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LOT 1419
Two Colt Pistols Attributed to the Commander of the U.S. 13th Cavalry during the Battle of Columbus, the Prelude to the
Pancho Villa Expedition with Factory Letters and Archive and Two Extraordinary Presidential Signed Commissions -A) Pre-World War
II Colt Government Model Semi-Automatic Pistol with Presentation Inscribed and Relief Carved Steer Head Pearl Grips - Serial no. C13873,
45 ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish, pearl grips. Offered here are two pistols attributed to U.S. Army Colonel Herbert Jermain Slocum, commander of the 13th Cavalry that
engaged Pancho Villa’s forces during the Battle of Columbus. The accompanying factory letter lists this pistol with a 5 inch barrel in .45 caliber, blue finish and type of stocks not listed when sold to W.R. Grace & Co. of New York City and shipped to Charles H. Doherty (address unavailable) on February 5, 1915. The slide has the two-line, two block patent dates/address marking along with a Rampant Colt stamped behind the serrations on the left side and two-line caliber designation on the right side. The pearl grips feature a relief carved steer head on the right panel and an inscription on the left panel. The inscription reads, “COL. HERBERT J. SLOCUM/13TH CAVALRY, U.S.A./FROM/TEXAS ADMIRERS/1916.” The full blued magazine has a lanyard loop. As reported in the March 23, 1916 issue of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, this pistol along with a “jeweled sword” were purchased with funds gathered by a Texas based fundraiser and were intended to be presented to Slocum. Donations were gathered from Texans such as former Governor Colquitt who wanted to show appreciation for their hero at the Battle of Columbus. This handgun is described as “a 45-caliber army model Colt’s automatic, mounted with mother of pearl on both sides, and with a steer head, emblem of Texas, in bas relief on one side.” A near identical inscription is also called out. The presentation of the pistol is confirmed in the June 1, 1916 issue of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Slocum thanked the Texans for the pistol: “The pistol is a beauty. If I ever have to pull the trigger and ‘fire low’, I hope it may be in accordance with the motto of the Thirteenth cavalry—‘One Vision. Our Country; One Cry, Victory; One Ideal, Right.’ Again, thanking you and your associates, I am very sincerely.” Colonel Herbert Jermain Slocum’s (1855-1928) U.S. Army career nearly ended before it began.