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LOT 1344
Rare Documented Russian Contract Colt
Government Model Semi-Automatic Pistol
with Factory Letter - Serial no. C75974, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Originally ordered in 1916 and 1917, the
Russian Contract Colt Government Model pistols were ordered by the Imperial Russian government
from Colt. The included factory letter confirms the current configuration (grips not listed) as well as shipment to the government of Russia on 29 November 1916 in a shipment of 4,000 guns. When placing the order, the
government of Great Britain acted as an intermediary, using a line of credit established by the Russians and backed by hard gold reserves held in Britain to cover the bill. Britain’s role as go-between is the source of the signature
marking on the left side of the frame, “ANGL. ZAKAZIE”(transliterated) for “English Order”. The Russian Contract pistols as-issued otherwise bore only standard Colt markings like this example. By 1916, the situation on the Eastern Front was already getting well out of hand for Russia, and in 1917 they went through the February and October
Revolutions, which brought about both the fall of the Imperial government and the successor Provisional Government, which
led to the rise of the Soviet Union. Additionally, some reports of the final assassination of Tsar Nicholas II and his family put a pair of Colt .45 ACP pistols among the weapons used by the Bolshevik party, in particular one used by Yakov Yurovsky, leader of the squad who is noted as having fired the opening shot directly into the Tsar’s chest. Russian Contract Government Model Colts are scarce on the American market in any condition, as they saw hard use through multiple conflicts and virtually none were ever exported by the Soviet Union, making a fine example like this one a true rarity. The left side of the slide has the two-line, two-block address and patent dates with the Rampant Colt behind the serrations, these markings have some flaws and breaks due to a worn roll stamp. The right of the slide is marked with the caliber marking. The barrel is unmarked and has a polished chamber hood. The left side of the frame is marked with the aforementioned contract marking and “VP” and “P” on the trigger guard, with the model marking and serial number on the right. It is fitted with the standard blade and notch sights, long smooth trigger, wide checkered hammer, short grip safety, smooth mainspring housing, diamond pattern checkered grips, lanyard loop, and an unmarked two-tone magazine with lanyard loop base.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 60% plus of the original blue finish with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina and some scattered light pitting. The grips are very fine with a few scattered light blemishes in the otherwise crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 8,000 - 12,000
LOT 1345
Outstanding Early Production Colt Government Model Semi-Automatic Pistol with Factory Letter - Serial no. C6786, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. According to the included factory letter this highly attractive Colt Government model was manufactured in May of 1914, early in production of the commercial Government Model. The included factory letter confirms the current configuration, grips not listed, as well as shipment on 24 July 1914 to Schoverling, Daly and Gales in New York in a six gun shipment, just four days prior to the outbreak of World War I. This pistol represented the cutting edge of firearm technology and was highly sought after by military personnel and civilians alike. This particular example exhibits the early production lustrous high polish blue finish. The slide on this pistol bears the two-line, two-block address and patent markings on the left side of the slide with the Rampant Colt behind the serrations. The right of the slide has the caliber markings. “VP” and “R” are on the trigger guard, and “GOVERNMENT MODEL” is on the right side of the frame with the early four-digit serial number below it. The barrel is blued with a polished chamber and is marked “J” on the side of the lug. The slide release, thumb safety, and wide hammer are checkered and the smooth, flat mainspring housing has a lanyard loop at the bottom. It is fitted with a blade front and early production, rounded top notch rear sight, as well as a pair of diamond pattern checkered walnut grips. The two-toned magazine has a pinned base with a lanyard loop. CONDITION: Excellent, retains 98% of the original, bright, high polish blue finish with some very light edge wear, a few scattered light handling marks, and the Rampant Colt stamped somewhat lightly (which we believe to be a factory error). The grips are also excellent with only the slightest handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. If you are searching for a benchmark, early production Colt Government Model pistol for your collection, search no further! Estimate: 6,500 - 9,500