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Historic Factory Documented Exhibition Quality William H. Gough Factory Engraved
Colt Government Model Semi-Automatic Pistol Presented to Florida Governor John
W. Martin by Connecticut Governor John H. Trumbull, Robbins B. Stockel, J. Henry
Roraback, and Colonel Charles H. Allen with Extraordinary Documented Factory
Gold Plate State Seal Inlaid Ivory Grips, Inscribed Presentation Case, and Factory
Letter and Letter of Provenance - Serial no. C121326, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue
finish, ivory grips. Manufactured in 1919, this is an outstanding, documented example of
an exhibition quality Colt Government Model pistol engraved by Master Engraver William
H. Gough, which was presented in the 1920s by the governor of Connecticut and his
associates to the governor of Florida. The included factory letter with this Colt Government
Model pistol states that it was shipped “Green” (unfinished) to William H. Gough in Utica,
New York on 29 May 1919 with ivory stocks in a three gun shipment. The letter goes
on to state that the pistol was returned to the factory and was inscribed to “Sen. Gen.
Francisco Arteyo” and shipped to Sr. Don Metquiades Garcia at the General Contracting &
Communications Co. This shipment is listed as happening on 25 July 1919 on p. 269 of “The
Government Models” by Goddard. The following two consecutively numbered (C121327
and C121328) Government Model pistols are listed with similar engraving, inscriptions
(to different people), and stocks are listed as shipped on the same day in the previously
mentioned book. One of the pistols is listed as inscribed to “Wm. E. Brisbin” and one to “Gen.
Pablo Gonzales”, and all three of the pistols are listed in the book as returned in December
of 1926. All three of these pistols appear to have originally been presentation pieces for
men associated with the Mexican Revolution, and the reason for their return to the factory
remains unknown, though it may be related to the victory of the revolutionaries just a year
and a half later. The included factory letter goes on to state that this specific pistol was
returned to the factory on 10 December 1926 and shipped in .45 caliber with a 5 inch barrel,
blue finish, plain ivory grips with gold seal of Connecticut on one stock and seal of Florida
on the other, presented to Governor John W. Martin, and shipped to Governor John H.
Trumbull on 13 January 1927 as a single gun shipment. Also included is a signed letter from
Mary Rehbaum Wareing (great niece of governor John W. Martin) stating that the pistol
has remained with Martin’s descendents since its presentation until being offered to the
public now. The inscribed plaque on the lid of the included case states that this pistol was
presented to Governor John W. Martin of Florida by Governor John H. Trumbull, Robbins
B. Stoeckel, J. Henry Roraback, and Colonel Charles H. Allen in token of appreciation and
affection in December of 1926.
In September of 1926, while John W. Martin was governor of Florida, the state was ravaged
by a Category 4 hurricane from the Atlantic which hit the city of Miami particularly hard.
The storm became known as “Great Miami Hurricane of 1926”, prior to the modern naming
system for tropical storms. The 1926 Miami hurricane still holds the top spot for direct
economic losses (adjusted for societal conditions of 2018), even beating out hurricane
Katrina by over $100 billion. The horrific storm caused severe damage, 372 deaths, and
displaced at least 38,000 people, testing Martin’s leadership in a time of turmoil. Shortly
after the hurricane, period newspaper articles state that Governor Trumbull had sent his
sympathies to Governor Martin, perhaps indicating a prior friendship or the beginning of a
lasting friendship.
On 7 December of 1926, newspapers indicate that governor Trumbull arrived in Tallahassee,
Florida that morning, accompanied by Robbins B. Stoeckel, who was the commissioner of
motor vehicles for Connecticut, J. Henry Roraback, who was the Republican state chairman
of Connecticut, and C.H. Allen, who was an aid to governor Trumbull. The purpose of the
Connecticut party’s visit appears to be primarily a friendly hunting trip, with a buffet supper
and reception kicking off the festivities at the governor’s mansion on the evening of 7
December. Another article states that the hunting would begin the following day and that
a hunting camp had been prepared for the party near the mouth of the Aucilla River, where
the two governors and their friends would hunt Taylor and Jefferson counties for two days.
On 11 January 1927, Florida newspapers report that governor Trumbull of Connecticut
would again be returning to Florida around 15 January. They also state that Trumbull has
expressed his appreciation to governor Martin for the wonderful hunting trip in December
of the previous year. Also mentioned in the newspapers, is that Robbins Stoeckel also sent a
letter to governor Martin, praising him for his hospitality. Trumbull is quoted as saying that
all who attended “...were unanimous in the opinion that they had never been treated with
such hospitality, and had such a friendly feeling shown by everyone we came in contact
with.” Trumbull went on to deliver a quote that almost any sportsman can attest to,
that being:
Florida Governor
John W. Martin
Conn. Governor
John H. Trumbull
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