Page 334 - Auction84-Book1
P. 334

    LOT 562
Serial Number 739 Early Production First Contract
U.S. Navy Contract Early Production Colt Model 1911 Semi-
Automatic Pistol - Serial no. 739, 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 7 March 1912
to the Brooklyn Navy Yard (“The Government Models: The Development of the Colt Model of 1911” by Goddard). This pistol was then subsequently issued to the battleship U.S.S. Delaware
on 9 October 1912. Serial number 737, just two numbers away from this pistol, is listed on p. 524 of “U.S. Military Automatic Pistols 1894-1920” by Meadows as having been issued to the battleship, and this example
is stamped “DEL” on the right of the frame just above the trigger guard. The keel of the Delaware was laid on 11 November 1907 and on 6 January 1909 when she was launched, the Delaware was the most powerful battleship
in the world. She was commissioned in the U.S. Navy on 4 April 1910 and by November of that year had joined the First Division of the Atlantic Fleet. With the entrance of the U.S. into World War I on 6 April 1917, the Delaware
sailed with Battleship Division 9 to reinforce the British Grand Fleet in the North Sea. During a convoy escort mission the Delaware managed to evade multiple torpedoes fired by a German U-boat. The pistol itself is finished in the
military brushed blue finish that was adopted in April of 1912. 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 brushed blue later production replacement
barrel is marked with “S” and “P” on the left of the lug. The left side of the frame has the U.S. property marking and “WGP” circled monogram above the magazine release, while the serial number and the previously mentioned “DEL” is on the right. It is fitted with blade front and rounded top notch rear sights,
later production replacement 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 an unmarked later production replacement two-tone magazine with lanyard loop base.
CONDITION: Very good, retains 30% plus of the original blue finish with the balance a smooth grey patina, most prominently on the grip straps and top/middle sides of the slide, a
few scattered patches of light pitting, and some minor takedown marks. The moderately worn grips are also fine with some scattered minor handling marks and otherwise mostly well-defined checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Gus Cargile Collection.
Estimate: 6,500 - 9,500
LOT 563
Scarce and Desirable U.S. Marine Corps Shipped Colt Model 1911 Semi-
Automatic Pistol with U.S.M.C. Holster - Serial no. 185909, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips.
Manufactured in 1917, this pistol was part of a 400 gun shipment on 11 October 1917 to the United States Marine Corps (p. 384 “Colt .45 Service Pistols” Models of 1911 and 1911A1” by Clawson). During the course
of World War I, Colt shipped a total of approximately 9,950 Model
1911 pistols to the Marine Corps and at least 25 Government Models, making these pistols incredibly scarce in comparison to their Army shipped counterparts. Unlike the Navy contract Model 1911 pistols, which
have a special slide marking, those that were shipped to the Marine Corps had the standard Army nomenclature, as is present on this example. The left side of the
slide is marked with the two-line, two-block address and patent markings with the Rampant Colt behind the serrations and “MODEL OF 1911. U.S. ARMY” on the right. The frame is marked with the serial number on the right and the property marking
and circled “GHS” inspection mark on the left. The later production replacement barrel is
marked with “P” and “HS” on the lug. Fitted with blade and notch sights, checkered slide stop, thumb safety,
and wide hammer, short grip safety, smooth flat mainspring housing with lanyard loop, a pair of diamond pattern checkered grips, and a correct, unmarked, two-tone magazine with lanyard loop base. Includes a U.S.M.C.
marked swivel holster.
CONDITION: Very good, retains most of the dull period refinished blue over light pitting with the balance having thinned to a smooth brown or grey patina, most noticeably on high spots and the grip straps. The grips are good with some scattered minor dings and chips and otherwise crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The holster is fair. Provenance: The Gus Cargile Collection.
Estimate: 4,500 - 7,000
     Collector’s Fact
1 of only 15,037 Colt Model 1911 pistols manufactured with the U.S. Navy slide legend, compared to 578,473 with the standard U.S. Army marking.
   Collector’s Fact
During World War I, Colt shipped approximately only 9,950 Model 1911 pistols to the U.S. Marine Corps.
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