Page 314 - Auction84-Book2

LOT 1614
Early Production U.S. Navy
Contract Colt Model 1911
Semi-Automatic Pistol - Serial
no. 2749, 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 an early 1912
production, U.S. Navy contract, Colt Model
1911 pistol that was shipped on 1 June
1912 to the Brooklyn Navy Yard (“The
Government Models: The Development of
the Colt Model of 1911” by Goddard). The
left side of the slide is marked with the
standard two-line, two-block Colt address
and patent dates with the Rampant Colt
behind the serrations, while the right bears
the desirable “MODEL OF 1911 U.S. NAVY”
marking. The later production replacement barrel is brushed blue with a conjoined “HP” on the chamber and “&” on the bottom. The left side of the frame has the U.S. property marking and “WGP” circled monogram above the magazine release, while the serial number is in the early forward position on the right. It is fitted with blade front and rounded top notch rear sights, 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 a “B” marked two-tone magazine.
CONDITION: Good, retains much of the dull refinished blue with the
balance having thinned to a smooth grey patina, primarily on the grip
straps and edges, and a few patches of light pitting. The markings are faint but clearly legible. The grips are also good with light wear, some scattered light handling marks, and otherwise well-defined checkering. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The Gus Cargile Collection.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 1615
World War I U.S. Contract
Remington-UMC Model 1911
Semi-Automatic Pistol - Serial
no. 16481, 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.” and “eagle head/ E28” proofs on the left side of the fame (hand engraved). Fitted with a “P” proofed full blue barrel, unmarked two-tone magazine, and diamond pattern checkered grips.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 98% plus of the professionally restored blue finish with some scattered light handling marks. The grips are very good with a few scattered minor dings, a hairline crack near the lower screw of the right panel, and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Gus Cargile Collection.
Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
LOT 1616
Scarce X Serial Number Prefix U.S. Colt Model
1911 Semi-Automatic Pistol - Serial no. X2515, 45
ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips.
Manufactured at an unknown date and later overhauled
by either the Springfield Armory or Augusta Arsenal between 1925
and 1953. The “X” serial number prefix came into use in 1924 to replace numbers on pistols that had been stolen and recovered with the numbers defaced, or if the numbers had been obliterated during the arsenal refurbishment process. Standard fixed blade and notch sights, two-line, two-block address and patent markings with the Rampant Colt behind the serrations on the left side of the slide, “MODEL OF 1911. U.S. ARMY” on the right, “UNITED STATES PROPERTY” marking on left side of frame, and a single “WGP” inspection mark also on the left. Full blue barrel with conjoined
“HP” on the chamber. Wide checkered hammer, short grip safety, long smooth trigger, flat smooth mainspring housing with lanyard loop and an “S” marked full blue magazine.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 80% plus of the arsenal refurbished dip blue finish with the balance having thinned to a mostly grey patina, primarily on edges and the grips straps. The grips are fine with a few scattered light handling marks and crisp checkering.
Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Gus Cargile Collection.
Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500 LOT 1617
U.S. Springfield Armory Model
1911 Semi-
Automatic
Pistol - Serial
no. 77779, 45
ACP cal., 5 inch
round bbl., blue/parkerized finish, walnut grips.
Manufactured in 1914, in the first block of serial
numbers reserved for Springfield Armory production,
this is a very fine original example of a U.S. Model 1911
semi-automatic pistol manufactured by Springfield Armory for the
United States military. The left side of the slide has the standard three-line Colt patent dates and two-line “SPRINGFIELD ARMORY/U.S.A.” markings
in two blocks, as well as an ordnance bomb behind the serrations. The
right side of the slide is marked with the Department of Defense eagle and
“MODEL OF 1911.U.S. ARMY.”The left side of the frame has the U.S. property
marking and an ordnance bomb near the trigger guard, and the serial number
is marked on the right. Features blade and notch sights, checkered wide
hammer, short grip safety, and a smooth straight mainspring housing with a
lanyard ring. The blued barrel is marked “S” on the left of the lug. It is fitted with
a pair of checkered, large diamond pattern, correct walnut grips and a correct heavily pitted reblued magazine with a lanyard ring “wrap around” base.
CONDITION: Very good, retains 80% of the arsenal refinished parkerized
finish on the slide and 50% armory rust blue on the frame, with the
balance having thinned to a mostly smooth grey-brown patina, primarily
on edges and the grip straps, and a patch of light pitting on the left
of the slide near the muzzle. The grips are good
with some mild wear, light handling marks, and
otherwise well-defined checkering. Mechanically
fine, but magazine does not engage the slide stop.
Provenance: The Gus Cargile Collection.
Estimate: 1,600 - 2,500
Collector’s Fact
One 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.
SERIAL NUMBER 2749
SERIAL NUMBER X2515
312
SERIAL NUMBER 77779