Page 320 - 83-BOOK1

LOT 443
Highly Desirable Early Production, First Shipment, Three Digit Serial Number 606 U.S. Navy Contract Colt Model 1911 Semi-Automatic Pistol - Serial no. 606, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish,
walnut grips. This is a fine example of the 106th U.S. Colt Model 1911 Navy semi-automatic pistol produced. A total of 15,037 of these pistols were manufactured
by Colt with the desirable U.S. Navy slide marking, all of which were delivered prior to April of 1915. After that, all
Model 1911 pistols delivered to the navy would bear the standard U.S. Army nomenclature, of which there were approximately 578,473 manufactured, making this variation comparatively very scarce. This is an example of an early
1912 production, U.S. Navy contract, Colt Model 1911 pistol that was shipped on 7 March 1912 to the Brooklyn Navy Yard, in the very first shipment of Navy pistols, which included serial
numbers 501-1000 (“The Government Models: The Development of the Colt Model of 1911” by Goddard). It is finished in the early high polish blue finish which was replaced by a military brushed blue finish circa
April of 1912 at serial number 2400. The left side of the slide is marked with the standard two-line, two-block Colt address and patent dates with the circled Rampant Colt behind the serrations, while the right bears the
desirable “MODEL OF 1911 U.S. NAVY” marking. The unmarked early production style barrel is full blue. The left side of
the frame has the U.S. property marking and the “WGP” circled monogram above the magazine release, while the serial number is on the right. The serial number is in the early location, farther forward on the frame, which was standard until serial number 7501. It is fitted with blade front and rounded top notch rear sights, replacement checkered slide catch, replacement thumb safety, later style replacement magazine catch, and replacement wide hammer, replacement long smooth trigger, smooth flat mainspring housing with lanyard loop, a pair of diamond pattern checkered walnut grips, and an unmarked full blue later production replacement magazine. CONDITION: Very good, retains 30% plus of the bright original high polish blue finish, primarily on the frame, with the balance mostly a touched up smooth grey patina, most prominent on the slide and grip straps. The grips are good with some light dings and scratches scattered throughout, slightly long replacement grip screws, a sliver absent from the bottom rear of the left panel, and otherwise crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 6,500 - 9,500
LOT 444
Exceptional Early Production U.S. Springfield Armory Model 1911 Semi-Automatic Pistol with 1914
Dated Holster - Serial no. 78432, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish,
walnut grips. Manufactured 1914, in the first assigned serial number block listed for Springfield Armory, this is an excellent example of a U.S. Model 1911 semi-automatic pistol manufactured by Springfield
Armory for the United States military and features
the distinctive armory rust blue finish. The left side of
the slide has the standard three-line Colt patent dates and two-line “SPRINGFIELD ARMORY/U.S.A.” markings in two blocks, as well as an
ordnance bomb behind the serrations. The right side of the slide is marked with the Department of Defense eagle and “MODEL OF 1911.U.S. ARMY.” The
left side of the frame has the U.S. property marking and an ordnance bomb near the trigger guard, and the serial number is marked on the right. The later
production replacement Springfield Armory barrel is marked “SP” on the left of the lug and “AGI” above. Features blade and notch sights, checkered wide hammer, short grip safety, and a smooth straight mainspring housing with a lanyard ring. It is fitted with a pair of correct checkered, large diamond pattern, walnut grips and a correct two-
tone magazine with a “wrap around” lanyard ring base. Includes a 1914 dated Rock Island Arsenal marked U.S. leather holster and an extra Colt M1911 magazine with lanyard ring base. CONDITION: Excellent, retains 90% plus of the original armory blue finish with the balance having mostly thinned to a smooth grey patina, primarily on edges, and some scattered light handling marks. The barrel bushing is slightly bent with some tool marks. The grips are also excellent with only the slightest handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The holster is very good. Estimate: 5,000 - 7,500
Collector’s Fact
Of the 578,473 Model 1911 pistols purchased for the U.S. Navy, only 15,037 were manufactured with a U.S. Navy slide legend. This extremely early example, serial number 606 is the 106th produced for U.S. Navy contract.
318