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LOT 3338
Excellent and Rare World War I U.S. Marine
Corps Shipped Colt Model 1911 Semi-
Automatic Pistol - Serial no. 217208, 45 ACP
cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips.
Manufactured in 1918, this excellent condition Colt
Model 1911 pistol was part of a 400 gun shipment
on January 8, 1918, to the United States Marine Corps
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This shipping information
is noted on page 384 of the book “Colt .45 Service Pistols”
(1991 publication) by Charles W. Clawson, indicating this batch of 400 Marine Corps shipped
guns as being in the 216987-217386 serial range. During the course of World War I, Colt shipped a
total of approximately 9,950 Model 1911 pistols to the Marine Corps and at least 25 Government Models,
making these pistols incredibly scarce in comparison to their Army shipped counterparts. Unlike the Navy contract Model 1911 pistols, many of which
have a special slide marking, those that were shipped to the Marine Corps had the standard Army nomenclature, as is present on this example. The left
side of the slide is marked with the two-line, two-block address and patent markings with the Rampant Colt behind the serrations and “MODEL OF 1911.
U.S. ARMY” on the right. The frame is marked with the serial number on the right and the U.S. property marking and circled “GHS” inspection mark on the
left. The full blue barrel is marked with the correct “P” above “H” on top of the chamber hood, with no other visible markings. Fitted with blade and notch
sights, checkered slide stop, thumb safety, and wide hammer, short grip safety, smooth flat mainspring housing with lanyard loop, a pair of diamond pattern
checkered grips, and an unmarked two-tone magazine with pinned base.
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 97% original blue finish with some minor finish loss visible on the trigger and some minor surface freckling on the grip safety.
Grips are also excellent with three discreet small notches visible at the rear edge of the right panel and exceptionally crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. A
rare opportunity to add this attractive and excellent World War I U.S. Marine Corps shipped Colt Model 1911 pistol to your collection!
Estimate: 25,000 - 35,000
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