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LOT 433
Fine Documented Browning Brothers Shipped
Early Production Colt Military Model 1905
Semi-Automatic Pistol with Factory Letter
- Serial no. 2185, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl.,
blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1906,
this is both an attractive and solid original
representative example of one of only 6,210 Colt
“Military Model of 1905” pistols manufactured
over a period of six years. These pistols are a very
important evolutionary step in the development
of Colt automatic pistols and the Model 1911 as
they were the first production Colt automatic
chambered for the legendary .45 ACP cartridge.
Interestingly, this example was shipped to
Browning Brothers in Ogden/Salt Lake City, Utah,
the retail business of none other than John Moses
Browning, the designer of both the Military Model 1905 pistol, as well as the legendary Model 1911. The left side of the slide is marked with the two-line, two-block patent dates and address, with the circled Rampant Colt behind the serrations. The right side of the slide is marked “AUTOMATIC COLT/CALIBRE 45 RIMLESS SMOKELESS”. The left side of the frame
is marked with the serial number, and the left of the trigger guard has a “VP” proof and “6”. It has rounded blade front and rounded top notch rear sights, and the rounded checkered hammer. It is fitted with a pair of diamond pattern checkered grips, an unmarked full blue magazine, and a smooth back strap not cut for a shoulder stock. The included factory letter confirms the current configuration (grips not listed) as well as shipment to Browning Brothers of Ogden and Salt Lake City, Utah on 5 June, 1907 in a three gun shipment. CONDITION: Fine, retains 50% plus of the bright original high polish blue finish with the balance having thinned to a mottled grey and brown patina, primarily on the slide where there are also a few scattered patches of light pitting. The grips are very fine with some scattered light handling marks and crisp, checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
LOT 434
Excellent Pre-War Colt Vest Pocket Model 1908 Semi-Automatic Pistol with Box - Serial no. 202819, 25 ACP cal., 2 inch round bbl.,
blue finish, hard rubber grips. Manufactured in 1919 with standard two-line address/patent dates and Rampant Colt on the left of the slide, caliber marking on the right, serial number on the left of the frame, “VP” and “1” marked trigger guard, and standard features.
Includes the original Colt maroon box
and an extra magazine.
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 99% plus of the
original blue and casehardened finishes with
only the slightest handling evidence. The grips
are also excellent with crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The box is very good with some mild wear.
Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
LOT 435
Excellent Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammer Semi-
Automatic Pistol - Serial no. 44881, 38 Colt auto cal., 4 1/2
inch round bbl., blue finish, smooth grips. Manufactured in
1922, the serial number range for these pistols is somewhat
odd, starting with this pistol, number 19999, and working down to 16000 before
starting again at 20000 and working up. The left side of the slide is marked with
the standard two-line, two-block patent and address marking, with the Rampant
Colt behind the serrations. The right side of the slide is marked with the two-line
caliber marking is front of the ejection port. The left side of the frame has the serial
number and “1/VP” on the trigger guard, while the right of the trigger guard is
marked “48”. It is fitted with blade and notch sights, the later production spurred
hammer, and a pair of smooth grips with Colt medallions.
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 98% of the original blue finish with a few scattered
light handling marks and some very light edge wear. The grips are very fine with a few typical hairline age cracks, a more significant crack at the bottom of the left panel, and otherwise minimal handling marks. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 436
Exceptional 1919
Production Colt
Government Model
Semi-Automatic
Pistol Inscribed “N.C. Longmire”
- Serial no. C111408, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue
finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1919, this is a very fine
example of a pre-World War II commercial Colt Government
Model pistol. The right side of the slide has the two-line, two-
block address/patent dates separated by the Rampant Colt, and the right side
has the caliber marking. The left side of the slide is also non-factory inscribed with “N.C. LONGMIRE”. An N.C. Longmire is listed in Delaware newspapers of the period
as being part of the Wilmington Trapshooting Association. The left of the trigger
guard is marked “VP” and “40”. The right side of the frame has the Government Model marking over the serial number, the “4” in which is factory double stamped. It has
the “old model” features including the long smooth trigger, wide checkered hammer, non-dished frame, and smooth flat mainspring housing with a lanyard loop. The barrel has a polished chamber and is unmarked. Fitted with diamond pattern checkered grips and an unmarked two-tone
magazine with a lanyard
loop base.
CONDITION: Exceptionally
fine, retains 90% plus of the
original high polish blue finish
with some scattered minor edge/handling wear revealing
a smooth grey patina. The
period, non-factory applied
inscription on the right of the
slide is engraved through the
finish. The grips are excellent
with a few scattered minor
blemishes in the otherwise
crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
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