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LOT 1313
Excellent Documented World War II U.S.
Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless
Semi-Automatic Pistol with
Factory Letter and Holster -
Serial no. 561329, 32 ACP cal., 3
3/4 inch round bbl., blue finish,
walnut grips. This pistol falls
within the 493,450 to 563,641
serial number range of 1,000
“U.S. PROPERTY” marked Colt
Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless
pistols in .32 ACP intended to
be sent to Britain on November
2, 1944, making it one of some
1,318 blued examples sent over
throughout the war as a part of
the Lend-Lease Act discussed on
pages 98-99 of “The Colt Pocket
Hammerless Automatic Pistols”
by Brunner. The author also
notes that many of the late-war shipped pistols were
likely never used, declared surplus in the 1960s, and then
British proofed for subsequent sale back to the U.S. market,
which may explain the high level of retained finish found on such pistols,
though this specimen lacks any British proofs. This pistols is also one digit off from serial number 561,328, which is listed
on page 130 of Brunner’s book as issued to U.S. Brigadier General J.S. Pegg on August 15, 1967. The serial number range
of 483,450 to 566,503 is also listed on page 406 of “U.S. Military Automatic Pistols Vol. II (1920-1945)” by Meadows as
being sent to England for Lend-Lease support. Features fixed blade front and notch rear sights, blued barrel marked
“COLT 32 AUTO” on the left side with polished chamber, standard two-line address and patent dates with Rampant Colt
behind the serrations on the left side of the slide, with caliber marking on the right and matching serial number stamped
on the interior. The frame bears the “U.S. PROPERTY” marking on the right side, along with “5” on the trigger guard, with
the serial number on the left side, along with “triangle/VP” and “4” on that side of the trigger guard. Fitted with a pair of
checkered walnut grips with silver Colt medallions and full-blue magazine with “CAL.32/COLT” marked on the underside
of the floor plate. The included factory letter confirms the pistol’s current configuration, including a 3 3/4 inch barrel
chambered for .32 caliber, blue finish, and type of grips not listed when sold to the United States Government, factory
order No. 4420, and included in a shipment of 318 pistols sent to the transportation officer of the New York Port of
Embarkation in Brooklyn, New York, on November 2, 1944, likely a part of the same shipment mentioned previously by
Brunner. Also includes a “McAlary” marked brown leather shoulder holster fitted to the pistol.
CONDITION: Excellent, retaining 98% original blue finish with some brown patina showing through on the grip straps,
some minor spotting/freckling, and otherwise limited handling marks. The grips are also excellent with crisp checkering.
Mechanically excellent. The holster is very fine.
Provenance: Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 1311
Outstanding Unopened
World War II U.S. General
Motors Guide Lamp FP-45
Liberator Single Shot Pistol
in Sealed Box - NSN, 45
ACP cal., 4 inch round bbl.,
phosphate finish, metal grips.
Conceived, developed, and
manufactured in 1942, the
“Flare Pistol, .45 Caliber” (FP-45)
was designed as a cheap and
disposable single shot pistol
intended to be air dropped
into German controlled Europe,
giving the citizens of those
occupied nations a way to
express their displeasure to
the occupiers and hopefully
retrieve a better arm in the
process. The Guide Lamp
Division of General Motors
was tasked to produce the
pistol, which was constructed
from a collection of sheet
metal stampings and cast
zinc components assembled
around a smoothbore barrel.
While inexperienced with arms production, Guide Lamp stepped up and cranked out over a million of the
deadly little contraptions in a matter of months. Includes the original waxed cardboard box with correct
image depiction on the cover flap, wood packing insert, dowel rod, and sealed
box of .45 ACP ammunition.
CONDITION: As sealed in factory box. The box is exceptionally fine.
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
LOT 1312
Exceptionally
Fine World War
II U.S. Colt Model
1911A1 Semi-
Automatic Pistol
- Serial no. 1089944, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl.,
parkerized finish, plastic grips. Manufactured in 1943,
this is an exceptional example of a Colt Model 1911A1
manufactured at the height of World War II. The left side of
the slide has the two-line, two-block address and patent dates marking with
the Rampant Colt in the center. The left side of the frame is stamped with a
“G.H.D.” inspection stamp and “P”, with the left side of the trigger guard having
“8/VP” proof and the right side of the trigger guard having the number “48”.
The full blue barrel is marked “P” on the left of the lug. It has the “No” style serial
number, fixed sights, checkered narrow hammer, stamped short trigger, serrated
slide stop, checkered thumb safety, long grip safety, arched serrated mainspring
housing, an “S” marked full blue magazine, and period replacement reinforced
Keyes Fibre grips. Includes a Mills canvas dual magazine
pouch and two extra magazines (one two-tone “R”
marked, one full blue “S” marked).
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, retains 97% plus of the
original parkerized finish with some light edge/holster
type wear and a couple small patches of light spotting
on the right of the slide. One magazine has “KWB”
scratched on the base, and another has fainter “CLB” and
“RW” scratched on the base. The period replacement grips are very fine with a few light handling
marks in the otherwise crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The magazine pouch is fine. An
exceptionally fine example of a 1943 production Colt Model 1911A1 pistol!
Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
LOT 1314
Excellent World War II U.S.
Ithaca Gun Co. Model 1911A1
Semi-Automatic Pistol - Serial
no. 889550, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch
round bbl., parkerized finish, plastic grips. Manufactured in late
1943. Features fixed blade front and notch rear sights, blued barrel
with “P” and “HS” (High Standard) marked on the recoil lug, standard
Ithaca address roll marked on the left side of the slide with “P” proof on
top, checkered short trigger, narrow hammer, magazine release, and arched mainspring
housing with lanyard loop, along with serrated slide catch, thumb safety. The left side of the
frame bears a “FJA” (Lt. Col. Frank J. Atwood) inspector mark along with “P”, while the right
side bears the U.S. property and model markings, serial number, and “7” on the trigger guard.
Fitted with a pair of replacement checkered brown plastic grips and “R”
marked full blue magazine.
CONDITION: Excellent, retaining 95% plus original
parkerized finish with some minor edge wear, some
limited freckling/brown patina, and minor handling
marks. The replacement grips are very fine.
Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500