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LOT 444
Scarce U.S. Colt
Transitional Model
1911/1911A1 Semi-
Automatic Pistol - Serial
no. 700282, 45 ACP cal., 5
inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Starting
in September of 1920, the Ordnance Board began to make
suggestions for modifications to the Model 1911 pistol based
on experience from World War I, and by April of 1923 OCM Item
2890 was standardized and recommended by the department. A pilot series
of 10,000 pistols was approved with some production issues arising throughout 1923, but by January 1924 the first “Improved Models” were being delivered and were also known as the Transitional Model 1911s. This example was shipped on 22 January 1924 to Springfield Armory. While they retained the nomenclature markings of the 1911, they were equipped with the signature features of the 1911A1 which included the dished frame sides, shortened trigger, elongated grip safety, and arched mainspring housing. Fitted with round
blade front and flat top notch rear sights,
with the two-line, two-block address and
patent markings divided by the Rampant
Colt logo on the left side of the slide,
“MODEL OF 1911.U.S.ARMY” on the right,
and “H” above the firing pin stop plate. The
frame bears the circular Walter Gordon
“WTG” inspection stamp, with the short
milled checkered trigger, wide checkered
hammer, long grip safety, checkered mainspring housing with lanyard loop, blued barrel marked “K” on the bottom in front of the lug and with a conjoined “HP” on the chamber hood, and an unmarked two-tone magazine. Includes a Kraft style box with hand marked label matching the gun.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 70% of the original blue finish with some scattered mild flaking showing mostly a smooth grey patina and a few scattered patches of light pitting. The grips are very good with wear on the bottom of bother panels and a few scattered minor blemishes in the otherwise crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 445
LOT 446
Very Fine World War I U.S. Colt Model 1911 Semi-Automatic
Pistol with Holster Rig - Serial no. 249872, 45 ACP
cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1918, this pistol is listed on p. 520 of
“U.S. Military Automatic Pistols: 1894-1920” by Meadows as
having shipped to Springfield Armory on 7 March 1918, well before the conclusion of World War I. The left side of the slide
has the standard two-
line, two-block patent
dates and address,
with the Rampant Colt
behind the serrations,
while the right side has
the standard “MODEL OF 1911.U.S. ARMY” address. The U.S. property marking is on the left of the frame along with the “JMG” inspector’s mark, and the serial number is on the right. The blued barrel is marked “P/H” on the chamber hood and “5” on the bottom in front of the lug. Fitted with blade and flat top notch sights, checkered slide release, thumb safety, and wide hammer, short grip safety, long smooth trigger, a pair of diamond pattern checkered grips, and an unmarked two-tone, pinned base magazine. Includes a “US” leather holster marked “R.I.A./1913/T.C.C.” on
the back, a canvas belt, Mills canvas magazine pouch, and two extra two-tone, pinned base magazines with lanyard loops on the base plates.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 85% of the original brushed blue finish with some light edge wear, some slight thinning on the front strap and mainspring housing, and a few scattered light handling marks. The grips are also very fine with some scattered light handling marks, light wear near the bottom of the right panel, and otherwise crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The holster is fine with moderate wear and the canvas items are very fine with light wear. Provenance: Richard Peters, USMC, Reserves Law Enforcement, a Gentleman.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 447
Documented Pentagon Shipped U.S.
Property Marked World War II Production
Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless Semi-
Automatic Pistol with Factory Letter - Serial
no. 571955, 32 ACP cal., 3 3/4 inch round bbl., parkerized
finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1945 with “U.S. PROPERTY” mark on the right side of the frame. Introduced as
a commercial pistol, the 1903 was adopted by the U.S. military after proving a commercial success and became the standard sidearm for General Officers during WWII and still issued into the 1970s. Although this pistol’s serial number falls in the middle of known General Officer pistols, it is not identified as such (571948 and 571956 are identified). The included factory letter lists shipment to the Quartermaster Depot in Cameron, Virginia for the Property Officer at the Pentagon Building
in Washington, D.C. on 20 February 1945. Letter states the
finish is blue, although the writer believes this to be a factory clerical error, as the finish is original. Includes a Kraft style
box numbered to a different gun and two extra magazines in factory style wrapping.
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 98% plus of the original parkerized finish with some scattered light handling marks
and very light edge wear. The grips are also excellent with only the slightest handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The box is fine.
Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
Fine U.S. Springfield
Armory Model 1911 Semi-
Automatic Pistol - Serial
no. 80619, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch
round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1914,
in one of the blocks of serial numbers reserved for Springfield
Armory production, this is a 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 replacement
barrel is marked “S/P” on the left of the
lug. It is fitted with a pair of checkered,
large diamond pattern, walnut grips, and
a two-tone magazine with wraparound
base. Includes a Kraft style box with hand
marked matching label.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 50% of the original blue finish with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina and some scattered patches of light pitting concentrated on the front strap and mainspring housing. The grips are also fine with moderate wear, some scattered light handling marks, and otherwise well-defined checkering. Mechanically excellent.
330 Estimate: 2,750 - 4,250