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LOT 437
Exceptional Pre-World War II Colt Government Semi- Automatic Pistol with Original Box and Accessories -
Serial no. C151303, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish, checkered walnut grips. This boxed Colt Government Model .45 automatic pistol was manufactured in 1927. The pistol has the original Colt
commercial blue finish. The top of the barrel chamber is polished bright and the full-checkered walnut grips are oil finished. The pistol has an unmarked, two-tone,
flat base magazine. The pistol displays the features incorporated by the Ordnance Department with the Model 1911A1 automatic pistol in 1923 and adopted by Colt
in “New Style” Government Model production in 1924 that include: arched mainspring housing, extended grip safety, short trigger with checkered face, and
finger clearance cuts on the sides of the receiver. The right side of the receiver is roll-stamped: “GOVERNMENT MODEL/C151303” in two lines behind the slide
stop hole. The left side of the trigger guard bow is stamped with a “W” assembler’s mark above the Colt “Triangle/VP” proofmark. A “G” is stamped on the top of the
receiver to the right of the disconnector hole. An “S” is stamped on the underside of the barrel in front of the lug. The slide is stamped with the serial number “151/303” above and below the firing pin
hole beneath the firing pin stop. The right side of the slide is roll-stamped: “COLT AUTOMATIC/CALIBRE.45” followed by the Rampant Colt trademark. The left side of the slide is roll-stamped with the elongated, two-line, Hartford address and 1907-1913 patent dates. The pistol is complete with the original Colt factory box. The underside of the box has the serial number “151303” written in grease pencil. The end of the lid has a white paper label marked “GOVERNMENT MODEL.” and the end of the box bottom has a blue and white label marked: “COLT AUTOMATIC PISTOL .45/Rimless Smokeless”.
A Colt English/Spanish promotional label is glued to the inside of the box lid and an English only label is glued to the box bottom. The box contains: a bore brush, “Proper Ammunition” leaflet, manual for “Colt Automatic Pistol Caliber
.45 Government Model, and “Special Instructions” pamphlet.
CONDITION: Excellent. The pistol retains 98% of the original blue finish. Wear is limited to several very minor
takedown marks below the slide stop. The grips and grip screws are in excellent plus condition. All of the markings
are perfect. The magazine has 98% of the two-tone finish with “DIXON” lightly period scratched on the back. The box
is in fine condition and the exterior has light edge wear with some tears on the end labels. The interior is in excellent condition. The pistol serial number is written on the inside of the instruction manual and the various documents included with the pistol are in excellent condition.
Provenance: The Joe Marlin Hilliard Collection.
Estimate: 4,500 - 7,000
352
LOT 438
Outstanding Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammer Semi-Automatic Pistol - Serial no. 21572, 38 Colt auto cal., 4
1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, hard rubber grips. Manufactured in 1907, this is an outstanding, totally original, example of an early production Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammer pistol. 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 three-line Browning’s patent and two-line address in two blocks with the circled Rampant Colt behind the serrations. The right of the slide has the two-line caliber marking. The left of the frame is marked with the serial number. It is fitted with blade and rounded top notch sights, a rounded checkered hammer, checkered hard rubber grips with Rampant Colts and Colt banners, and an unmarked full blue magazine.
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 97% plus of the bright, original, high polish blue finish with the balance having thinned to a smooth grey patina, lightly visible on the leading edges of the slide. 85% plus of the original nitre blue and 98% vibrant case colors remain. The grips are also excellent with a few scattered light handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 4,500 - 7,000