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LOT 1432
Highly Desirable Documented World
War I U.S. Marine Corps Shipped Colt Model 1911 Semi-Automatic Pistol with Factory Letter - Serial no. 209902,
45 ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1917, this pistol was part of a 200 gun shipment
on 6 July 1917 to the United States Marine Corps in Philadelphia. During the course of World War I, Colt shipped a total
of approximately 9,950 Model 1911 pistols to the Marine Corps and at least 25 Government Models, making these pistols incredibly scarce in comparison to their Army shipped counterparts. Unlike the Navy contract Model 1911 pistols, which have a special slide marking, those that were shipped to the Marine Corps had the standard Army nomenclature, as is present on this example. The left side of the slide is marked with the two-line, two-block address and patent markings with the Rampant Colt behind the serrations and “MODEL OF 1911. U.S. ARMY” on the right. The frame is marked with the serial number on the right and the U.S. property marking and circled “GHS” inspection mark on the left. The blued barrel is marked “P” and “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 stop, thumb safety, and wide hammer, short grip safety, smooth flat mainspring housing with lanyard loop, a pair of diamond pattern checkered grips, and an unmarked, two-tone magazine.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 70% of the original blue finish with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina, primarily in the form of holster and handling type wear, and a few scattered small patches of light surface pitting. The grips are also fine showing some mild handling wear near the bottoms, a few scattered minor handling marks, and otherwise crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. A rare example of a desirable, factory documented, U.S. Marine Corps shipped, U.S. Colt Model 1911 semi-automatic pistol!
318 Estimate: 17,000 - 25,000