Page 309 - Auction84-Book1

SERIAL NUMBER 6
THIS EXTREMELY EARLY PRODUCTION PISTOL WAS THE FIRST RECORDED COLT MODEL 1905 CUT FOR A SHOULDER STOCK
LOT 516
First Documented Shoulder Stock Cut
Early Production
Single Digit Serial Number 6 Colt Military Model 1905 Semi-Automatic Pistol with
Factory Letter - Serial no. 6, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1905, the first year of production, this is one of only 6,210 Colt “Military Model of 1905” pistols manufactured over a period of six years. These pistols are a very
important evolutionary step in the development of Colt automatic pistols and the Model 1911 as they were the first production Colt automatic chambered for the legendary .45 ACP cartridge. The left side of the slide is marked with the two-line, two-block patent dates and address, with the circled Rampant
Colt behind the serrations. The right side of the slide is marked “AUTOMATIC COLT/CALIBRE 45 RIMLESS SMOKELESS”. The left side of the frame is marked
with the serial number, and the left of the trigger guard has a “VP” proof and “1”. It has rounded blade front and rounded top notch rear sights,
and the rounded checkered hammer. It is fitted with a pair of replacement diamond pattern checkered grips, an unmarked full blue magazine, and the back strap is cut for a combination
shoulder stock/holster. The included factory letter confirms the current configuration (grips not listed) as well as having been furnished with
a combination shoulder stock/ holster when it was shipped to Colt’s London Agency on 18 December 1905. This pistol is listed on p. 216 of
“The Government Models: The Development of the Colt Model of 1911” by Goddard, confirming the shipping date, as well as being the first Model 1905 listed as being cut for a shoulder stock.
CONDITION: Very good, retains 40% of the original blue finish on the frame with the balance having primarily a smooth artificial brown finish on the once buffed slide. The grips are also very good with some
scattered light handling marks and crisp checkering overall. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Gus Cargile Collection.
AS LISTED BY SERIAL NUMBER IN THE BOOK THE GOVERNMENT MODELS BY GODDARD
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
LOT 517
Pre-World War II Colt Match
Super .38 Semi-Automatic Pistol - Serial no. 15522, 38 super auto cal., 5 inch
round bbl., blue finish, plastic grips. Manufactured in 1934, this Colt Super Match .38 pistol shows the scarce
“MATCH” only slide marking, found on pistols from approximately serial number 15000 to 19000. These .38 Super Match pistols were manufactured concurrently with the standard Colt .38 Supers, except they featured
a deluxe, hand honed action and checkered match trigger with a hand polished super smooth trigger pull. Additionally, they received a highly polished Colt factory blued finish and all checkered grip panels. Approximately 5,000 of these special
higher grade target pistols were produced in total. The right side of the matching number slide is marked “MATCH/COLT SUPER .38/AUTOMATIC” followed by the Rampant Colt motif. The opposite side of the slide has Colt’s address marking above the patent dates. The upper left front of the trigger guard is marked with
“W/VP”. The right side is marked “12”. British proofs are present on the frame, slide, and barrel. Fitted with blade and notch sights, polished chamber marked “38 COLT”, circled “MB” on the left of the barrel lug, checkered slide lock, thumb safety,
polished firing pin stop, arched checkered mainspring housing, replacement checkered plastic grips, and a wide checkered hammer. It is complete with a two-tone magazine marked “COLT SUPER/38 AUTO” on the base plate.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 90% plus of the original blue finish with numerous scattered scratches and dings, the balance having thinned to a smooth grey patina primarily on edges and the trigger guard. The replacement grips are excellent with only the slightest handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Gus Cargile Collection.
Estimate: 5,000 - 7,500
Collector’s Fact
Approximately 5,000 of these special high grade target pistols were produced.
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