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LOT 439
Outstanding and Rare Russian Contract Colt Government Model Semi-Automatic Pistol
Gus Cargile
Gus Cargile was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, on July 31, 1922, and attended local schools and Texas A&M University until he enlisted in the U.S. Naval Cadet Pilot Training Program. At that time, a college degree was necessary to enlist in this program; however, if you passed a test, the Navy would pay for special civilian private flying lessons and qualify you for a private pilot license. Once that was completed, a college degree would not be required. Cargile graduated and received a 2nd lieutenant commission in the U.S.M.C. on August 16, 1943, and was assigned to be a flight instructor for the next two years. He was then sent to Florida to be trained as a fighter pilot flying a Corsair and executed carrier landings on the carrier U.S.S. Guadalcanal (CVE-60). His finished his Marine Corps duty as a utility pilot for Marine Aircraft Group 53.
Pistols were always a favorite of Cargile’s since he was about 10 years old when the owner of a pawn shop allowed him to play in his gun room and gave him a Model 1911 Colt 45 Auto for his birthday (then valued $35.00). Cargile is the father of seven children which naturally curtailed his accumulation of weapons, but he started collecting Colts and regards himself as lucky enough to have met some great collectors, such as Jim Rankin, Scott Meadows, and Richard Ellis, and got some wonderful pistols from the estates of Syd Aberman & Alex Montgomery. Cargile’s collection grew to exceed 500 Colt Automatic, and at the age of 98, he has decided to give some of “the youngsters” a chance to obtain some of these treasures that he searched 50 years for. Cargile asks, “If you are lucky enough to get one from my collection, I only ask you to treat it with respect and dignity. They are our history. Semper Fi. And as Eleanor Roosevelt said, ‘The Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have ever seen. Thank God for the United States Marine Corps!’”
LOT 434
Rare North American Arms Co. Model 1911 Semi-Automatic Pistol Serial Number 69
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LOT 422
Rare and Desirable U.S. Army First Contract Colt Model 1900 "Sight Safety" Semi-Automatic Pistol Serial Number 94