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LOT 338
Rare Documented Russian Contract Colt Government Model
Semi-Automatic Pistol with Factory Letter - Serial no. C51310,
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 3 August 1916 in a shipment of 5,000
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 on the left side of the frame, “ANGL. ZAKAZIE”(transliterated) for “English Order”. 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” and “N” on the bottom ahead of the lug
and has a polished chamber hood. The left side of the frame is marked with the aforementioned contract marking
and “VP” and “b” 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.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 40% of the original blue finish with the balance having thinned to a mix of smooth brown and grey patinas, numerous scattered patches of light pitting/oxidation, and some minor dings on the right of the frame by the slide release pin. The grips are very good with moderate wear, some minor handling marks, a minor flat spot on the right, and otherwise mostly well-defined checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 9,500 - 16,000