other Metalform type magazine.

 

[C3Ranger]

Very nice. Congratulations on your acquisition!

There is one almost new in the box at my LGS (not sure of the year). Asking $1750.

 

[Todd]

I was very backwardly fortunate when I found one years ago. I was on my NIB buying jag and in my excitement, I did not notice that after I picked one of the two that the dealer had - that he had given me THE OTHER (not picked by me😡)in the pile of guns that I had bought.

Consequently, instead of New In (the) Box.... I got New In (a) Box as the numbers did not match!

I was peeved as one can imagine but had already entered it into my book so I figured the old axiom applied; "If you think you paid too much for a Colt🤫.... wait a bit!"😉

Then to point, as I waited and steamed a bit more I thought; "Why NOT shoot it?" Having been so long since owning or shooting a non-converted Colt's .22 I was reintroduced to the greatest surprise in 1911 shooting this side of a Mid-Range .38 Special.

Now, it gets shot-a-lot but cared for.

Mayhap, I'll dig out that box and post it up to see if anyone here has the corresponding pistol.

 

[1911Collector]

Very nice. Congratulations on your acquisition!

There is one almost new in the box at my LGS (not sure of the year). Asking $1750.

Gun prices seem to vary greatly depending on the area you're in; but around here, that would be a good price, especially if its in excellent condition.

Still, given you can buy other .22 LR target pistols for far less, I've seen some less-than-stellar Service Model Aces sit on the shelf for a long, long time.