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LOT 1290
Desirable World War I Era British R.A.F. Marked Colt Government Model Semi-Automatic
Pistol - Serial no. W105677, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. This pistol falls
within a large block of Colt Government Model pistols shipped to the British Ministry of Shipping in
late-1918 to early-1919, just prior to or right after the conclusion of World War I. Many of these pistols, like this example, were
initially issued to Royal Air Force personnel before many were reissued in 1942 to Royal Navy sea/air rescue units. The left side of
the slide has the Rampant Colt between the patent dates and Colt address, each in two lines, while the right is marked with the .455 caliber marking. The
right of the frame has the Government Model marking over the “W” prefix serial number. British military proofs are visible on multiple parts, as well as “R.A.F.”
and a “broad arrow” on the left of the frame. The proofed replacement .45 ACP barrel is marked “E” on the
bottom. The pistol is fitted with fixed blade and notch sights, diamond pattern checkered walnut grips, and
a two-tone magazine with “CAL.455/ELEY” and a lanyard ring on the base.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 70% original high polish blue finish with edge wear, scattered scratches, freckling,
and defined markings. Grips are also fine with a few light nicks in the otherwise crisp checkering.
Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
LOT 1289
Very Scarce Documented Imperial Russian Contract Colt Government Model Semi-
Automatic Pistol with Factory Letter - Serial no. C77701, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl.,
blue finish, walnut grips. One of approximately 51,000 Colt Government Model pistols ordered
by the Imperial Russian government in 1916 and 1917, before the outbreak of revolution and abdication of the
Tsar. By 1916, the situation on the Eastern Front was already getting well out of hand for Russia, and 1917 saw both the
February and October Revolutions, which brought about both the fall of the Imperial government and the successor
Provisional Government. This ultimately led to the rise of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), more commonly
called the Soviet Union, which remained in control for most of the remainder of the 20th century. Additionally, some
reports of the final assassination of Tsar Nicholas II and his family include a pair of Colt .45 ACP pistols among the weapons
used by the Bolshevik Party. In particular, one used by Yakov Yurovsky, leader of the squad, is noted as having fired the
opening shot directly into the Tsar’s chest. The included factory letter confirms the pistol’s configuration, with a five inch
barrel chambered in .45 caliber, blue finish, and type of grips not listed, when included in a 2,000 pistol shipment sent to the
government of Russia on December 5, 1916. When placing the order, the government of Great Britain acted as an intermediary,
using a line of credit established by the Russians and backed by hard gold reserves held in Britain to cover the bill. Britain’s role
as go-between was the source of the typical “ANGL. ZAKAZIE” marking found on the left side of the frame, which translates
to “English Order”. Features fixed oval blade front and flat top notch rear sights on top of the slide marked with the two-line, two-block
address and patent dates, caliber marking on the right of the slide, barrel with bright chamber hood, marked “COLT 45 AUTO” on the left, “P” on the lug, and
“F” on the underside, long smooth trigger, wide checkered hammer, short grip safety, and smooth mainspring housing with lanyard loop. The left side of the
frame has the English contract marking as mentioned along with “triangle/VP” and “8” on the trigger guard, and the model marking and serial number is on
the right side. British “crown” proofs are also marked on the right rear sections of the slide and frame. Fitted with diamond pattern checkered grips and an
unmarked two-tone magazine with lanyard loop base. Includes a cardboard storage box. Imperial Russian contract Colt Government Model pistols are very
hard to find on the United States collector’s market today in any condition, as they saw hard, extended use through multiple conflicts and virtually none were ever exported out
of the Soviet Union, making them a highlight addition to any advanced Colt or Russian themed collection.
CONDITION: Fine, retaining nearly 60% plus original blue finish with light holster-pattern edge and high-point wear, thinning on the grip straps reveling mostly brown patina,
light freckling, minor spotting with some pitting focused mostly on the slide, and mild handling wear as expected from such a well-traveled pistol. The moderately worn
checkered grips are good with slight warpage, on the right panel. Mechanically fine.
Provenance: The Estate Collection of Charles Wagner.
Estimate: 6,500 - 9,500
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