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LOT 1433
Rare Documented Russian Contract Colt Government Model Semi- Automatic Pistol with Factory Letter - Serial no. C32970, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch
round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Originally ordered in 1916 and 1917, the Russian Contract Colt Government Model pistols were ordered by the Imperial Russian
government from Colt. The included factory letter confirms the current configuration (grips not listed) as well as shipment to the government of Russia on 31 March 1916 in a
shipment of 2,500 guns. When placing the order, the government of Great Britain acted as an intermediary, using a line of credit established by the Russians and backed by hard
gold reserves held in Britain to cover the bill. Britain’s role as go-between is the source
of the signature marking found on the left side of the frame on many of these contract pistols, “ANGL. ZAKAZIE”(transliterated) for “English Order”. This example, like a minority
of other Russian contract Government Models, lacks the marking, the reasoning for which is unknown. The Russian Contract pistols as-issued otherwise bore only standard Colt markings like this example. By 1916, the situation on the Eastern Front was already getting well out of hand for Russia, and in 1917 they went through the February and October Revolutions, which brought about both the fall of the Imperial government and the successor Provisional Government, which led to the rise of the Soviet Union. Additionally, some reports of the final assassination of Tsar Nicholas II and his family put a pair of Colt .45 ACP pistols among the weapons used by the Bolshevik party, in particular one used by Yakov Yurovsky, leader of the squad who is noted as having fired the opening shot directly into the Tsar’s chest. Russian Contract Government Model Colts are scarce on the American market in any condition, as they saw hard use through multiple conflicts and virtually none were ever exported by the Soviet Union, making an excellent example like this one a true rarity. The left side of the slide has the two-line, two-block address and patent dates with the Rampant Colt behind the serrations, these markings have some flaws and breaks due to a worn roll stamp. The right of the slide is marked with the caliber marking. The barrel
is marked “P” on the polished chamber hood.. The left side of the frame lacks the contract marking mentioned above and is marked “VP” and “e” on the trigger guard, with the model marking and serial number on the right. There is a “Simpson LTD G’BURG.IL” import mark visible on the bottom left of the magazine well. It is fitted with the standard blade and notch sights, long smooth trigger, wide checkered hammer, short grip safety, smooth mainspring housing, diamond pattern checkered grips, lanyard loop, and an unmarked two-tone magazine with lanyard loop base.