The pistol was issued to United States Army general officers as a personal weapon.

Originally intended for high-ranking military personnel, the M15 was built from an existing stock of Colt M1911 pistols.

It was adopted to give officers a weapon with greater stopping power and effectiveness over previously issued sidearms.

The slide is also engraved, "General Officer's Model" and the abbreviation "RIA" for Rock Island Arsenal.

The belt's buckle and any other metal parts were either in gold for the Army or silver for the Air Force.