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LOT 308
Excellent World War II U.S. Colt
Model 1911A1 Semi-Automatic
Pistol - Serial no. 817361, 45 ACP cal.,
5 inch round bbl., parkerized finish,
plastic grips. Manufactured in 1942,
early in World War II. The left side of the matching number slide is marked
with the two-line, two-block patent dates and address, bisected by the
Rampant Colt. The right side of the frame has the U.S. property, model, and
serial number, while the left has the “W.B.” inspector’s mark and “P” proof. The
full blue barrel is marked “COLT 45 AUTO” and “G” on the underside in front of the lug. Fitted with blade and notch sights, reinforced checkered grips, and an “L” marked full blue magazine. CONDITION: Excellent, retains 98% plus of the original parkerized finish with some scattered light handling marks and some very light edge wear. The grips are also excellent with some light wear and scattered light handling marks, and otherwise well-defined checkering.
Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Mel Raucher Collection. Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500
LOT 309
Documented Pre-World War II Colt
Ace Semi-Automatic Pistol with
Factory Letter - Serial no. 3089, 22
LR cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish,
walnut grips. Manufactured in 1931.
Blade front and adjustable notch rear sights,
the two-line address and patent dates on the left side of the slide, the
Rampant Colt ahead of the serrations, and the Colt Ace logo and caliber
markings on the right. The frame is marked “20” on the right side of the
trigger guard, “3/VP” on the left and fitted with a short milled trigger, wide
checkered hammer, checkered arched mainspring housing and a set of fully checkered grips. The included factory letter confirms the current configuration (barrel listed as 4 3/4 inches and grips not listed) as well as shipment to R.S. Elliot Arms Company in Kansas City, Missouri on 10 December 1931.
CONDITION: Extremely fine, retains 90% plus of the original blue finish with some scattered light handling marks and a small patch of cleaned light pitting showing a grey patina on the front left of the slide. The grips are excellent with a few scattered minor blemishes in the otherwise crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Mel Raucher Collection.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 310
World War II U.S. General Motors Guide Lamp FP-45
Liberator Single Shot Pistol - NSN, 45 ACP cal., 4 inch
round bbl., phosphate 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 either side of the frame, and a hollow grip for ammunition storage.
CONDITION: Good, retains traces of the original phosphate finish with the balance mostly a speckling of grey oxidation scattered throughout, showing a slightly rough texture. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 1,600 - 2,500
LOT 311
Very Fine World War I U.S. Colt Model 1911
Semi-Automatic Pistol - Serial no. 163506, 45
ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips.
Manufactured in 1917 and shipped to Springfield Armory
on 26 June 1917, well before the end of World War I. The left of the slide
is marked with the two-line, two-block patent dates and address with
the Rampant Colt behind the serrations, while the right has the standard
“MODEL OF 1911 U.S. ARMY” marking. The left of the frame has the U.S.
property marking and “GHS” inspection mark and the serial number is on
the right. The full blued barrel is marked “P/H” on the chamber hood and “5”
on the bottom and left of the lug. Fitted with blade and notch sights, wide
checkered hammer, long
smooth trigger, short grip
safety, diamond pattern
checkered grips,
and an unmarked
two-tone magazine.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains
80% plus of the original blue
finish with the balance having thinned to a smooth grey patina, primarily on the grip straps and leading edges of the slide, and some scattered very light spotting. The grips are also very fine with a few scattered minor blemishes and otherwise crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The Paul H. Thompson of Union, SC Collection.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 312
Very Fine World War I Contract U.S. Colt Model
1911 Semi-Automatic Pistol - Serial no. 545967, 45
ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips.
Manufactured in late-1918, it is unclear when and where exactly
this pistol shipped, as its serial number falls into the range of non- consecutively numbered shipments. The left of the slide is marked with
the two-line, two-block patent dates and address with the Rampant Colt behind the serrations, while the right has the standard “MODEL OF 1911 U.S. ARMY” marking. The left of the frame has the U.S. property marking and “eagle head/S12” inspection mark and the serial number is on the right. The full blued barrel is marked “P” on the bottom and with a conjoined “HP” on the chamber hood. Fitted
with blade and notch sights, wide checkered hammer, long smooth trigger, short grip safety, diamond pattern checkered grips,
and an unmarked
two-tone magazine.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains
80% plus of the original blue finish with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina, primarily on the grip straps and leading edges of the slide. The grips are also very fine with a few scattered light handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Mel Raucher Collection.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
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