According to the included factory letter, this pistol was part of a 200-piece lot shipped to the Home Guard at Waterbury, Connecticut on March 30, 1917. Consignor notes further attribute the pistol to a Captain Edward Clayton Bell, a Silver Star winner and Connecticut guard officer called up for federal service in 1917. His records with the Connecticut Office of the Adjutant General (photocopy enclosed) note him as active in France with the 102nd Infantry Regiment, which was deployed in Chemin des Dames, Toul Sector, Chateau Thierry, Champagne-Marne, Saint-Mihel, Troyon and Verdun. Captain Bell is noted as severely wounded in action on October 27, 1918, resulting in a 25% disability rate, though the exact nature of the injury and where it was received is unnoted; the 102's parent unit, the 26th "Yankee Division" was engaged in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive at that time, and he may have been injured during that battle. He was awarded the Silver Star. Also present is a picture of an array of firearms, including this pistol, the included holster and pouch, and an Artillery Luger (in the next lot) described as a war trophy taken by Bell during a raid (possibly in Soultz-Haut-Rhin) in October 1918. Fixed sights, with the two-line, two-block address and patent dates on the left side of the slide ahead of the Rampant Colt, "COLT AUTOMATIC/CALIBRE 45" on the right, and a "GOVERNMENT MODEL" frame with long smooth trigger, wide hammer, short grip safety, flat mainspring housing, unmarked two-tone magazine, checkered grips with diamond screw escutcheons and a blued barrel with a polished hood and "C" and "P" marked ahead of the lug. Included with the pistol is a brown leather Audley safety holster, a brown leather Fulton magazine pouch, and a pair of unmarked two-tone magazines.

Very fine, with 80% of the original blue finish, showing a mixed brown patina on the grip straps and along the edges of the slide, bright edge wear, and scattered handling marks. Thin takedown lines are present around the slide catch, and some mild rubbing from the latch on the Audley holster is visible on the trigger guard. The grips are fine, with mild dings and dark spots. The very fine leather shows some scuffing. Mechanically excellent.