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LOT 391
Fine Documented U.S. Navy Contract Colt Model 1911
Semi-Automatic Pistol with Factory Letter - Serial no. 96279,
45 ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. A total
of 15,037 of these pistols were manufactured by Colt with the
desirable U.S. Navy slide marking, all of which were delivered
prior to April of 1915. After that, all Model 1911 pistols delivered to the
navy would bear the standard U.S. Army nomenclature, of which there were
approximately 578,473 manufactured, making this variation comparatively
very scarce. This is an example of a 1914 production, U.S. Navy contract, Colt
Model 1911 pistol that was shipped on 26 September 1914 to Springfield
Armory “for the navy”, as listed in the included factory letter, which also
confirms the current configuration (grips not listed). This pistols serial
number falls between two pistols (96259 and 96325) which are listed as
being issued to “USN - Fighting SQDN 1” in August of 1944 on p. 533 of “U.S.
Military Automatic Pistols 1894-1920” by Meadows/Ellis. It is finished in the
military brushed blue finish that was adopted in April of 1912. The left side
of the slide is marked with the standard two-line, two-block Colt address
and patent dates with the Rampant Colt behind the serrations, while the
right bears the desirable “MODEL OF 1911 U.S. NAVY” marking. The brushed
blue barrel is marked “P H” on the chamber hood and “5” on the bottom
in front of the lug. The left side of the frame has the U.S. property marking
and “WGP” circled monogram above the magazine release, while the serial
number is on the right. It is fitted with a blade front sight and a later, period replacement, flat top notch rear sight, checkered slide catch, thumb safety, magazine catch, and wide hammer, long smooth trigger, smooth flat mainspring housing with lanyard loop, a pair of diamond pattern checkered walnut grips, and an unmarked two-tone magazine with lanyard loop base.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 70% of the original brushed blue finish with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina, some scattered light spotting, and a patch of light surface pitting on the upper right rear of the slide. The grips are also fine with some scattered minor handling marks and otherwise crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
LOT 392
Fine U.S. Springfield Armory Model 1911
Semi-Automatic Pistol - Serial no. 105073, 45
ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips.
Manufactured in the third block of serial numbers
reserved for Springfield Armory production, this is a fine original
example of a U.S. Model 1911 semi-automatic pistol manufactured by
Springfield Armory for the United States military. The left side of the slide
has the standard three-line Colt patent dates and two-line “SPRINGFIELD
ARMORY/U.S.A.” markings in two blocks, as well as an ordnance bomb
behind the serrations. The right side of the slide is marked with the
Department of Defense eagle and “MODEL OF 1911.U.S. ARMY.” The left side
of the frame has the U.S. property marking and an ordnance bomb near the
trigger guard, and the serial number is marked on the right. Features blade and
notch sights, checkered wide hammer, short grip safety, and a smooth straight
mainspring housing with a lanyard ring. The blued
barrel is marked “P” on the left of the lug. It is fitted
with a pair of checkered, large diamond pattern,
correct walnut grips and a correct blued magazine
with a lanyard ring “wrap around” base.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 50% of the original blue
finish with the balance having thinned to mostly a
smooth grey patina and a few scattered patches of
very light surface pitting. The left grip panel has a minor crack near the bottom screw, but the grips are otherwise very good with mostly evenly worn, well-defined checkering. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500
World War II U.S. General Motors Guide
Lamp FP-45 Liberator Single Shot Pistol with Box and Accessories - NSN, 45 ACP cal., 4 inch round bbl., bright finish, metal grips. Conceived, developed and manufactured in 1942, the “Flare Pistol, 45 Caliber” (FP-45) was intended to A) give the citizens of occupied nations a way to express their displeasure to the occupiers, B) not give the enemy anything worth salvaging, and C) be cheap. The Guide Lamp Division of General Motors was tapped to produce the firearm, a collection of sheet metal stampings and cast zinc components assembled around a smoothbore barrel. While inexperienced with arms production, Guide Lamp stepped up admirably and cranked out over a million of the deadly little contraptions in a matter of months.
The pistol is correctly devoid of markings with two oiler holes on the left side of the frame, one on the right, and a hollow grip for ammunition storage. Included with the pistol is a nearly complete set
of accessories, as intended to be deployed in the field with the pistol, consisting of a heavily waxed reproduction brown cardboard box with an illustration of the pistol in mid-discharge, 12-panel “comic strip” instruction manual with “Chadwick Bond/25% Cotton” watermark, seven rounds of steel cased “ECS/43” ammunition in a plain brown box, a plain wood dowel rod for ejecting spent cartridges, and a wood filler block for the box.
CONDITION: Very good overall, with a gray patina on much of the surface, scattered mild spotting, and mild handling marks. The accessories are very good, with some creases and tears in the main box and mild discoloration of the cartridge cases. Mechanically in good order, though the rear of the frame and breechblock show warping/deformation suggestive of excessive chamber pressure on discharge.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 393
328 Estimate: 9,000 - 14,000