This is an excellent example of an all original U.S. property marked Colt Model 1908 (Model M) .380 Pocket Automatic Pistol that was presented to Brigadier General Charles C. Drake by the Department of the Army. General Drake graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1912 and served as a Major in the infantry. After the war he served in many various positions in the 1920s and 30s and during World War II he was a Prisoner of War from 1942 to 1945. He received two Distinguished Service Medals and retired on disability in 1946. General Drake died July 16, 1984. The pistol is accompanied by a brief history of the General, a typed note from Brigadier General Douglas E. Williams, General Drake's Son-in-Law, certifying that this pistol was presented to General Drake and a handwritten, and typed portion of a ledger from the Department of the Army, Rock Island, Illinois listing this pistol by serial number to "Drake, Chas. C". The gun is also listed by serial number in John W. Brunner's book (page174), "The Colt Pocket Hammerless Automatic Pistols" as having been General Drake's. The pistol has the Colt commercial blue finish and is fitted with checkered walnut grips inlaid with Colt medallions. The slide is fitted with the standard fixed sights. The right side of the frame is roll-stamped: "U.S. PROPERTY" and has a Colt "86" inspection mark on the trigger guard bow. The left side of the frame has a small Ordnance escutcheon final inspection mark stamped behind the slide safety. The serial number is stamped on the left side of the frame above the trigger guard, with the letter "M" stamped ahead of it indicating that it was checked at the factory to eliminate defects that could cause a malfunction. The Colt "triangle/VP" is stamped on the left trigger guard bow, the right side of the slide is marked "COLT AUTOMATIC / CALIBRE.380 HAMMERLESS" and the left side is marked with two line Hartford address and 1897 and 1903 patent dates with the Rampant Colt behind the serrations. Two tone magazine stamped: "CAL.380 / COLT" on the floor plate and the letter "M" on the toe. Complete with a plain brown two piece box numbered to a different gun, two extra magazines, still wrapped in the paper and cleaning brush.

Excellent. The pistol retains 98% original bright blue finish with some minor edge wear, a small area of light spotting on the front strap and overall a few minor scratches and handling marks. The grips are also excellent with only minor handling marks and sharp checkering. The markings are crisp and clear. The action is excellent. The box is very good with a detached side on the lid.