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LOT 1280
Historic, Documented U.S. Colt “Transitional” Model 1911/1911A1 Semi-Automatic Pistol Attributed to U.S. Navy Rear Admiral (Ret.) Robert H. Solier with Charles Pate Letter and Artifacts - Serial no. 701863, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Starting in September 1920, U.S. Ordnance began to compile a list of suggested modifications for the Model 1911 pistol based on end user experiences from World War I. These modifications centered around ergonomic improvements to the design, including dished frame sides near the trigger, shortened trigger shoe, elongated grip safety, and
an arched mainspring housing. By April 1923, OCM Item 2890 was standardized and recommended by the U.S. Ordnance Department. A pilot series of 10,000 pistols was approved, with some production issues arising throughout 1923, but by January 1924 the first examples were being delivered. Known as the “Transitional” Model 1911s, the design changes they incorporated resulted in the venerable Model 1911A1 of World War II and Cold War era fame, though they retained the Model 1911 nomenclature. Features fixed blade front and flat top notch rear sights, the two-line, two-block patent dates and address separated by the Rampant Colt marked on the left of the slide, while the right has the “MODEL OF 1911. U.S. ARMY” marking. The right of the frame has the U.S. property marking over the serial number, while the left has the circled “WTG” monogram (Walter T. Gordon). The right of the trigger guard is marked “60”.
The blued barrel is marked with a conjoined “HP” on the non-factory polished chamber hood. Fitted with a checkered slide stop and thumb safety, short checkered trigger, arched checkered mainspring housing with lanyard loop at the base, an “A” marked
two-tone magazine, and a pair of correct fully checkered walnut grips. The included Charles W. Pate of U.S. Army
Research letter lists this pistol by serial number as sold by the Benicia Arsenal in California to a Lt. (JG) Robert
H. Solier on January 19, 1939, for personal use at a price of $27.97. The letter also includes detail of a September 29, 1953, correspondence between the Legal Officer Lt. Robert Whzeshski of U.S.
Naval Ordnance Test Station, China Lake, California, and the Commanding Officer of
Benicia Arsenal, inquiring if Solier (then a capitan), who no longer wanted
the pistol, could sell it back to the U.S. Army, or if not, the legal validity of selling it to other military personal. The request was forwarded to the U.S. Army Chief of Ordnance’s office, which sent a response back to the China Lake Legal Officer stating “the Department of the Army doesn not desire to repurchase [the] weapon.” and refereed to paragraphs 2c (1) AR45-75 and 8 AR 45-75 in regards to Solier’s title to the pistol and his ability to dispose of it.
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