Page 308 - Auction84-Book2

LOT 1598
Excellent U.S. General Motors Guide Lamp FP-45 Liberator Single Shot Pistol with Box, Instruction Sheet and Ammunition - NSN, 45 ACP cal., 4 inch round bbl., bright finish, metal grips. The Liberator was developed to provide citizens of occupied nations a tool of resistance without inadvertently providing useful material to the
occupiers and was conceived, developed and manufactured in 1942. The
Guide Lamp Division of
General Motors was
tapped to produce the
actual firearm, dubbed the
Flare Pistol, 45 Caliber (FP-45)
as a cover name, a collection
of sheet metal stampings and
cast zinc components assembled
around a smoothbore barrel. While
inexperienced with arms production,
Guide Lamp stepped up admirably and
cranked out over a million of the deadly
little contraptions in a matter of months.
The pistol is devoid of markings, with a set
of four oiler holes in the frame and a hollow
grip for ammunition storage. Included with the pistol is a heavily waxed reproduction cardboard box with an illustration of the pistol mid-
discharge, a copy of the instruction sheet, ejection dowel rod, and a box containing an instruction sheet 10 and rounds of .45 ACP ammunition. CONDITION: Excellent, showing mostly a bright grey patina with a light speckling of brown patina on
the right side. Mechanically excellent.
The original box is very good retaining
most of the heavy coat of protective wax
and minimal wear.
Estimate: 5,500 - 7,000
LOT 1599
Excellent World War II U.S. Union Switch & Signal Model 1911A1 Semi-Automatic Pistol with Holster - Serial no. 1054931, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue 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 to mid-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 checkered grips, full blue “L” marked magazine and a full blue High Standard contract barrel marked “HS” and “P” on the barrel lug. Includes a “Sears 1942” marked U.S. holster. CONDITION: Excellent, retains 95% plus of the original parkerized finish with slightly thin grip strap, scattered light handling marks and some light edge/cycling wear. The grips are also excellent with only the slightest handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The holster is fine. Provenance: The Gus Cargile Collection. Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500
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