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LOT 1311
Excellent Documented U.S. Quartermaster School Shipped Colt Government
Model Semi-Automatic Pistol with Factory Letter, Factory Records, Original
Box, and Boxed .22 LR Conversion Unit - Serial no. C238758, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch
round bbl., blue finish, hard rubber grips. Manufactured in 1949, the included factory
letter confirms this pistol’s configuration, including a 5 inch barrel in .45 caliber,
blue finish, and type of grips not listed, when sent as the only pistol of its type in
a shipment to Major Jas. P. Streetman, the commanding officer of staff and faculty
at the U.S. Quartermaster School at Camp Lee, Virginia, on November 1, 1949. Also
included are copies of factory receipts, addressed to Maj. Streetman and dated
“10/21/49”, listing the pistol by serial number along with a “.22/C CONVERSION
UNIT” as ordered together. Features fixed serrated blade front and squared notch
rear sights, an unmarked blued barrel with polished chamber hood, the two-line
Model name and caliber designation roll-marked on the left of the slide followed
with a Rampant Colt, the one-line Colt address roll-marked on the right of the
slide, the “C” prefix serial number on the right of the frame, along with Colt factory
“5” over “triangle/VP” proofs on the left side and “O” on the right side of the trigger
guard. Fitted with serrated milled trigger, slide catch, narrow hammer, and arched
mainspring housing, a checkered thumb safety, a pair of composite red/black/
brown checkered hard rubber grips with Rampant Colt logos, and a blued magazine.
Also includes an original Colt box with appropriate end label and a matching serial
number written in white wax pencil on the underside, and a boxed Colt .22 LR conversion kit
with the slide assembly barrel assembly, slide catch, and magazine, all in blue finish.
CONDITION: Excellent overall, retaining 98% plus bright original contrasting high polish/
matte blue finish with some light cycling and handling marks, along with well-defined roll-
marks and crisp grip checkering. Mechanically excellent. The box is fine with light edge and
storage wear. The .22 LR conversion kit is also excellent with 97% plus original blue finish and
minor edge wear on the very fine box.
Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500
LOT 1310
Historic Documented U.S. Rock Island Arsenal M15 General
Officer Semi-Automatic Pistol, Serial Number “GO188”,
Inscribed to U.S. Army General Darel R. Sievers - Serial no. GO188,
45 ACP cal., 4 1/2 inch round bbl., bright/matte blue finish, walnut grips.
Frame originally manufactured as a U.S. Model 1911A1 by Colt c. 1940s and subsequently
refurbished into a M15 General Officer pistol by the U.S. Rock Island Arsenal c. 1972-1973.
Developed by U.S. Rock Island Arsenal Superintendent of Small Arms, Machinery, and Plating Dale
W. Hoffman c. 1970, the M15 General Officer’s .45 caliber pistols were built up solely by the U.S.
Rock Island Arsenal from 1972 to 1981 utilizing existing U.S. Model 1911A1 pistol frames that were
re-machined and re-marked, paired with shortened slides with raised iron sights and shortened 4 1/2
inch barrels. This specific pistol, serial number “GO 188”, is listed in Table IV on page 148 of “The Colt
U.S. General Officer’s Pistol” (1989 publication) by Horace Greely IV as issued in 1973. Features raised
fixed ramped blade front and notch rear sights, “General Officer Model/RIA” marked in gold filled lettering
on the left of the slide and small “P” stamp on top, the serial number marked in gold filled lettering on the right of the
frame, Colt factory “T” and “triangle/VP” proofs retained on the left side of the trigger guard with “73” retained on the right side, and a checkered
front strap. Fitted with a pair of checkered walnut grips with a U.S. Rock Island Arsenal “ordnance wheel” insert on the right panel and a silver
name plate on the left panel marked with “SIEVERS” for General Darel R. Sievers (1920-2020), who served 34 years with the U.S. Army starting in June 1944 and 30 years with
the Los Angeles Police Department, and is credited with being on of two key men in the development of law enforcement S.W.A.T. teams at the time. Includes a “US” and
“DSA100-69-C-0049” marked black leather dual cell magazine pouch and two extra blued magazines.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, retaining 98% plus U.S. Rock Island Arsenal bright and matte blue finishes with some minor pitting under the finish on top of the slide, a
few minor handling marks, and well-defined arsenal markings. The grips are excellent with attractive wood grain and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. Overall an
exceptional example of a U.S. Rock Island Arsenal M15 General Officer pistol as issued to U.S. Army General Darel R. Sievers!
Estimate: 7,500 - 11,000
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