Page 329 - Auction84-Book1

Documented as Purchased by U.S. General William Crozier, the Chief of Ordnance for the U.S. Army
The left side of the matching numbered slide on this pistol is marked with the two-line two-block patent dates (ending with 1905) and Colt address while the right side has the two-line caliber marking. The left side of the frame has the single digit serial number “7”. It is fitted with blade and rounded top notch rear sights, a long smooth trigger, checkered slide stop, a short grip safety, and a straight smooth mainspring housing with the lanyard ring staple on the base. It is factory fitted with the Model 1911 “Special Army” pattern thumb safety that was later also adopted on the Model 1911 accepted by the U.S. military. The replacement Model 1911 pattern blued barrel is marked “N” on
the bottom. It is also fitted with the correct small diamond pattern checkered grips also seen on the Special Army. This pistol is furnished with an unmarked two-tone pinned exposed base magazine with a lanyard ring on the base. The previously mentioned book by Goddard on p. 234 lists this pistol as shipped to A. Johnson, likely a Colt salesman, on a loan account on 10 June 1911. This pistol is also listed on p. 115 of the previously mentioned book by Meadows as being
shipped to General William Crozier, the Chief of Ordnance, on 21 June 1911. This information is confirmed on p. 115 of the previously mentioned book by Goddard. Includes a Colt envelope marked to this pistol and a
hanging tag marked “692”.
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 95% plus of the bright original high polish
blue finish, traces of original case colors on the grip safety and mainspring housing, and 75% of the original niter blue with the balance having thinned to a smooth grey patina, primarily on edges and the grip straps, some scattered light scratches, and a light takedown mark. The grips are also excellent with
a few scattered light handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. This is an incredibly scarce piece of the evolutionary history of the Colt Model 1911 that would instantly become the centerpiece of even the most extensive Colt or U.S. military automatic collections!
Provenance: The Dr. Robert Azar Collection.
Estimate: 100,000 - 160,000
AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK U.S. MILITARY AUTOMATIC PISTOLS 1894-1920 BY MEADOWS
Collector’s Fact
1 of fewer than only 12 Colt Model 1910/1911 Special Army Semi-Automatic pistols produced for the U.S. Army.
AS DISCUSSED IN THE BOOK
THE GOVERNMENT MODELS BY GODDARD
SERIAL NUMBER 7
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