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LOT 3337
Exceptional World War II Era Colt
Government Model National Match
Semi-Automatic Pistol with Factory
Letter - Serial no. C187449, 45 ACP cal., 5
inch round bbl., blue finish, checkered walnut
grips. Manufactured in 1940, one of only
around 4,813 National Match Government Models manufactured
between 1932 and 1941, making these pistols relatively rare on the collectors market. The included
factory letter confirms this pistol’s configuration, including a 5 inch barrel in .45 caliber, blue finish, type
of grips not listed, and furnished with an adjustable rear sight, when sent as the only gun of its type in
a shipment to the loan account of Wallace A. Beattie in Buffalo, New York, on April 11, 1940. The factory
letter also includes a remark that the pistol was returned to the factory on May 5, 1940, and then shipped with W. S. Darley
& Company in Chicago, Illinois, for W. O. Ray of Austin, Texas. Features fixed wide blade front and adjustable notch rear sights,
“COLT 45 AUTO MATCH” marked on the underside of the blued barrel with polished chamber hood, the two-line Colt address
and patent dates roll-marked on the left of the slide with “NATIONAL MATCH” followed by two caliber designation and Rampant
Colt roll-marked on the right of the slide, a matching “187/449” serial number marked behind the firing pin stop on the slide, the
model designation and serial number on the right of the frame, along with Colt factory “P” over “triangle/VP” proofs on the left
side and “60” on the right side of the trigger guard. The initials “CSA” are non-factory engraved into the underside of the dust cover.
Fitted with a checkered slide stop, thumb safety, short trigger, wide hammer, and arched mainspring housing, a pair of checkered
walnut grips, and a two-tone blued magazine.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, retaining 90% plus original blue finish with some limited light edge/rub wear, some fading to the front portions of the slide
and frame, minor cycling wear, some specs of freckling, some minor handling marks, along with clear roll-marks and engraving. The grips are very fine with
a chip underneath the lower right panel screw, some minor handling wear in the well-defined checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 5,000 - 7,500
LOT 3336
Rare Unmarked Colt
Factory Demonstration
Government Model Cutaway
Semi-Automatic Pistol - NSN, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured
c. 1924-1941. This unmarked Colt factory demonstration Government Model cutaway has no visible
markings on any of the components, and was manufactured by the Colt factory as a production/classroom
demonstration piece. It is reportedly from the Connecticut State Library Collection. These pistols were often
pulled from general production early in the process or sometimes assembled using parts that fell just short of quality
control standards. These cutaway pistols were used to demonstrate the inner workings of the firearm, in this case, the legendary Government Model
semi-automatic pistol. There are 5 cutaway panels on this pistol to show the internal workings. Similar examples of factory cutaway Model 1911 pistols are
pictured in “U.S. Military Automatic Pistols 1894-1920” by Meadows, and in “The Book of Colt Firearms” by R.L. Wilson.
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 95% bright original high polish blue finish, with light takedown lines, and minor freckling on the rear mainspring housing. Grips
are also excellent, with minor handling marks, and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent as a cutaway. A rare piece to add to a Colt auto collection!
Provenance: The Connecticut State Library Collection; R.L. Wilson; Richard Ellis; Private Collection.
Estimate: 7,500 - 11,000
LOT 3338
St. Louis Police Shipped Colt Super 38 Semi-Automatic Pistol with Inscription and
Factory Letter - Serial no. 16835, 38 Super cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips.
Per the included factory letter, this pistol was part of a 10-piece shipment to St. Louis Police
Headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, on September 25, 1934, with the grips “not listed” and the
barrel, caliber and finish verified. The letter makes a further remark that no additional markings were recorded
in the records, and offering the speculation that details may have been overlooked by the original recorder. An additional consignor-
supplied data sheet notes the pistol as one of approximately 80 “St.L.P.D.” inscribed Super 38s purchased by St. Louis PD to arm
plainclothes detectives, which were rotated out of service c. 1938-1939, later sold out of police inventory c.1985-1986 to Jeff Faintich of
the Colt Collector’s Association and Faintich Auction Services; per other sources, Faintich is believed to have acquired the entire lot via an
equipment swap with St. Louis PD, retained a consecutive pair (16831 and 16832, just a few digits off
from this pistol) for himself that would later be auctioned off c.2000, and sold the others. Half moon
blade front and notch rear sights on the matching numbered slide, “SUPER 38 AUTO” marked barrel,
checkered grips, and “St.L.P.D.” engraved on the frontstrap.
CONDITION: Excellent, 90% plus original blue finish, with a dent on the left rear corner of the slide,
minor pitting concentrated around the front sight, and minor edge wear, handling marks and spotting
overall. The grips are very good, with some flat spots and dings. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 4,000 - 6,000