Page 283 - 4094-BOOK1

281
LOT 323
Documented
World War I
Canadian
Government Contract Colt Government Model
Semi-Automatic Pistol Attributed to Alfred W.
Bowser of the 25th Canadian Infantry Battalion with
Attestation Paper and Holster - Serial no. C12623,
45 ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips.
Manufactured in 1914, this specific pistol falls within the
range of 1,000 pistols (serial numbers C9800 to C12700)
purchased by the Government of Canada (which ordered
roughly 5,000 pistols total) and shipped to H.W. Brown
of Quebec, Canada, on November 7, 1914, listed in the
table of “Appendix E” on p. 413 of “Colt .45 Service Pistols:
Models of 1911 and 1911A1” by Charles W. Clawson.
Features fixed oval blade front and rounded notch rear
sights, a blued barrel with polished chamber hood and
“5” on the underside, long smooth trigger, flat smooth
mainspring housing with lanyard loop, along with a
checkered slide stop, magazine release, thumb safety, and
wide hammer. The left side of the slide bears the two-line,
two-block Colt address and patent dates with uncircled Rampant Colt behind the slide serrations,
with the caliber marking on the right along with “A.W. Bowser/25TH/..CAND/.BATTN/.” engraved under
the ejection port. The frame is marked with “triangle/VP” and “y” on the left of the trigger guard,
with “GOVERNMENT MODEL” and the serial number marked on the right side. Fitted with a pair of
checkered “double diamond” walnut grips, with “C” carved into the left panel and “A/W/B” into the
right, and a two-tone blued magazine with pinned lanyard loop base. Includes a khaki Mills patent
web holster numbered “132801” on the interior of the flap and an Attestation Paper for the Canadian
Over-Seas Expeditionary Force, dated September 6, 1915, and signed by “Alfred William Bowser”. Alfred
W. Bowser (1876-1951) initially enlist with the 64th Canadian Infantry Battalion, was transferred to
the 25th Infantry Battalion as a lieutenant with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Canadian) in
France, was wounded twice by shrapnel during the war, and to served as a part of the occupation
forces for two years after, before retiring from the reserves at the rank of Major.
CONDITION: Very good as personalized for Alfred W. Bowser, retaining 30% original blue finish on the
barrel and protected areas of the frame and slide with scattered mild holster pattern edge wear and
thinning on the balance with visible grey and brown patinas, some minor visible matches of spotting/
freckling, light handling marks, and clear markings. The grips are also very good as carved with
otherwise light compression wear to the defined checkering. Mechanically excellent. The holster is
good with extensive oil staining.
Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
LOT 322
Excellent World War II Production
U.S. Remington-Rand Model 1911A1 Semi-Automatic
Pistol - Serial no. 2435958, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl.,
parkerized/blue finish, plastic grips. Manufactured in 1945, the
last year of U.S. Model 1911A1 pistol production at Remington
Rand, reportedly ending at serial number 2465139. Features fixed
blade front and notch rear sights, correct blued barrel marked with “P” and “HS” (High
Standard) on the recoil lug, serrated slide stop and arched mainspring housing with
lanyard loop, along with checkered short stamped trigger, narrow hammer, thumb safety,
and magazine release button. The left side of the slide is marked with the correct third
type two-line “REMINGTON RAND INC./SYRACUSE, N.Y. U.S.A.” address, along with a “P”
stamped on top. The left of the frame bears a “FJA” (Col. Frank J. Atwood) inspection and “P”
stamps, with the U.S. property marking, model designation, and serial number on the right
side. The trigger guard is also stamped with “1” on the left along with “V” and “Z” on the right
side. Fitted with a pair of Keyes Fibre Co. brown checkered plastic grips marked “star/K” on the
interiors and a full blued magazine marked “G” on the toe.
CONDITION: Excellent, retaining 98% original parkerized finish and 90% plus blue finish on the
barrel with some light cycling wear, a few light handling marks/scratches,
minor edge wear, and crisp markings. The grips are also excellent with
limited minor handling evidence in the crisp checkering.
Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 2,500 - 3,750
LOT 321
Fine Documented 1912 Production U.S. Army
Contract Colt Model 1911 Semi-Automatic Pistol -
Serial no. 14850, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish,
checkered walnut grips. Manufactured in 1912, the first
official year of Colt Model 1911 pistol production for the U.S.
military. This example falls within a shipment of 500 pistols (serial number range
14,501 to 15,000) listed in the tables on page 515 of “U.S. Military Automatic Pistols:
1894-1920” by Meadows and page 380 of “Colt .45 Service Pistols” (1991 publication)
by Charles Clawson, sent to the U.S. Benicia Arsenal in California on November 23, 1912.
Features correct fixed oval blade front and rounded notch rear (phased out during 1913
production) sights, a commercial replacement blued barrel with polished chamber hood,
a short grip safety, smooth long trigger, straight mainspring housing with a lanyard loop
on the base along with checkered slide stop, thumb safety, magazine release, and wide spur
hammer. The slide bears the two-line, two-block patent dates and Colt address on the left
with circled Rampant Colt behind the serrations, along with the U.S. Army model marking on
the right side and “H” marked at the top of the hammer recess. The left side of the frame bears
the U.S. property marking and circled “WGP” (Maj. Walter G. Penfield) monogram inspection
mark, with the early “No” (“o” with underline) prefix serial number on the right side. Fitted with a pair
of diamond pattern checkered walnut grips and correct unmarked two-tone blued magazine with
“keyhole” relief cut and pinned lanyard loop base.
CONDITION: Fine, retaining 60% plus bright original high-polish blue
finish with some mild cycling wear on the barrel, some scattered light
edge wear, mostly brown patina visible on the grip straps, some scattered
minor patches of freckling, and some light handling marks. The grips are
very good with wear on bottom edges and light scuffing in the otherwise
defined checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500