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LOT 1305
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