Page 392 - 83-BOOK1

AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK THE GOVERNMENT MODELS BY GODDARD
390
LOT 1509
Desirable Early Production U.S. Navy Contract Colt Model 1911 Semi- Automatic Pistol - Serial no. 5263, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. 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 a 1912 production, U.S. Navy contract, Colt Model 1911 pistol that was shipped on 30 August 1912 to the Brooklyn Navy Yard (“The Government Models: The Development of the
Colt Model of 1911” by Goddard). It is finished in the military brushed blue finish that was
adopted in April of 1912. The left side of the period replacement 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 brushed blue later production replacement barrel
is marked with “P” and “H” on the chamber. The left side of the frame has the U.S. property marking and “WGP” circled monogram above the magazine release, while the serial number is on the right. It is fitted with blade front
and rounded top notch rear sights, checkered slide catch, thumb safety, magazine catch, and wide hammer, long smooth trigger, smooth flat mainspring housing with lanyard loop, a pair of diamond pattern checkered walnut grips, and a unmarked two-tone magazine with lanyard loop base.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 80% plus of the original blue finish on the frame and the correct style replacement slide retaining 90% duller finish, arsenal refurbished blue, the balance having mostly thinned to a smooth grey patina, primarily on edges and the back strap/grip safety, and some scattered light handling marks. The grips are also fine with some scattered light dings and scratches and a few minor blemishes in the otherwise crisp checkering. Provenance: The Dr. Robert Azar Collection. Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
LOT 1510
Documented U.S. Springfield Model 1911 Semi-Automatic
Pistol with Desirable and Scarce ‘N.R.A.’ Sales Markings - Serial no. 127028, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch
round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1915, this pistol was one of 25,748 total M1911’s produced by Springfield Armory, with few of those marked N.R.A. This example was later released to
the public through the Civilian Marksmanship Program which supplied quality
military style firearms to the American public primarily through National Rifle Association-
affiliated shooting clubs. Such weapons would be stamped “N.R.A.” to prevent possible confusion by the authorities on how U.S. Property-marked weaponry wound up in civilian hands.
Fitted with integral blade front and flat-top notch rear sights, the three-line patent dates and “SPRINGFIELD ARMORY/U.S.A.” on the left side of the slide, “flaming bomb” proofs on the slide and frame, and “N.R.A.” on the right side of the frame below the serial number. The U.S. property marking
on the left of the frame is double stamped. Fitted with a long smooth trigger, wide knurled hammer, short grip safety, flat mainspring housing with lanyard loop, correct two-tone folded base magazine, diamond pattern checkered grips, and a replacement later production blued barrel marked “COLT 45 AUTO” and “G/R” on the bottom left of the lug. It is photographed on the bottom right side of p. 141 of “The Government Models” by Goddard. CONDITION: Very fine, retains 70% of the original blue finish with the balance having thinned to a smooth grey patina, primarily on the grip straps and edges. The grips are also very fine with a few scattered minor blemishes in the overall crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Gus Cargile Collection.
Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500
LOT 1511
Exceptional World War I U.S. Contract Colt Model 1911 “Black Army” Semi-
Automatic Pistol - Serial no. 445512, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. In July of 1918, in an effort to further speed up production, Colt changed the finishing process on the Model 1911 yet again. This involved the polishing process ending at the “rough” stage, with the blue finish being applied to this “rough” or brushed
surface which led to a much darker, almost black, appearance. This example was manufactured circa September of 1918,
and is an example of a “Black Army”, as they came to be known. The left side of the slide has the standard two-line, two-block patent dates and address with the
Rampant Colt between, and “MODEL OF 1911. U.S. ARMY” on the right. The right rear of the slide is marked with a “circle”/”S” stamp behind the serrations. The frame is marked with the serial number on the right, with the U.S. property marking and eagle head inspection mark on the left. The full blue barrel is marked with “P/H” on the
chamber. Fitted with blade and notch sights, checkered slide stop, thumb safety, magazine release, and wide hammer, long smooth trigger, short grip safety, flat smooth mainspring housing with lanyard loop, and an unmarked two-tone magazine.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, retains 90% plus of the original deep “Black Army” blue finish with the balance
having thinned to a blue-brown patina, primarily in a patch on the top left of the slide and the mainspring
housing. The grips are excellent with a few scattered very light handling marks and crisp checkering.
Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Gus Cargile Collection.
Estimate: 3,750 - 5,500