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LOT 352
Outstanding Pre-World War II, Documented Wolf & Klar Fort Worth,
Texas Shipped, Wilbur Glahn Factory “C” Master Engraved Colt
Government Model National Match Semi-Automatic Pistol with Ivory
Grips, Extraordinary Embossed Silver Decorated Holster, and Factory
Letter - Serial no. C185504, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish, ivory
grips. Manufactured in 1937, this is a very attractive example of a documented
Texas shipped, factory engraved, pre-World War II Colt Government Model
National Match pistol. The included factory letter lists the pistol in .45 caliber
with a 5 inch barrel, grips not listed, factory “C” level engraving, and furnished
with adjustable sights when sold to W.S. Spt. Arms Co. of Fort Worth, Texas and
shipped to Wolf & Klar of Fort Worth, Texas on 11 September 1937 as a single
gun shipment. According the “Book of Colt Firearms” by Sutherland and Wilson,
only approximately 25 of these Government Model National Match pistols
were factory engraved, making this example extremely scarce. The engraving
on this example was executed by Colt’s Master Engraver Wilbur Glahn, with
the “C” Level engraving encompassing essentially all of the surfaces. While 25
of these pistols may have received some form of factory engraving, it is near
certain that far fewer received this extensive, “C” level of engraving coverage.
A pair of Colt National Match pistols pictured on p. 601 of “The Book of Colt
Engraving Vol. II” by Wilson were also Texas shipped and show very similar
coverage, Glahn engraving, though they both have inlaid gold wire accents. That
pair of extensively embellished pistols were made for J.E. Decker, the sheriff of
Dallas County, who wore Texas badge No. 1, and was one of the most respected
lawmen in the State of Texas. The Decker pistols shipped in November of 1940,
making it quite possible that this particular pistol, having shipped three years
earlier to Texas, was seen by Sheriff Decker and influenced the ordering of his
pistols.