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LOT 1288
Documented Last Produced,
Colt Vice President Shipped
Colt Mk IV Series 70 Gold
Cup National Match Semi-
Automatic Pistol with Factory
Letter and Documentation
- Serial no. 70N99999, 45
Auto cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips.
Manufactured in 1981, reported as the very last “70N”
prefix Colt Mk IV Series 70 Gold Cup National Match
pistol produced before serialization changed to a
“N70” suffix for the remainder of production (ended in
1983). The included factory letter confirms the pistol’s
configuration, including a 5 inch barrel in .45 caliber,
blue finish, and type of grips not listed, when shipped
to Colt’s at-the-time Vice President Keith Crowley in Hartford, Connecticut,
on June 1, 1981. The factory letter lists additional details including that
the pistol was specifically selected for Mr. Crowley as noted by the unique
serial number, it was built by assembler Manuel Bello and inspected by
Frank Batsie on May 20, 1981, test fired by Charles Fredrick, and fine tuned by Bob Beaucage on May 21, 1981.
Features fixed partridge blade front and “ELLIASON” adjustable notch rear sights on a serrated rib, the three-
line model and caliber designation followed with a Rampant Colt marked on the left of the slide along with
the “GOLD CUP/NATIONAL MATCH” and “(trophy) markings on the right side, a blued barrel marked “COLT .45
AUTO. N.M./MK.IV/SERIES’70” on the polished chamber hood, the one-line Colt address and serial number on
the right of the frame, along with Colt factory “M” and “triangle/VP” proofs on the left and “W” on the right side
of the trigger guard. Fitted with a pair of checkered walnut grips with gold washed Colt medallion inserts and
a blued magazine. Also includes a matching numbered sales receipt dated “6/9/81”, two matching numbered
test-fire targets with the second dated “5-21-1981”, and a letter from Keith Crowley on Colt Letterhead
identifying the pistol by serial number as the last “Model “0”” National Match Gold Cup pistol produced by Colt.
CONDITION: Excellent, retaining 98% plus original blue finish with some minor cycling wear, dried grease in
protected areas, limited handling evidence, and crisp markings. The grips are very fine with some thinning to
the gold washed medallions and light handling marks in the well-defined checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Keith A. Crowley Collection; The Gus Cargile Collection; Private Collection.
Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500
LOT 1289
Excellent and Rare
1949 Early First
Year Production,
Washington D.C.
Sales Representative
Shipped, Colt
Commander Model Semi-
Automatic Pistol, Single-
Digit Serial Number “005”, with Box and Factory Letter - Serial no. 005, 45 ACP cal., 4 1/4 inch round bbl.,
blue/black anodized finish, checkered plastic grips. Manufactured in 1949, the first year of production for the Colt
Commander Model semi-automatic pistol line with a prefix of “00” used for that year before changing to a LW suffix
in 1950 as discussed on page 65 of the “Blue Book Pocket Guide for Colt Dates of Manufacture” by Wilson and Allen,
with this example being the fifth example produced. The included factory letter confirms the pistol’s configuration,
including an unlisted barrel length in .45 caliber, blue finish, and type of grips not listed, when sent as the only
pistol of its type in a shipment to Joseph A. Lorch at 1010 Vermont Avenue in Washington, D.C., on December 21,
1949, with Mr. Lorch being a Colt representative in the Washington, D.C., area dealing with Government agency
sales. Features fixed serrated blade front and squared notch rear sights, the one-line Colt address roll-marked on
the right side of the slide with the two line “GOVERNMENT/MODEL” and caliber designation followed by a Rampant
Colt on the left side, “COLT 45 AUTO” marked on top of the barrel’s polished chamber hood, the “005” serial number
marked on the right of the aluminum alloy frame, along with Colt factory “5” over “triangle/VP” factory proofs on
the left side of the trigger guard and “7” on the right side. Fitted with a pair of reddish colored and checkered
composite hard rubber grips with Rampant Colt panels and a blued magazine marked “COLT 45 AUTO.” on the
base. Also includes a non-matching numbered Colt brown box with appropriate end label.
CONDITION: Excellent overall, retaining 99% original blue and black anodized finishes with limited minor handling
evidence, clear markings, and well-defined grip checkering. Mechanically excellent. The box is fine with minor
storage wear. Overall an extremely attractive early, 1949 production Colt Commander Model pistol, being the fifth
example made!
Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500
LOT 1287
Rare Limited Edition Master
Alvin A. White Signed, Factory
Engraved, and Gold Inlaid World
War I Battle of Belleau Wood
Commemorative Special Deluxe
Colt Model 1911 Semi-Automatic
Pistol - Serial no. 125BW, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue/gold finish, walnut grips. One of only 25 Special Deluxe
variants of the Colt World War I Battle of Belleau Wood Commemorative Model 1911 pistols produced in 1968, per page
106 of the “Blue Book Pocket Guide for Colt Dates of Manufacture” by Wilson and Allen. Features fixed blade front and
notch rear sights, a detailed engraved woodland battle scene (with a Lewis Gun team in the foreground and advancing
infantrymen in the background) on the left of the slide with a circled Rampant Colt behind the serrations, “1917/WORLD WAR I
COMMEMORATIVE/1967” in a flush gold inlaid banner over the one-line Colt address on the right of the slide, one flush gold inlaid band at the muzzle end on either
slide of the slide along with two more ahead of the slide serrations on both sides, “COLT.45 AUTO” and a Colt factory “triangle/VP” proof on the polished chamber hood
of the barrel, the serial number flush gold inlaid on the right side of the frame, and extensive floral scroll pattern engraving with approximately 80% coverage across the
slide and frame, with the right side of the grip frame marked with a gold inlaid “COLTS A.A.WHITE ENG.” mark under the panel for Master Engraver Alvin A. White. Fitted with
a pair of smooth oiled walnut grips, with “Great Seal of the U.S.” and “BELLEAU WOOD” medallion inserts on the left panel and Great War commemorative medallion insert on
the right panel, and a blued magazine marked “COLT/.45 AUTO” on the base.
CONDITION: Excellent overall as factory embellished by Master Engraver Alvin A. White, retaining 99% original blue finish and gold
inlays with limited minor handling evidence, clear markings, and crisp engraving. The grips are exceptionally fine with a few minor
handling marks, a textured strip on the right, and otherwise attractive grain. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
Serial
Number 005