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LOT 411
Very Scarce Documented
Norwegian Navy Shipped Colt
Government Model Semi-Automatic
Pistol with Factory Letter - Serial no.
C208957, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl.,
blue finish, hardwood grips. With factory letter. The accompanying
factory letter lists this pistol as being chambered in .45 ACP with a 5
inch barrel, and blue finish when shipped to Royal Norwegian Naval
Service in Halifax, Canada on May 7, 1942. This pistol is one of only
300 shipped to the Royal Norwegian Naval Service to arm whaling
ships which would act as escort ships and minesweepers. This pistol
falls into the first of the three shipments to make their way to Canada,
and is one of the two hundred
pistols shipped to the Royal
Norwegian Navy from a
shipment originally intended
for French Shanghai. The
“CONCESSION FRANCAISE
CHANGHAI” marking on the
right side of the frame has
been over stamped with an
upside down “S PAT. F.A. MFG. CO.
HARTFORD CT. USA” roll marking.
The inventory number is also
stamped on the right side of
the frame across from the serial
number. The slide features two-
line Colt caliber marking on the
right side and two-line patent
stamping on the left. The right
side of the frame features the
two-line model over serial number
stamping. The blued magazine is
in a configuration requested by the
Shanghai Police to prevent cartridges from being stolen and spent casings put in their place.
CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 90% plus arsenal refurbished blue finish with handling marks, a few dings, and a few spots of light pitting. Grips are very good with a few small spots of softened checkering, otherwise checkering is sharp. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 412
Early Production Serial Number
C1589 Colt Government Model
Semi-Automatic Pistol - Serial no. C1589, 45 ACP
cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1912,
the first year of production of the commercial Government Model. This
pistol represented the cutting edge of firearm technology and was highly
sought after by military personnel and civilians alike. This particular example exhibits the
early production lustrous high polish blue finish and nitre blue small parts, as well as the
serial number on the left of the frame as seen on only the first 2,250 Government Models,
and the “GOVERNMENT MODEL” marking on the front right of the frame which was only seen
until approximately serial numbers C4500-C5000. The slide on this pistol bears the two-line,
two-block address and patent markings on the left side with the circled Rampant Colt behind
the serrations. The right of the slide has the caliber markings. “VP” and “K” are on the trigger
guard. The early four-digit serial number is located on the left of the frame. The barrel is a later
production replacement marked “COLT 45 AUTO” with military inspection “P” on the left of the
lug and “G” on the bottom. Fitted with fixed blade and notch sights, a set of diamond pattern checkered
grips, and an unmarked two-tone magazine with lanyard loop on the bottom.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 60% plus of the bright original high polish blue finish and 70% of the original nitre blue with the balance mostly a smooth artificial brown touch up with some edge wear, spotting, and grip strap wear. The grips are very good with replacement screws, a few scattered minor dings, and otherwise crisp checkering.
Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Gus Cargile Collection.
296 Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 413
Very Fine Early
Production
Colt Military
Model 1902
Semi-Automatic
Pistol - Serial no. 12275, 38 Colt auto cal., 6 inch round bbl.,
blue finish, hard rubber grips. Manufactured in late-1905 or
early-1906, this Military Model of 1902 pistol exhibits the early-
production high polish blue finish and rounded hammer which
was completely phased out around serial number 37000, when the numbers
began ascending again from 30200 to 43266. This pistol was manufactured in
the first serial number block descending from 15200 to 11000. The left side of
the slide is marked with the two-line patent date and two-line address arranged
in two blocks with the circled Rampant Colt at the rear. The right side of the
slide has the two-line caliber marking, “AUTOMATIC COLT/CALIBRE 38 RIMLESS
SMOKELESS” behind the ejector port and “MODEL 1902” ahead of it. The left side of
the frame has the serial number and “5” on the left of the trigger guard. It is fitted
with blade and rounded top notch sights, early forward checkering on each side of
the slide, a lanyard swivel on the lower left of the grip frame, checkered hard rubber grips with
Rampant Colts and “COLT” banners, later production replacement barrel, and an unmarked later production replacement full blue magazine.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 75% plus of the bright original high polish blue finish, 60% plus of the original nitre blue on the trigger, and traces of the original case colors on the hammer with the balance having thinned to a mostly grey-brown patina, primarily on the leading edges of the slide and the grip straps. The grips are also very fine with a few scattered light handling marks and crisp checkering overall. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Dr. Robert Azar Collection.
Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
LOT 414
Scarce Documented
Royal Netherlands Indies
Commission Shipped
Colt Model 1903 Pocket
Hammerless Semi-
Automatic Pocket Pistol
with Factory Letter - Serial
no. 543985, 32 ACP cal., 3 3/4
inch round bbl., blue finish,
walnut grips. Manufactured in
1940 with standard markings
and features, this pistol was
one of approximately 6,800
purchased by the Royal Dutch
Netherlands for arming their
forces in the Dutch East Indies
(Indonesia). In 1942, Indonesia
was invaded by the Japanese
and Dutch residents were placed
in internment camps. Some four
million people were killed as a
result of the Japanese invasion. After the war, Indonesians refused
to allow the Dutch to recolonize the islands and eventually won
their independence after several years of guerrilla warfare. The
included factory letter confirms the current configuration (grips
and barrel length not listed) as well as shipment to Royal Dutch
Indies Ordnance in New York on 29 October 1940 in a 200 gun
shipment. Includes a collector’s Kraft style box hand
numbered to the gun.
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 98% of the original blue finish with some scattered very light edge wear and handling marks. The grips are also excellent with some light wear on towards the bottom of the right panel and otherwise crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The box is fine with minimal wear.
Provenance: The Dr. Robert Azar Collection.
Estimate: 1,600 - 2,500
THE MAGAZINE HAS ADDITIONAL HOLES AS REQUESTED BY THE SHANGHAI POLICE. 200 PISTOLS ORIGINALLY INTENDED FOR SHANGHAI WERE DELIVERED TO THE NORWEGIAN NAVY.
Collector’s Fact
This rare Colt pistol is one of only 300 shipped to the Royal Norwegian Naval Service.
Collector’s Fact
One of approximately only 6,800 Colt model 1903 pistols purchased by the Royal Dutch Netherlands.