Page 287 - 4091-BOOK2

SERIAL NUMBER LISTED IN THE BOOK U.S. MILITARY AUTOMATIC PISTOLS
1894-1920 BY MEADOWS
This pistol won Silver
Medal number 324
awarded by the NRA for
one of the ten best arms
exhibited (medal not
included with lot).
CONDITION:
Exceptionally fine, with
80% plus of the original
Colt high polish blue
finish remaining overall
with minor wear and finish
loss visible on the very
fine front grip strap. The
grips are very fine with
crisp original checkering on
both sides with only some
very minor handling marks.
Mechanically excellent. An
exceptional award winning
example of a rare and significant
Colt Model 1907 U.S. Test Trials pistol. Provenance: The Dr. Joseph Murphy Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 60,000 - 90,000
LOT 1366
Extremely Rare and Highly
Desirable U.S. Rock Island
Arsenal Holster for the Colt 1907
Army Trials Pistol - One of only 205 total produced
in 1908 for use by the four Army units assigned to put
the then-experimental Colt Model 1907 pistol through
its paces, with the markings on this holster identifying
it as one of the 65 sent to Manila Ordnance Depot in the
Philippines for use by Troop K, 10th Cavalry. In addition
to providing critical input on the design and use of .45
ACP pistols, which would shape the final design of the
timeless 1911 pistol, these tests also revealed important
ergonomic concerns with holstering said pistols, leading to the
abandonment of the left-handed crossdraw typical of American martial
revolvers in favor of the right side strong-hand draw which became near universal among the American military even to today. Constructed from 4 sections of brown leather (flap, belt loop, main body and base plug), the belt loop bears the stamp “ROCK ISLAND/ ARSENAL/1908” above faded inspection initials, while the top edge of the flap is stamped “K 10 CAV’Y/No 27” above the embossed oval “US” stamp. The flap engages a fixed brass stud mounted on the main body, and the base of the main body has a teardrop shaped plug mounted with a brass lanyard ring, with a small drainage hole just above the plug.
A steel reinforcement plate is present on the inside of the flap. These holsters were originally manufactured about an inch longer than necessary to fit the Model 1907 pistol, and many examples, not including this one, were later altered by shortening the body. Two other examples, one unaltered and the other altered, are pictured on pages 244-245 of “U.S. Military Holsters and Pistol Cartridge Boxes” by Edward Scott Meadows. CONDITION: Very good, showing generally mild wear appropriate for a holster used in military trials, some light cracking, with some leather broke off of rivet on flap, and some scattered minor handling marks. A rare holster that serves as an important piece in the developmental history of the Colt U.S. Military automatic pistol, and a must have to accompany a U.S. Trials Colt Model 1907 pistol!
Estimate: 6,500 - 9,500
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