Page 319 - Auction84-Book2

LOT 1633
Unique Unserialized U.S. Remington-
U.M.C. Model 1911 Semi-Automatic
Pistol - NSN, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch round
bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Often
theorized to be a product of a short-
lived venture by the A.J. Savage company
during World War I, these slides have long been an enigma among the
Model 1911 collecting community. Much of this theory stems from the
“S” within a flaming bomb marking found on the slides, which led to the
assumption that, though the Savage company never reached full production
on the Model 1911, they may have produced a number of slides which later found themselves fitted to various 1911 frames, either through arsenal replacement or private fitting. Recently, through information recently uncovered from various archives, it appears that these slides were more likely unfinished leftovers from Remington-U.M.C. that were transferred back to Springfield Armory, along with some of their manufacturing equipment, and later finished at the Armory in 1921 as replacement parts for the military. The writer believes this theory to be more likely as the “S” in flaming bomb symbol has been seen on Springfield manufactured replacement barrels for Model 1903 rifles, and the patent markings on these slides appear almost identical to those found on Remington-U.M.C. Model 1911 slides. Another piece of evidence in this
mystery can be found on p. 202 of “ Arsenal of Freedom: The Springfield
Armory 1890-1948” by William Brophy, where 9,619 “Slides, fitted with
front and rear sights for Automatic Pistol, Cal. .45, Model of 1911 (made
from partially machined slides received from Rochester, N.Y.)” are listed
as manufactured in the fiscal year 1921. It is the writers belief that these
“partially machined” slides were leftover from Remington-U.M.C. production, which ended in late January 1919, and were then transferred to the Rochester Ordnance District before making their way back to Springfield Armory which was then
in charge of small arms manufacture, maintenance, and development. The slide is marked on the left with the Remington- U.M.C. style three-line patent dates followed by the “S” in the flaming bomb while the right has the standard “MODEL OF 1911. U.S. ARMY” nomenclature. The frame is marked with the standard large U.S. property marking on the left and the Remington-U.M.C. “eagle head/I38” marking on the left of the trigger guard. The bright barrel is marked “3” on the bottom in front of the lug. It is fitted with blade and notch sights, wide Springfield style checkered hammer, checkered slide stop and thumb safety, short grip safety, long smooth trigger, flat smooth mainspring housing with holes for a lanyard loop that is absent, diamond pattern checkered grips, and a pinned base two-tone magazine.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 85% plus of the original blue finish on the slide and about 30% of the blue on the frame with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina. The grips are also very good with some scattered minor handling marks and flat spots in the otherwise crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Dr. Robert Azar Collection.
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 1634
Unique “Lunch Box Gun” Style
Remington-U.M.C. Attributed Model
1911 Semi-Automatic Pistol - Serial
no. 15, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut
grips. This interesting Remington-U.M.C. Model 1911 is an example of what
is often called a “lunch box gun”. This pistols were so called because many
of them were taken out of the factory by employees in their lunch boxes,
often one piece at a time, or as complete unfinished guns. This specific example appears to have been assembled from separate parts, all of which pulled from the production line at various stages of finish. The slide is completely unmarked apart from an “S” on the inside, but does feature factory cut serrations. The later production replacement barrel is blued with a polished chamber that is marked “COLT 45 AUTO”. The only other visible marking is
a heavily struck “15” on the right forward part of the frame. It is fitted with blade and notch sights, long smooth trigger, short grip safety, diamond pattern checkered walnut grips, and an unmarked two-tone magazine.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 80% plus of the blue finish which appears to have
been applied after it left the factory along with what may be factory blue finish
visible on the front strap, with the balance mostly a smooth grey patina, primarily
on edges and the grip straps. The grips are also very fine with some scattered light handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Gus Cargile Collection.
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 1635
U.S. Springfield
Armory Model
1911 Semi-
Automatic Pistol -
Serial no. 119285,
45 ACP cal., 5 inch round
bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1916,
in the only serial number block listed for Springfield
Armory for that year, 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 and features the distinctive armory dull blue finish. 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 barrel
is a correct blued pattern with horizontal “S” on
the left of the lug and “P” on the right. 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. It is fitted with a pair of correct checkered, large diamond pattern, walnut grips and a replacement Norwegian magazine with a lanyard ring base.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 70% plus of the original rust blue finish with the balance having thinned to a smooth brown-grey patina. The grips are also very fine with a few light scratches and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Gus Cargile Collection.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 1636
Exceptional World War I U.S. Colt Model 1911 Semi-Automatic
Pistol with Holster -
Serial no. 242243, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in early 1918 and shipped to Springfield
Armory on 26 February 1918. The left of the slide is marked with the two-line,
two-block patent dates and address with the Rampant Colt behind the serrations,
while the right has the standard “MODEL OF 1911 U.S. ARMY” marking. The left of the frame has the U.S. property marking and “JMG” inspection mark and the serial number is on the left. The later production replacement barrel has a polished chamber marked “P/H” and “5” on the bottom. Fitted with blade
and notch sights, wide checkered hammer, long smooth trigger, short grip safety, diamond pattern checkered grips, and an unmarked two-tone magazine. Includes a “1917” dated U.S. “Western MFG Co.” marked holster.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 80% plus of the original brushed blue finish with the balance having thinned to a smooth grey patina, most notably on edges
and the grip straps. The revarnished grips are good with a
few scattered light handling marks and crisp checkering.
Mechanically excellent. The Holster is good overall.
Provenance: The Gus Cargile Collection.
Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
317
SERIAL NUMBER 15