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LOT 3265
Extraordinary Documented Factory Engraved Colt Government Model Semi-Automatic Pistol with Inscribed Carved Grips Shipped to New Orleans
Chief of Police Thomas F. Healy with Factory Letter - Serial no. C144437, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish, carved grips. Manufactured in 1925, this exceptional Colt Government Model pistol was beautifully factory engraved before leaving the factory.
It features about 25% coverage factory floral scroll engraving in flourishes on both sides of the slide, the bottom of the frame and slide, front strap, grip safety, both sides of the frame, slide stop and thumb safety, and the top of the slide. The left side of the slide
also has the standard two-line address and patent dates and the right has the caliber marking followed by the Rampant Colt. The right side of the frame is marked “GOVERNMENT MODEL” over the serial number and the trigger guard is marked “1/VP” on the left and “51” on the right. It has been fitted with a pair of grips with each panel inscribed with “THF” and carved with eagles clutching arrows and an
olive branch below. The pistol is also fitted with blade and notch sights, wide checkered hammer, long grip safety, short stamped trigger, arched checkered mainspring housing, and a two-tone magazine with “COLT/45.AUTO.” marked base. The included factory letter confirms the “initials ‘T.F.H.’ on both stocks” (no mention of the eagles) and that the pistol was charged to “Presentation Selling Expense” and shipped
to Chief of Police Thos. F. Healy on 6 July 1925. The letter also notes that the engraving was not noted in the original factory ledger but that it was listed in the production book with the notation “engraved”. The aforementioned remarks in the factory letter eliminated all doubt!
Thomas F. Healy became the Chief of Police in the City of New Orleans, Louisiana in 1925, and a year later worked to establish his “100 miles per hour” police force, which involved acquiring five armored motorcycles capable of speeds of up to 100 miles per hour. This was to be able
to respond quickly to a wave of hold-ups and burglaries in outlying precincts, as well as responding to the general crime of the prohibition era. Shortly before becoming police chief, Healy, who was then the chief of detectives, was involved in an interesting scandal involving his
predecessor, Chief of Police Guy Molony. Molony and a deputy Davidson were accused of staging the robbery of a drug store by forcing a man,
at gun point, to rob the establishment, where officers were conveniently waiting behind the counter to arrest him, and for Molony to take credit. Healy and the other four officers previously mentioned were later accused of withholding information regarding these accusations; however, Healy had been part of the investigation into the matter and stated that Davidson had confessed to the crime. The captain of the four officers committed suicide during the investigation, perhaps helping them to be acquitted by admission of his own guilt, and Molony subsequently returned to Honduras were he had previously took part in various armed conflicts.