I purchased this 04012XSE and it has no wide amb. safety like the current models do.  The gunshop I bought it from told me that it came from the Custom Shop.  It is new, old stock. Without a doubt, it has a polished throat and feed ramp, different trigger, beveled mag well, and frame/slide fit is really tight and smooth.  He mentioned it was assembled and tuned by the custom shop in 2000 from left over custom shop parts when Colt quit selling civillian handguns for a short while in 2000.  The serial number range is FC248xxE. Is there any way I can verify this by the information given? Here's a picture.

MY XSE

Price paid could be a good marker, but certainly doesn't proove one way or the other.

You might try using Colt's verification letter. I think they charge $25 or so for it. I'm not sure they would say it was from the Custom Shop or not, they might just say it was built whenever & shipped to whomever.

Try e-mailing Colt & asking them about it, you might get lucky!

Thanks, I was in touch with Colt today.  The gun is a standard XSE that was polished in the feed ramp and throat area by the custom shop.  That's all that it is.  Thanks.