This is an excellent example of an all original pre-World War II Colt Model 1903 as manufactured in 1932. It is accompanied with a copy of the bill of sale, dated December 1965 from Lieutenant General Delos Emmons's widow, who sold the pistol to a sporting goods store in California. It is also accompanied by a letter dated July 2008 (with notarized certificate of acknowledgment) from the owner of the sporting good store, verifying the purchase and receipt of this pistol directly from Mrs. Emmons, both documents clearly substantiating ownership by General Emmons. General Emmons had a very distinguished military career from 1909 until his retirement in June 1948. A 1909 West Point Academy graduate, he was originally assigned to the 30th Infantry at the Presidio. In August 1916 he was detailed to the Signal Corps' Aviation Section for pilot training and was rated a junior military aviator in May 1917. He held several significant positions within the newly created Army Air Corps, those being the commanding officer of the 18th Composite Wing at Fort Schaffner in the Hawaiian Islands (March 1934-July 1936) and the 1st Wing at March Field in California (Aug 1936-Feb 1939) where he received his first star. In March 1939 he received his second star while commanding general of Headquarters' Air Force at Langley, Va. After the fall of France, he was assigned to London as a military observer and assistant. In June 1941 he was promoted to LT General as the Chief Air Force Combat Command. On 17 Dec 1941, (10 days after Pearl Harbor) he was assigned as the commanding general of the Hawaiian Dept and was instrumental in the build up of the Army Air Forces in Hawaii. He continued his military career through WWII and retired in June 1948. His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Legion of Merit, and the Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal among others. The pistol has the two line marking on the left side of the slide with the 1903 patent date followed by "COLT'S PT. F. A. MFG. CO. / HARTFORD. CT. U.S.A." in two lines on the left side of the slide with the Rampant Colt behind the slide serrations. The right side of the slide is marked, "COLT AUTOMATIC/ CALIBRE 32 RIMLESS SMOKELESS" in two lines below the ejection port. The left side of the trigger guard bow is stamped with a "W" Colt assembler's mark above the Colt "VP / Triangle" proof mark. The pistol has a "two-tone" magazine marked "Cal-32 / Colt" on the floor plate. The pistol has the early "half moon" front sight and rounded rear sight, high polished blue finish, royal blue extractor, safety, trigger, and magazine catch, blued barrel, polished chamber, and checkered walnut grips with German Silver Colt medallions. The pistol is complete with a regulation WWII issue U.S. General Officer's brown leather holster for the Colt M1903 pistol. This style of holster, as noted on page 303 of the book "US Military Holsters" by Scott Meadows, was produced by the Atchison Leather Products Company and was in use by the military from WWII through 1956, when the color was changed to black. The holster is constructed of high polished brown leather with gold plated snaps and rivets.

Excellent plus, with 99% of the bright original blue finish, showing only a few light handling marks. Grips are excellent, with sharp checkering. The bore is bright. The holster is in excellent condition.