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LOT 3335
Historic Documented Pre-Pearl Harbor Attack Shipped World War II U.S. 21st Infantry Regiment Colt Service Model Ace Semi-Automatic Pistol
with Factory Letter and 21st Infantry Literature and Guidon - Serial no. SM827, 22 LR cal., 5 inch round bbl.,
blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1938.
The included factory letter with this pistol confirms the current configuration,
grips not listed, as well as shipment to Company K of the 21st Infantry at
Scholfield [sic] Barracks in the Territory of Hawaii on 15 May 1940, about a year
and a half before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. In October of 1921, the
21st Infantry Regiment was assigned to the Hawaiian Division and stationed at
Schofield Barracks. In August of 1941, the regiment was reassigned to the 24th
Infantry Division but remained at Schofield Barracks. Due to their proximity
to Wheeler Army Airfield, part of the regiment’s task during 1941 was security
for the airfield. On the morning of 7 December, Wheeler field was attacked by
approximately 25 Japanese dive bombers which dropped around 35 bombs
on the installation. The men of the 21st, though surprised, quickly armed
themselves and began returning fire with any weapons they could lay their
hands on. The dive bombers would return, strafing the American planes on
the airfield as well as the barracks, destroying many of the aircraft. A handful of fighter planes from Wheeler would eventually manage to get airborne and begin pursuing the Japanese. When the smoke cleared, 83 American aircraft had been destroyed at Wheeler, along with 38 enlisted men killed and 59 wounded, some of which were part of the 21st. This attack on Wheeler field was just a portion of a larger
scale surprise attack on the military installations of the Hawaiian islands which left the U.S. Pacific Fleet heavily damaged and caused significant casualties. The 21st Infantry Regiment would go on to play a significant role in the liberation of the Philippines from Japanese occupation and remained active through to the surrender
and occupation of mainland Japan. The pistol itself was manufactured on 24 October 1938. The left side of the slide has the standard two-line address and patent marking followed by the Rampant Colt. The right side of the slide has the Service Model Ace and caliber markings. The right side of the frame is marked with the serial number while
the trigger guard is marked with “P/VP” and “60” on the left and right respectively. It is fitted with blade front and adjustable notch rear sights, checkered wide hammer, slide stop, thumb safety, and arched mainspring housing, a pair of checkered walnut grips, and a two-tone magazine with Service Model Ace markings on the base plate.
Included is a copy of the 21st Regiment’s organization day souvenir magazine for 1941 titled “Gimlet” (the nickname of the regiment), a copy of the regiment’s history book “The Story of a Regiment: The Twenty-First United States Infantry” by Captain Judson MacIvor Smith, and a 21st Regiment HQ company guidon.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 60% plus of the original blue finish with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina, primarily in the form of handling mild handling wear, and a patch of light pitting on the upper left front of the slide, all typical of a training arm that likely saw significant use throughout the war. The
grips are also fine with mild wear, some scattered light handling marks, and otherwise well-defined checkering. Mechanically excellent. The guidon is very fine, regimental history book is very good, and the magazine is good with some tape repair.
Estimate: 5,000 - 7,500
LOT 3336
Scarce World War II U.S. Union Switch & Signal Model 1911A1 Semi-Automatic Pistol - Serial no. 1086844, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl., Du-Lite finish, brown plastic
checkered grips. Manufactured in 1943. The US&S Co. manufactured 55,000 Model 1911A1
pistols between January and November 1943. This “Type III” pistol has the distinctive US&S blue stamped trigger and Du-Lite slide
and receiver. The feed ramp is polished bright. The Keyes Fibre Co. grips are the early pattern checkered brown plastic with no reinforcing rings around the screw holes and interior strengthening ribs and mold marks. In addition to the stamped trigger, the pistol
has a narrow spur hammer with coarse knurling checkered mainspring housing and checkered safety lock and slide stop. The front of the barrel bushing has the round milling marks found on some US&S pistols. The barrel has the “HS” (High Standard) marking on the right side of lug and a “P” proof mark on the
left side. The right side of the receiver is stamped “UNITED STATES PROPERTY/No 1086844” behind the slide stop hole and “M 1911 A1 U.S. ARMY” ahead of it. The left side of the receiver is stamped with distinctive Ordnance final inspection mark consisting of the initials “R.C.D.” (LT.
COL Robert C. Downie) enclosed in a circle. A small “P” proof mark is stamped behind and below the magazine release. An identically sized “P” proof mark is stamped on the top of the slide ahead of the rear sight facing the
right. The left side of the slide is roll-stamped with the “USS” monogram followed by “U. S. & S. Co./SWISSVALE , PA U.S.A.” in two lines. The slide is correctly not serial numbered, and the right side of the receiver is not stamped with the Ordnance Corps escutcheon found on Colt, Ithaca and Remington Rand Model 1911A1 automatic pistols. The pistol is complete with a full-blue WWII production magazine manufactured by the Schovill Mfg. Co. and stamped
with an “S” on the top of the floor plate.
CONDITION: Excellent. The pistol retains 85% plus of the original Du-Lite finish. The finish on the grip strap is thinning, and there is some
minor edge wear on the front of the slide and on the receiver high points. The barrel is correct for this pistol but has a dull black-green
finish. The grips and screws are both in excellent condition with minimal wear. The magazine retains 97% of the original blue finish. The
markings on the receiver and slide are crisp. Bright metal is visible in the “P” proof marks on the slide and receiver and in the “R.C.D.” final inspection mark. This is a correct original example of a very desirable WWII US&S Model 1911A1 semi-automatic pistol.
Estimate: 3,750 - 5,500
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