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LOT 1351
Exceptional, Historic, Inscribed, World War I Era Production Colt Government
Model Semi-Automatic Pistol with Documentation - Serial no. C96822, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1917, this
pistol represented the cutting edge of firearm technology and was highly sought after, especially
by U.S. military personnel that might soon find themselves on the Western Front in World War I. This particular example is
what is sometimes called a “Commercial Issue” as it was ordered by/for a military officer who apparently just couldn’t wait
to be issued a Model 1911 by the military. In this case the officer had his name, William Colt Allee, inscribed on the front strap
after he received it. Allee graduated from Princeton University in 1915 and shortly afterward joined the Reserve Officers Training Corps. In August of 1917 he was attached to the 337th Infantry Regiment, which served on the Western Front in World War I. He
survived the war and continued in service until at least 1919. The slide bears the two-line, two-block address and patent markings on the left side with the Rampant Colt behind the serrations. The right of the slide has the caliber markings. “VP” and “y” are on the trigger guard, and “GOVERNMENT MODEL” is on the
right side of the frame along with the serial number. It shows the full brushed blue military style finish that was adopted around mid-1913. Fitted with blade
and notch sights, checkered wide hammer, checkered thumb safety, slide catch, and magazine catch, the long smooth trigger, flat smooth mainspring housing with lanyard loop, a set of diamond pattern checkered grips, and an unmarked two-tone magazine with lanyard loop on the bottom.
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 90% plus original high polish blue finish with some scattered light holster type wear and some mild thinning on the grip straps. The grips are also excellent with a few scattered light blemishes in the overall crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The William Colt Allee Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 5,500 - 7,500
LOT 1352
Excellent World War I U.S. Contract Colt Model 1911 Semi-Automatic Pistol - Serial no. 301455, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch round
bbl., blue finish, walnut checkered grips. This U.S. Contract Colt Model 1911 pistol was
manufactured in early 1918 and shipped to the Springfield Armory as
part of a 4,000 pistol lot on May 13, 1918. The pistol has the mid-1918 Colt “brush blue” finish that was utilized prior
to adoption of the rough “Black Army” finish introduced at about serial number 312000. The slide has the new style recoil spring housing profile introduced about serial number 290000 and is roll-stamped with the larger, block style, “MODEL OF 1911.U.S.ARMY” marking introduced around serial number 260000. The pistol has the long hammer with rounded rear edge
and bordered knurling and 1914 style safety lock with machine cut beneath the thumb-piece. The barrel has a brush blue finish and is stamped on the top of the chamber with the conjoined “HP” proof and inspection mark perpendicular to the axis of the bore.
Barrels with this marking were used on Colt M1911 pistols in the 375000-710000 serial number range. The right side of the slide is roll-stamped with the Colt 1902-1913 patent dates in a two-line block followed by the Rampant Colt trademark and the Colt Hartford legend in a two-line
block. The right side of the frame is roll-stamped with the serial number behind the slide stop hole. The left side of the frame is roll-stamped: “UNITED STATES PROPERTY” in front of the slide stop hole and stamped with “JMG” monogram of Ordnance Inspector Major John M. Gilbert above
the magazine release. All of the markings utilize the block style lettering introduced in September 1917. The top of the frame is stamped with “G” production order mark below the disconnector hole. A block “H” provisional inspection mark is stamped on the frame in front of the disconnector hole and on the rear of the slide above the firing pin stop. The pistol is fitted with the standard WWI flat base, two-tone magazine with unmarked floorplate lip. The oil
finished walnut stocks have diamond escutcheons around the grip screws and 15 rows of checkering between the diamonds.
CONDITION: Excellent. The pistol retains 95% plus of the original brush blue finish and shows only traces of storage and handling wear. The
grips are also excellent. The magazine is excellent and retains 95% of the two-tone finish. This is an outstanding example of an early 1918
production Colt Model 1911 pistol manufactured prior to the adoption of the wartime expedient “Black Army” finish.
Estimate: 5,500 - 7,500
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