Manufactured in May 1918 and the accompanying factory letter verifies the caliber, barrel length, blue finish with grips as "Not Listed" and that it was shipped to the Ordnance Depot, Bush Terminal, Brooklyn, New York as part of a lot of 15,000 pistols on July 22, 1918. The pistols sent to the Bush Terminal were subsequently shipped to the American Expeditionary Force in France. Documents that accompany this pistol state that it was used by Mafia member Charles "Mad Dog" Gargotta to murder rival gangster Feris Anthon in Kansas City, Missouri on August 12, 1933. After killing Anthon, Gargotta and two other gang members engaged in a gun battle with Sheriff Thomas B. Bash. Sheriff Bash killed two of the gangsters and captured Gargotta after he allegedly emptied this pistol at Bash. The pistol was introduced by the prosecution as "Exhibit A" at Gargotta's murder trial and was identified by serial number in a "Kansas City Star" article dated May 5, 1934. The prosecution attempted to link this pistol to the Anthon murder by use of ballistic evidence. Gargotta was acquitted of the murder charge but was jailed and fined for possession of stolen government property (this pistol). This pistol was documented as one of several weapons stolen from a National Guard Armory by Gargotta and members of the John Lazia/Charles Binaggio Kansas City crime syndicate several years prior to the Anthon murder. Charles Gargotta subsequently testified about his organized crime activities (he was arrested more than 40 times on charges that ranged from extortion to murder). As a result of this testimony both Gargotta and Mafia associate Binaggio were murdered in 1950. The pistol is an original unaltered U.S. Army Colt Model 1911 automatic pistol with Black Army, low polish blue finish, blue barrel, checkered walnut grips with diamond screw escutcheons and two-tone flat base magazine. The slide has the larger (7/64-inch) "MODEL OF 1911.U.S. ARMY" markings and late pattern recoil spring housing introduced about serial number 290,000. The left side of the frame is marked "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" and stamped with the "Eagle Head/S5" Ordnance Inspection stamp. The pistol retains the correct short hammer with bordered knurling on the spur and 1914 pattern safety lock used until mid-1918. The top of the frame is stamped with an "H" provisional inspection marks and a "G" government contract mark. A "G" is stamped on the left rear of the slide next to the hammer slot and the "H" provisional inspection mark is stamped in the hammer slot above the firing pin stop. The top of the barrel chamber is stamped with a "H" and a "P" proofmark. The magazine has an "A" contractor marking on the top of the floor plate and is the correct magazine for this pistol. The barrel, slide, hammer, safety lock and other components have identical finish wear and appear to be original to this pistol. The pistol is accompanied by extensive documentation relating to the Anthon murder, the Gargotta trial and Mafia activities in Kansas City. It also comes with a copy of the book "Open City True Story of the KC Crime Family 1900-1950" by William Ouseley. This is one of the very few weapons that can be positively identified as a Mafia pistol used in a notorious gang murder and violent shoot-out. It is an extremely historic pistol with solid provenance from 1918 to 1933.

Good. The pistol has a smooth blue brown patina with traces of the original dull blue finish and extensive handling wear. The pistol components show identical wear and patina. All of the markings are sharp. The grips are good with moderate to heavy handling wear. The magazine is fine with most of the original blue finish. The floor plate shows the same moderate to heavy wear as the pistol. Mechanically fine. This is a unique and historic pistol with outstanding provenance.