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LOT 1488
Excellent World War
II U.S. Union Switch & Signal Model 1911A1 Semi-
Automatic Pistol - Serial no. 1056326, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch
round bbl., parkerized finish, plastic grips. In May of 1942 the
U.S. government initially placed an order with Union Switch &
Signal Co. for 200,000 Model 1911A1 pistols, an order which was later revised to
55,000 pistols. This pistol was likely manufactured early in 1943. The slide is marked with the “USS” monogram and “U.S. & S. Co./SWISSVALE, PA. U.S.A.” on the left side,
with a Robert Downie “R.C.D.” on the left of the frame, and standard U.S. government nomenclature on the right. It is fitted with blade and notch sights, thin checkered hammer, short stamped trigger, long grip safety, arched checkered mainspring housing with lanyard loop, reinforced Keyes Fiber grips, full blue “R” marked magazine and a full blue Hi-Standard contract barrel marked “HS” on left, and “P” on the right barrel lug. CONDITION: Excellent, retains 95% of the original
parkerized finish with a few scattered light handling
marks and a slight thinning on the front grip strap. The
grips are also excellent with only the slightest handling
marks. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Gus Cargile Collection.
Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500
LOT 1489
U.S. Springfield
Armory Model 1911
Semi-Automatic Pistol
- Serial no. 106802,
45 ACP cal., 5 inch round
bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in late-1914
or early-1915, in the last 1914 assigned serial number block
listed for Springfield Armory, this is an exceptional original
example of a U.S. Model 1911 semi-automatic
pistol manufactured by Springfield Armory
for the United States military and features the
distinctive armory dull 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. 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 lanyard ring base.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 80% plus of the original
arsenal blue finish with the balance having thinned to a smooth grey patina, primarily on the grip straps and edges. The grips are also very with some scattered light handling marks and crisp checkering.
Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Gus Cargile Collection.
Estimate: 2,750 - 4,250
LOT 1490
U.S. Colt Transitional Model 1911/1911A1 Semi-Automatic Pistol - Serial no. 702192, 45 ACP cal.,
5 inch round bbl., blue
finish, walnut grips. Starting in September of 1920, the
Ordnance Board began to make suggestions for modifications
to the Model 1911 pistol based on experience from World War
I, and by April of 1923 OCM Item 2890 was standardized and
recommended by the department. A pilot series of 10,000 pistols was approved
with some production issues arising throughout 1923, but by January 1924 the first
“Improved Models” were being delivered and were also known as the Transitional
Model 1911s. This example was shipped on 7 February 1924 to Springfield Armory.
While they retained the nomenclature markings of the 1911, they were equipped with
the signature features of the 1911A1 which included the dished frame sides, shortened
trigger, elongated grip safety, and arched mainspring housing. Fitted with round blade
front and flat top notch rear sights, with the two-line, two-block address and patent
markings divided by the Rampant Colt logo on the left side of the slide, “MODEL OF
1911.U.S.ARMY” on the right, and “H” inspectors mark stamped above the firing pin stop
plate. The non-factory panographed initials “W.M.H.” are stamped on the forward left portion of the frame. The frame also bears the circular Walter Gordon “WTG” inspection stamp, with the short milled checkered trigger, wide checkered hammer, long grip safety, checkered mainspring housing with lanyard loop, a conjoined “HP” marked barrel, and an unmarked two-tone magazine.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 90% plus of the
original brushed blue finish with the balance
having thinned to a smooth grey patina, primarily
on the leading edges of the slide and some
scattered light spotting on the front strap. The
grips are also very fine with a few scattered
light dings and otherwise crisp checkering.
Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Dr. Robert Azar Collection.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 1491
U.S. Property Marked World War II Production Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless Semi- Automatic Pistol with
Box - Serial no. 560504, 32 ACP cal., 3 3/4 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1942 with “U.S. PROPERTY” mark on
the right side of the frame.
Introduced as a commercial
pistol, the 1903 was adopted
by the U.S. military after
proving a commercial success
and became the standard
sidearm for General Officers
during WWII and still issued
into the 1970s. Although this
pistol’s serial number falls in the middle of known General Officer pistols, it is not identified as such (560500 and 560522 are identified). Includes a Kraft style box hand re-numbered to match the gun.
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 95% plus of the original blue finish with some scattered light edge wear, a few light handling marks, and a few small patches of light spotting on the left of the slide and grip straps. The grips are also excellent with a few scattered light blemishes in the overall crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The renumbered box is fine with some mild wear and a torn corner of the lid.
Provenance: The Dr. Robert Azar Collection.
Estimate: 2,500 - 3,750
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