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LOT 1273
Excellent World War I Era U.S. Navy
Officer Shipped and Factory Inscribed Colt
Government Model Pistol with Factory
Letter - Serial no. C33555, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch round
bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1916, with the included factory letter
confirming this pistols configuration, including a 5 inch barrel in .45 caliber, blue finish, type of grips not
listed, and “C. C. Grieve” factory engraved on the slide, when sent as the only pistol of it type in a shipment
to U.S. Navy Pay Master N. B. Farwell at an unlisted address on March 27, 1916. The engraved name is likely for
Commander Charles C. Grieve, who was the Medical Inspector and Executive Officer of the U.S. Navy Hospital
in Bremerton, Washington, during the time period. Features fixed oval blade front and square notch rear sights,
the two-line. two-block Colt patent dates and address roll-marked on the left side of the slide followed with a
Rampant Colt behind the serrations along with the “C. C. Grieve” inscription and two-line caliber designation on
the right side, the model designation and “C” prefix serial number on the right side of the frame, along with Colt
factory “triangle/VP” and “b” proofs on the left side of the trigger guard. Fitted with a pair of “double diamond”
pattern checkered walnut grips and a two-tone blued magazine with lanyard loop on the base.
CONDITION: Excellent, retaining 95% plus bright original blue finish with a few minor patches of light pitting on
the front sides of the slide, a few minor handling marks, along with clear roll-marks and a crisp name engraving.
The grips are also excellent with some limited minor handling evidence in the
crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. Overall a very attractive example of
an original World War I era Colt Government Model Pistol named to a U.S. Navy
officer with the factory letter!
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
LOT 1272
Documented Factory Inscribed and
Gold Inlaid Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket
Semi-Automatic Pistol with Pearl Grips,
Presentation Case, and Factory Letter - Serial
no. 395237, 25 ACP cal., 2 inch round bbl., nickel
finish, pearl grips. Per the included factory letter,
this pistol was part of a one-piece shipment to
the Palm Beach Mercantile of Palm Beach, Florida, on
February 10, 1932, with the barrel length left blank, grips “not
listed” and verifying the caliber and finish. The letter includes the
note “Factory Engraved: On left side of
receiver/R.H. Work in gold”. Notes supplied
by the consignor attribute R.H. Work as
Ruth Harris Work, aka Ruth Harris and Ruth Gunster. Born in New
Jersey, at the time she was the wife of Horace Hutchins Work, a man
of relative leisure with inherited wealth from the oil business, with the
couple splitting their time between New Jersey in the warmer months
and Palm Beach, Florida in the winter. Records from the era chiefly note
the Works for sporting events and social activities, with their winter
home “El Cabana” often noted by name. Horace Work would pass on in
1933, with Ruth Work remarrying in 1938 to Joseph Gunster, a Florida lawyer, and passing on herself in 1964.
Blade front and notch rear sight, with a full nickel finish, matching numbered slide, and pearl grips with silver
Rampant Colt medallions. As noted, the left side of the frame bears the deeply cut and gold inlaid “R.H. WORK”
inscription, with a textured pattern applied to the individual letters. Included with the lot is a black leatherette
presentation case with blue velvet lining and Colt “serpentine C” logo inside the lid.
CONDITION: Excellent, with 98% plus original nickel finish, showing some minor flaking under the grip
panels and light handling marks overall. The pearl grips are also excellent, with attractive color. Mechanically
excellent. The case is very fine, with minor scuffing concentrated on the edges.
Estimate: 7,500 - 12,000