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LOT 311
Scarce Documented World
War I Canadian Government
Contract Colt Government
Model Semi-Automatic
Pistol with Factory Letter - Serial no. C12805, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch
round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1914, early
in production of the commercial production Government Model.
Building off of the success of their John M. Browning designed
.45 caliber semi-automatic pistol’s adoption by U.S. Ordnance as
the Model 1911, Colt also offered it as the Government Model
for commercial and foreign sales as arguably the most powerful
semi-automatic pistol readily available at the time. By the outbreak
of World War I, the Canadian government realized the potential
of Colt’s formidable semi-automatic and ordered roughly 5,000
of them, all of which were shipped between September and
November of 1914. The included factory letter confirms the pistol’s
configuration, including a five inch barrel chambered for .45 caliber,
blue finish, and types of grips not listed when sent in a shipment
of 1,000 pistols to H.W. Brown of Quebec, Canada, for the Canadian Government on November
14, 1914. This shipment and serial range is also documented on p. 413 of “Colt .45 Service Pistols: Models of 1911
and 1911A1” by Charles W. Clawson. These pistols, like the Canadians who carried them, saw heavy action on the
Western Front during The Great War, with the Canadians earning themselves a reputation as “shock troops” among
friends and foe alike. Features fixed rounded top blade front and notch rear sights, “COLT 45 AUTO” marked on the
underside of the blued barrel with “P” on the recoil lug and polished chamber hood, checkered slide stop, magazine
release, thumb safety, and wide hammer, along with a flat smooth mainspring housing, and the long smooth
trigger. The left side of the slide bears the two-line, two-block address and patent markings with uncircled Rampant
Colt behind the slide serrations, along with the caliber marking on the right. The frame is marked with “triangle/
VP” and “R” on the left of the trigger guard, with “GOVERNMENT MODEL” and serial number on the right side. Fitted
with a pair of checkered “double diamond” walnut grips and a two-tone magazine with pinned lanyard loop base
marked with Canadian “C” broad arrow stamp on the bottom to denote Canadian Government ownership (see
Clawson’s “Colt .45 Government Models (Commercial Series.” 2nd Edition, page 135). Only the subsequently ordered
spare magazines received this Canadian Government stamping.
CONDITION: Fine as a Great War Canadian shipped and used Colt Government Model pistol, retaining 70% plus
bright original commercial blue finish with light scratches visible in the finish, the balance having thinned to
mostly a smooth grey patina, primarily in the form of mild holster and handling type wear, along with some minor
freckling. The grips also very fine with a few light handling marks in the otherwise crisp checkering.
Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 2,750 - 4,250
LOT 309
Fine Colt Military Model
1905 Semi-Automatic
Pistol - Serial no. 3907, 45
ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl.,
blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1909, the Military Model
1905 semi-automatic pistol was a direct predecessor to the Model
1911 with a total production of approximately 6,100 from 1905 to
1911, making them quite scarce. A factory letter is included stating
that no records are available on this pistol; however, p. 226 of “The
Government Models” by Goddard lists serial number 3906, one serial
number away from this pistol, as having shipped on the loan account
to Lieutenant William A. Jones on 15 May 1909, potentially indicating
the approximate time of shipment for this pistol. The left side of the
slide has the standard two-line, two-block patent dates and address,
followed by the circled Rampant Colt behind the serrations. The right
side of the slide has the standard two-line caliber marking. The serial
number is located on the left side of the frame above the trigger
guard bow. This example has the earlier style rounded hammer with
half-cock notch and casehardened finish. The remainder of the gun is
finished in the high-polish blue, except for the trigger, extractor, grip screws and magazine release, which are
nitre blue. It is fitted with standard blade and notch sights, as well as diamond pattern checkered grips. The
magazine is a modern replacement modified Government Model/Model 1911 magazine.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 40% plus of the original high polish blue finish with the balance having thinned to
mostly a smooth grey patina with a patch of light pitting on the left of the slide and some brown spotting
on the grip straps. The grips are also fine with a few light handling marks and mostly crisp checkering.
Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 310
Outstanding Pre-War Colt Model 1903
Pocket Hammerless Semi-Automatic
Pistol with Original Box - Serial no.
515078, 32 ACP cal., 3 3/4 inch round bbl.,
blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in
1934, with the standard two-line address,
patent dates, “rampant colt” on the left of
the slide, and the caliber markings on the
right. The left side of the frame bears the
serial number, with the left side of the
trigger guard marked with “3” and “VP”,
while “75” is marked on the right side. Fitted
with a pair of checkered walnut grips with
silver Colt medallions. Includes the original
Colt maroon box, with matching end label
and serial number written on the underside
in pencil, and a cleaning rod.
CONDITION: Excellent plus, near new in box, retaining
99% plus original blue finish with limited handling
evidence and a small patch of dried grease on the
backstrap. The grips are also excellent with crisp
checkering, some limited verdigris on the screw
inserts, and bright medallions. Mechanically excellent. The box is very fine with some minor edge wear and a minor
tear on the end label.
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 308
Desirable First
Year Production
London Shipped Colt
Government Model
Semi-Automatic
Pistol, Serial Number
“C1234” with Factory Letter - Serial no. C1234, 45 cal.,
5 inch round bbl., blue finish, checkered walnut grips.
Manufactured in 1912, the first year of commercial production
for the Government Model pistol. The included factory letter
confirms the pistols configuration and shipped to Colt’s
Patent Fire-Arms Mfg. Company, London Agency, London,
England, on October 9, 1912. The shipment consisted of 25
guns. Blade front and round top notch rear sights, with the
two-line, two-block address and patent markings on the left
side of the slide ahead of the circled Rampant Colt, and the
caliber nomenclature on the reverse. The frame bears the
“GOVERNMENT MODEL” legend on the right, with the “VP” and
“K” inspection marks on the left side of the trigger guard. Fine
niter blue finish is present on the wide checkered hammer,
checkered slide catch and thumb safety, magazine catch and the long, smooth
trigger. Both the slide and the frame are marked with a “crown/V” stamp on
the left rear (the former just beneath the Rampant Colt, the latter just below
the thumb safety), indicating inspection and approval at the London Proof
House. Fitted with a pair of replacement checkered grips, a two-tone pinned-
base replacement magazine with a lanyard loop, and a later production
replacement barrel marked with a small “P” ahead of the lug. Import marking
on right side of the grip frame under the grip.
CONDITION: Fine, with 50% of the original high polish blue finish, which
remains strongest on the protected areas of the frame and the underside of the slide. Areas of mixed brown and
gray patina are present on the left side of slide, with scattered pitting, handling/takedown wear, and wear along
the edges. 40% original nitre blue remains on the small parts. The grips are very good, with some chipping and
dings. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 4,500 - 7,000
SERIAL NUMBER C1234