This beautiful, early U.S. Army contract Colt Model 1911 Semi-Automatic Pistol was part of a shipment of 200 pistols, shipped to the Commanding Officer, Springfield Armory on March 2, 1912. This early automatic comes with a Colt factory letter dated Jan 1914, that verifies this information, noted above. Interestingly the consignor has identified this specific pistol as having been owned by Walter Geisman a member of the 163 Infantry Brigade during WWI. Also included with this lot is notarized letter from his stepdaughter (Phyllis Conley, who is listed in his obituary) stating that this pistol remained in the possession of Walter's family until Sept 1913. The "163 Infantry Brigade" was suppose to be part of the 41st Infantry Div., with the markings on the back of the holster supporting this which are: "PERKINS CAMPBELL/1917/J.A.H.", then scribed: "Co. B./163 INF." then stamped "Co. I 163 INF." on the lower flap, with the lower front area have a very "old" lightly scribed; "W.W.G./Co. F (unreadable initials) engineers". Obviously the initials stand for Walter W. Geisman and the unit, Co. F. Engineers, is thought to be part of the 163 Infantry Brigade. The 163 Infantry Brigade was organized in Sept 1917 at Camp Greene in Georgia. Originally composed of National Guard troops from the Northwestern part of the U.S., it was later moved to the east coast and sent to France in Dec 1917. This pistol has the mirror-like blue commercial high polish finish on the slide, frame and major components. This finish was utilized on U.S. contract Model 1911 pistols until serial number 2,401 when the Chief of Ordnance directed Colt to utilize the more durable low luster blue on March 18, 1912. The various smaller components such as the trigger, slide stop, safety lock, hammer and magazine catch lock all have the highly desirable fiery Colt niter blue finish used on Colt commercial handguns. This pistol is in original configuration with the distinctive early production features that include a round top rear sight, a narrow front sight, a first pattern dimpled magazine catch/lock (which is extremely rare as approximately only the first 1,600 pistols were equipped with that configuration, with almost all being replaced with the 2nd style), a second style hand checkered slide stop, a first pattern safety lock with thin thumb-piece, a short hammer, an early Colt blued commercial barrel with a polished chamber area and no horizontal "H" mark on the rear hood of the barrel, and the very rare first pattern recoil spring plug without any inward punch mark to retain the recoil spring. This pattern was used only until June 1912. The left side of the frame is roll stamped with the small "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" adopted at serial number 104. The "WPG" final inspection monogram of Ordnance Inspector Major Walter J. Penfield is stamped on the left side of the frame above the magazine release. The first format serial number "No.1065" is stamped on the right side of the receiver in front of the trigger guard in Roman style (serifs) numerals. The slide is marked with the short two line, two block, markings of: "PATENTED APR.20. 1897/SEPT.9.1902. DEC.19.1905. FEB.14. 1911" followed by "COLT'S PT.F.A.MFG.CO./HARTFORD.CT.U.S.A." with the circled Rampant Colt logo behind the serrations. The right side is marked "MODEL 1911. U.S. ARMY". A horizontal "H" provisional inspection mark is stamped on the rear of the slide above the firing pin stop and on top of the frame in front of the disconnector hole. The grips are checkered oil finished walnut with diamond patterns surrounding the grip screws. The early style magazine has a two-tone finish with no lanyard loop. It is complete with a M 1911 leather holster that as an all blued later production commercial magazine marked on the base plate: "COLT 45/AUTO", and a WWI issue Mills web belt that is marked "MILLS/1918". This desirable pistol comes with approximately 10 pages of information on the 41st/42nd Division, a copy of the obituary for Walter Geisman, pictures of his grave site/head stone and a copy of his military discharge papers and the notarized letter/statement noted above.

Fine condition with 60% plus of the blue finish overall with wear and finish loss on top of the slide, the front grip strap and the grip safety and mainspring housing. The various smaller parts retain 85% of their high, polish lustrous nitre blue finish. The grips are in very good condition with nice visible checkering overall showing minor light pressure dents on both sides mixed with even honest wear across the tops of the checkering. The barrel is a later production replacement. The holster is also in fine condition with nice clear distinct markings on the back side with nice tight stitching overall showing minor scuffing and age cracking from actual field use. The web belt is in excellent condition with no visible wear with clear sharp ink makers markings on the inside. A very nice early US Army contract Colt Model 1911 semi-automatic pistol. Certainly this pistol deserves further research on this unit and Mr Geisman.