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LOT 3377
Pre-World War II Nickel Plated
Colt Model 1908 Pocket
Hammerless Semi-Automatic
Pistol with Pearl Grips, Original
Box and Factory Letter - Serial no.
130605, 380 ACP cal., 3 3/4
inch round bbl., nickel finish,
pearl grips. Manufactured in
1938, the included factory
letter confirms the pistols
configuration, including
a barrel, caliber, nickel
finish, and type of grips not
listed, when shipped alone
to Shapleigh Hardware
Company in St. Louis,
Missouri, on September 7,
1938. Features fixed oval
blade front and rounded
notch rear sights, a “COLT
380 AUTO” marked nickel
plated barrel, the standard
two-line Colt address and patent dates on the left of
the slide with Rampant Colt behind the serrations, and the two-line caliber marking on the right of the slide.
Matching serial number marked on the interior of the slide. The left of the frame bears the serial number, with
“P” over “triangle/VP” on the left side of the trigger guard along with “75” marked on the right side. Fitted with
a pair of period replacement smooth pearl grips and a nickel plated magazine marked “CAL.380/COLT” on the
base. Includes the original Colt “black” box with a matching serial number written on the underside in pencil.
CONDITION: Excellent plus, retaining 99% plus original nickel plating with some dried grease and grease stains
in the action, but otherwise limited minor handling marks and crisp roll-marks. The grips are also excellent.
Mechanically excellent. The box is fine with some light edge fraying. Overall a very attractive example of a
nickel plated Colt Model 1908 Pocket Hammerless pistol with original box!
Provenance: The Brig & Louise Pemberton Collection.
Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
LOT 3374
Exceptionally Fine
Individual Shipped Pre-
World War II Colt Ace Semi-
Automatic Pistol with Box
and Factory Letter - Serial
no. 6127, 22 LR cal., 4 3/4 inch
round bbl., blue finish, walnut
grips. Manufactured in 1936,
this is an very fine example
of a pre-World War II Colt Ace
pistol. The included factory
letter confirms the current
configuration (grips not
listed), as well as shipment
on 7 August 1936 to Lt. M.M.
Henry in York, Pennsylvania.
A period newspaper article
lists Lt. M.M. Henry as a
Reserve Officers Training
Corps member from York,
Pennsylvania who attended
the commissioning ceremony
of another R.O.T.C. officer. The left side of the slide has is marked with the standard two-line address and patent
dates followed by the Rampant Colt, while the right has the standard Colt Ace and caliber markings. The serial
number is marked on the right of the frame and the trigger guard has “4/VP” on the left and “12” on the right. It
is fitted with a blade front sight and adjustable notch rear sight, checkered slide stop and thumb safety, a short
checkered trigger, arched and checkered mainspring housing, a long grip safety, checkered walnut grips, and a two-
tone magazine with Colt Ace markings on the base. Includes an unnumbered, correctly labeled factory box.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, retains 90% plus of the original, high polish blue finish with some scratched on the
front grip strap and light handling/holster type wear. The grips are also fine with a few scattered minor blemishes in
the otherwise crisp checkering, mostly on the left panel. Mechanically excellent. The box is fair with most of the side
pieces absent from the lid and some flaking and tearing.
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 3375
Very Early First Year
Production Two Digit Serial
Number “21” Colt Super 38
Semi-Automatic Pistol - Serial
no. 21, 38 Colt Super Auto cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish,
walnut grips. Manufactured in 1929, the first year of production
for Colt’s Super 38 semi-automatic pistol, with this example being
the 21st produced. The model was a .38 caliber adaptation of Colt’s
famed Government Model, with its chambering being marketed as more capable of
penetrating automobile bodies of the era better than the .45 ACP chamber of the latter.
Features thick oval blade front and square notch rear sights, the two-line Colt address
and patent dates roll-marked on the left side of the slide with the caliber designation and
Rampant Colt on the right side, a matching two-digit serial number marked behind the
firing pin stop, a blued barrel with polished chamber hood marked “K” on the underside,
the two-digit serial number on the right of the frame, Colt “3” factory proof on the left of the
trigger guard with “20” on the right, along with checkered short trigger, slide catch, thumb
safety, wide spur hammer, and a replacement flat/smooth mainspring housing with
a lanyard loop on the base. Fitted with a pair of checkered walnut grips and a correct
two-tone blued magazine marked “COLT SUPER/38 AUTO” on the base.
CONDITION: Fine, retaining 60% original blue finish with scattered light edge wear,
thinning on the grip frame with the balance a mostly brown patina, some minor
freckling, light handling marks, and clear roll-marks. The grips are very good with
scattered light compression wear in the mostly well-defined checkering. The magazine
follower does not property engage the slide catch; otherwise, mechanically excellent.
A highly desirable example of a very early first year production, two digit serialized
Colt Super 38 pistol!
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 3376
Very Early Production Colt Model
1908 Pocket Hammerless Semi-
Automatic Pistol, Two-Digit Serial
Number “33” - Serial no. 33, 380 ACP
cal., 3 3/4 inch round bbl., blue finish, hard rubber
grips. Manufactured in 1908, the first year of production for
Colt’s Model 1908 Pocket Hammerless pistols, with this example
being the near-start of production with a serial number of “33”.
Features fixed oval blade front and rounded notch rear sights, two-line, two-
block Colt patent dates and Hartford, Conn., address roll-marked on the left of the
side with a circled Rampant Colt behind the serrations, two-line caliber designation
roll-marked on the right of the slide, the two-digit serial number stamped on the
left side of the frame, along with “triangle/VP” and “R” stamped on the left side of the
trigger guard. Fitted with a pair of “COLT” and Rampant Colt logoed checkered hard
rubber grips and an unmarked blued magazine.
CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 70% bright original blue finish with cleaned etch
pattern light pitting on the right side of the slide, some light pocket pattern edge
and high-point wear, some light thinning on the grip straps with a mostly smooth
dull-grey patina, some scattered specs of brown patina/freckling, and some light
handling marks. The grips are fine with alternating coloration and some minor
compression wear to the otherwise defined logos and checkering.
Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
Serial Number 21
Serial Number 33