Page 313 - Auction84-Book2

LOT 1610
Desirable
Westley
Richards & Co.
Retailer Marked
Colt Government
Model Semi-
Automatic Pistol in .455 Eley with Factory Letter
- Serial no. W19198, 455 Eley Auto cal., 5 inch round bbl.,
blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1915, the included
factory letter lists shipment to London Armoury Co. in
England on 19 July 1915 in a 200 gun shipment. These Colt
Government Model pistols were the pinnacle of handgun technology at the time
and were highly sought after by military men and civilians alike. Many of these
pistols were shipped to Britain during World War I for private purchase through
various retailers by British officers, with this pistol likely meeting the same fate.
This specific pistol was sold through Westley Richards & Co., with their marking on
the left of the slide above the standard two-line, two-block patent dates and address. Another pistol, four serial numbers away from this one (W19194), is documented as having been carried by Sub-Lieutenant Harry Kemmis aboard HMS Onslaught, which took part in the Battle of Jutland. The left of the frame has the period non-factory added registration number “1123” and “JJ” along with “VP” and “R” on the trigger guard. The right of the frame has the standard Government
Model marking and “W” prefixed serial number,
with the caliber marking on the right of the
slide. British proofs are visible on the frame,
slide, and barrel. It is fitted with blade and notch
sights, wide checkered hammer, short grip safety, flat smooth mainspring housing with a lanyard loop, diamond pattern checkered grips, and a military proofed .455 Eley magazine with lanyard loop base. The included factory letter also confirms the configuration (grips and Westley Richards inscription not listed).
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 70% plus of the likely retailer refinished blue with the balance having thinned to a smooth grey-brown patina, primarily on edges and the grip straps, and some spotting on the lower portions of the slide and frame. The grips are very good with some scattered minor dings and scratches, and otherwise crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Gus Cargile Collection.
Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500
LOT 1611
World War I
U.S. Contract
Remington-UMC
Model 1911 Semi-
Automatic Pistol Serial Number 944 - Serial no. 944, 45
ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. In late
1917 or early 1918, Colt was ordered by the U.S. government
to provide Remington-UMC with production drawings, sample
pistols, and master gauges to produce the 150,000 Model 1911
pistols the government had ordered from them to support the war effort. In
March of 1918 the initial order was increased to 500,000. By June of 1919, and the
cancellation of the contract, Remington had produced 21,676 Model 1911 pistols.
Because they had been made using a different set of technical drawings than Colt and
Springfield, the Remington 1911 was purged from the inventory after the war to ensure
parts compatibility. Fixed sights, with the two-block, three-line patent and address
markings around the “REMINGTON/UMC” logo on the left side of the slide, “MODEL OF
1911/U.S. ARMY CALIBER .45” on the right, and the “E.E.C.” on the left side of the fame.
Fitted with a “P/H” proofed full blue barrel marked “5” on the bottom, two-tone magazine,
and diamond pattern checkered grips.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 60% plus of the dull refinished blue with the balance having thinned to a grey or plum-brown patina, primarily on edges and the grip straps. The grips
are very fine with some scattered light blemished, a minor flat spot on
the right panel, and otherwise crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Gus Cargile Collection.
Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
LOT 1612
Desirable British R.A.F. Marked Colt Government
Model Semi-Automatic Pistol - Serial no. W102729,
455 Eley Auto cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish,
walnut grips. This pistol falls within a large block of Colt
Government Model pistols shipped to the British Ministry of Shipping in
early 1919, right after the conclusion of World War I. Many of these pistols,
like this example, were initially issued to Royal Air Force personnel before
many were reissued in 1942 to Royal Navy sea/air rescue units. The left side
of the slide has the Rampant Colt between the patent dates and Colt address,
each in two lines. while the right is marked with the .455 caliber marking. The
right of the frame has the Government Model marking over the “W” prefixed serial number. British military proofs are visible on multiple parts, as well as “R.A.F.” on the left of the frame. British proofs are visible on both sides of the barrel lug which has a polished chamber. The pistol is fitted with fixed blade and notch sights, diamond pattern checkered grips, and a two-tone magazine with “CAL.455/ELEY” and a lanyard ring on the base.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 80% plus of the period arsenal refinished blue with the
balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina, primarily on edges and
the grip safety. The grips are good with a repair/filler at the bottom of the left
panel, some scattered minor dings and scratches, and crisp checkering overall.
Mechanically functions fine, although it occasionally drops the hammer to half cock when the slide is released. Provenance: The Gus Cargile Collection.
Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
LOT 1613
1912 Production U.S. Colt Model 1911 Semi-
Automatic Pistol - Serial no. 11567, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch
round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in
late 1912, the first year of full production for the Colt
Model 1911 pistol. These pistols were the peak of firearms technology
at the time and quickly became highly sought after by military men and
civilians alike. This example is listed on p. 235 of “The Government Models:
The Development of the Colt Model of 1911” by Goddard as being part of a 500
gun shipment to Benicia Arsenal on 6 November 1912. The left side of the slide
has the two-line/two-block patent dates and address with the circled Rampant
Colt behind the serrations while the right side has the standard “MODEL of 1911.
U.S. ARMY” marking. The left of the slide has the U.S. property marking and “WGP”
monogram while the right has the serial number. Fitted with later production
replacement blade and flat top notch sights, long smooth trigger, wide checkered
hammer, short grip safety, later production replacement barrel with conjoined “HP”
on the chamber and “5” on the bottom, diamond pattern checkered grips, and an unmarked
later production replacement two-tone magazine with lanyard loop base.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 75% plus of the original blue finish with the balance having thinned to a smooth grey patina, primarily on edges and the grip
straps. The grips are very good with a few scattered
minor dings and chips, and otherwise crisp checkering.
Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Dr. Robert Azar Collection.
Estimate: 2,500 - 3,750
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