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LOT 1296
Very Scarce U.S. Navy Contract Colt Model 1909 Double Action Revolver - Serial no.
65, 45 Long Colt cal., 5 1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1909
as one of only 1,000 Colt Model 1909 double action .45 caliber revolvers manufactured
for the U.S. Navy. Features fixed blade front and top strap notch rear sights, the two-line
Hartford address and “COLT D.A. 45” on the barrel, “VP” and “3” on the left of the trigger guard,
“rampant colt” backed by a stylized “C” on the left of the side plate, along with “U.S.N./(anchor)/45D.A.”
and “No/65” marked on the butt next to the lanyard swivel. Factory serial number “24040” is stamped on the forward
frame under matching number cylinder crane. Matching assembly numbers visible on the frame, crane, and cylinder
latch. Fitted with a pair of un-numbered smooth walnut grips, with “F.H.D.” marked on both sides of
the grip frame underneath.
CONDITION: Very good, retaining 30% original blue finish with cylinder drag lines, silvering and grey patina showing
on the grip straps, light edge wear, mild spotting/freckling, mild thinning revealing mostly brown patina, and mild
handling wear. The grips are also fine as lightly sanded and re-oiled. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500 277
LOT 1295
Exceptional U.S. Navy Contract Colt Model 1911 Semi-Automatic Pistol with
Factory Letter - Serial no. 43696, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut
grips. Manufactured in 1913, one of only 15,037 Model 1911 pistols manufactured
by Colt for the U.S. Navy with the desirable “U.S. NAVY” roll-mark on the slide that was
discontinued in April 1915 in favor for the standard U.S. Army nomenclature, of which there
were approximately 578,473 manufactured, making the navy marked variation comparatively very scarce. This
specific pistol falls with in the 42,801 to 43,800 serial number range of 1,000 pistols shipped to the U.S. Navy
Yard of Brooklyn, New York, on August 23, 1913, as found in the table on page 158 of “U.S. Military Automatic
Pistols: 1894-1920” by Meadows and confirmed by the included factory letter. Features fixed oval blade front and
early rounded notch rear sights, blued barrel with “P” and “H” marked on the chamber hood, checkered slide catch,
magazine release, and wide spur hammer, along with a smooth long trigger, short grip safety, and flat mainspring
housing with lanyard loop on the base. The left of the slide bears the two-line, two-block Colt address and patent
dates, with a “rampant colt” logo behind the slide serrations, along with the desirable “MODEL OF 1911 U.S. NAVY”
roll-marked on the right side. The left of the frame bears the U.S. property marking and circled “WGP” (Maj. Walter G.
Penfield) inspection stamp, with the serial number on the right side. Fitted with a pair of ‘double-diamond’ checkered
walnut grips and a two-tone magazine with ‘keyhole’ relief cut at the rear and pinned lanyard loop base.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine retaining 85% plus original blue finish with some minor edge wear, some minor thinning
on top of the slide and on the grip straps revealing some brown patina, some minor spotting/freckling, minor pitting
under the grips, and otherwise minor handling marks. The grips are very fine with an ill-fitting left panel, but otherwise
crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 12,000 - 18,000