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LOT 335
Documented William H. Gough Master Engraved and Inscribed Colt Government Model
Semi-Automatic Pistol with Factory Letter - Serial no. C118403, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl.,
blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1919, the included factory letter with this Colt Government
Model pistol states that it was shipped “Green (unfinished)” to William H. Gough in Utica, New York on 6
November 1919 “to be engraved” in a three gun shipment. The letter goes on to state that the pistol was
then returned to the factory and subsequently shipped to Von Lengerke & Antoine in Chicago, Illinois
on 29 November 1919. In the second ledger listing, the pistol is listed as engraved. The pistol has near
full coverage floral scroll and zig-zag line engraving, masterfully executed by Gough, and a small panel on
the top rear of the receiver is inscribed “W.F. Sims/1920”. The identity of W.F. Sims is currently not completely
known, though newspapers from Charlotte, North Carolina around 1920 list a W.F. Sims as a joint owner of a farm
implement company, certainly someone wealthy enough to own an embellished sidearm such as this one. The left of the slide is marked with the
standard two-line, two-block address and a patent dates on either side of a Rampant Colt, while the right has the two-line caliber marking. The right
side of the frame has the model marking and serial number in two lines. It is fitted with blade front and flat top notch rear sights, checkered slide stop and thumb safety, long smooth trigger, short grip safety, smooth straight mainspring housing with lanyard loop base, and a two-tone unmarked magazine with pinned base. The barrel is blued with a polished chamber hood and marked “5” on the bottom in front of the lug and “P”. The walnut grips are multi-point checkered replacements.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 40% of the original blue finish with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina some scattered patches of light pinprick type surface pitting. The replacement grips have some scattered light handling marks. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 8,500 - 13,000
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