Page 275 - 4094-BOOK1

273
“Hunting trips are not to be measured by the amount
of game taken, but by the good fellowship and
opportunity to live close to nature, if only for
a short time.”
On 30 January 1927, The Miami Herald reports with
the headline “Governor Martin is Given Memento:
Automatic Pistol is Gift from Connecticut Executive”.
The brief article reports that in Jacksonville, Florida,
governor Martin had received an “automatic pistol,
inlaid with gold and ivory, the finest product of the
Colt factory in Hartford, Conn.” The article goes on to
mention that the mahogany case has a plate bearing
the names of governor Trumbull, Robbins Stoeckel, J.
Henry Roraback, and Col. Charles H. Allen, and that it
was a token of their appreciation, almost certainly for
the hospitality they received during their December
1926 hunting trip with governor Martin. A newspaper
article in November of 1927 indicates that governor
Martin yet again invited Trumbull to come “invade
Florida with his firearms in search for the elusive
game”, this time jokingly assuring governor Trumbull
that the “game is tied to a tree for him”, likely
indicating that their previous hunting trips, though
enjoyable, were less than fruitful in producing game.
The pistol itself is an exceptional example of Colt’s
early 20th century craftsmanship, including the
extensive engraving by Colt Master Engraver William
H. Gough. At the time of its final shipment for
presentation, this pistol would have been considered
the “old style”, as often indicated by the factory
ledgers, meaning that it had the features of the
government contract Model 1911 pistols, rather than
the updated Model 1911A1s. These features include
a smooth, flat mainspring housing and no bevels
on the sides of the frame near the trigger. William
Gough’s engraving covers nearly all surfaces of the
pistol with vine and leaf scroll in his typical style and
on a matted background. The grip straps and bottom
of the frame have zig-zag line engraving, and the top
front portion of the slide has a stippled strip down
the center. The left side of the slide has the standard
two-line, two-block patent dates and address with
the Rampant Colt between them, while the right has
the standard two-line caliber marking. The right side
of the frame has the model marking over the serial
number. The blued barrel has a polished chamber
hood and is marked “2” on the right of the lug and “&”
and “2” on the bottom. “326” is hand engraved on the
left lower edge of the slide, a marking likely added
by Gough to keep the frame and slide matched. It is
fitted with blade and flat topped notch sights, a wide
checkered hammer, checkered slide stop and thumb
safety, a short grip safety, long smooth trigger, and a
flat smooth mainspring housing with a lanyard loop
on the bottom. The factory documented grips are
smooth ivory, with the left panel having a gold inlaid
seal of the state of Florida and the right panel having
a gold inlaid seal of the state of Connecticut and the
state motto scrimshawed below it. The magazine is
two-tone with no markings on the base. Included
with the pistol is a leather wrapped mahogany case
with the interior lined in blue and fitted to the pistol.
On the lid of the case is the brass presentation plaque
described above, which has traces of the
original gilt finish.
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 95% plus of the factory
blue finish with some scattered light speckling of
oxidation on the front grip strap, right rear of frame,
and mainspring housing, and the engraving remains
crisp overall. The grips are also excellent with a
very attractively aged tone, a few light handling
marks, and almost all of the gilt finish on the inlays.
Mechanically excellent. The case is very fine with
some scattered minor handling/storage marks and
mild wear. An extraordinary, exhibition quality,
William H. Gough master engraved Colt Government
Model pistol that was presented by John H. Trumbull,
governor of Connecticut, and his friends to the
governor of Florida John W. Martin! This extraordinary
Colt Government Model being offered for the first
time is quite possibly a
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
Provenance: The Family of Florida Governor John
W. Martin.
Estimate: 150,000 - 275,000
J. Henry Roraback
Colonel Charles
H. Allen