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Fitted with a checkered slide catch,
thumb safety, wide-spur, hammer, and
arched mainspring housing, along with
a pair of checkered brown plastic grips
and a full-blue magazine marked “L” on the toe. Includes a
“U.S.” marked khaki M1936 web pistol belt, a “U.S.” embossed
M1916 brown leather flap holster (marked “SEARS/G.W.M.”),
and “AVERY1943” marked web dual cell magazine pouch, and
an extra full-blued magazine marked “L” on the toe.
CONDITION: Excellent overall, retaining 97% plus original
parkerized and blue finishes with limited minor edge
wear, limited minor cycling wear, some minor freckling on
some of the internal surfaces of the slide and frame, a few
minor handling marks, along with crisp markings and grip
checkering. Mechanically excellent. The holster rig is fine
with light handling marks and supple leather. Overall a very
attractive example of a World War II era 1943 production U.S.
Colt Model 1911A1 pistol!
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 3359
Excellent World War II
U.S. Colt Model 1911A1
Semi-Automatic Pistol
with Holster Rig - Serial
no. 893732, 45 ACP cal., 5
inch round bbl., parkerized/
blue finish, plastic grips.
Manufactured in 1943. Features
fixed blade front and notch rear
sights, a blued barrel marked
“COLT 45 AUTO” with “P” on the
left of the recoil lug, two-line
Colt patent dates and address
surround a Rampant Colt on the left
of the slide, “P” stamped on top of the
slide, matching “893/732” serial number
marked behind the firing pin stop, “G.H.D.” (Guy
H. Drewry) inspection and “P” stamps on the
left of the frame, the U.S. property mark, model
designation, and serial number on the right
of the frame, along with Colt factory “8” over
“triangle/VP” proofs on the left and “14” on the
right of the trigger guard.
LOT 3356
U.S. Property Marked and Documented
General Officer Issued Colt Model 1908
Pocket Hammerless Semi-Automatic
Pistol with Factory Letter - Serial no.
136058, 380 ACP cal., 3 3/4 inch round bbl.,
blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1944, the included
factory letter confirms this pistol’s configuration, including a 3
3/4 inch barrel in .380 caliber, blue finish, and type of grips not
listed, when included in a shipment of 500 pistols of the same
type sent to the U.S. Springfield Armory on November 3, 1944.
This pistol is also listed by serial number in the table on page
159 of John W. Brunner’s book “The Colt Hammerless Automatic
Pistols” as issued to U.S. Army Brigadier General William Weston
Bessell Jr. (1901-1977) on an unknown date, though it would
likely be sometime between his promotion to general officer on
October 1, 1959, and his retirement on May 31, 1965, serving as
the Dean of the Academic Board for the U.S. Military Academy
West Point during that time frame. Features fixed serrated oval
blade front and squared notch rear sights, a blued “COLT 380
AUTO” marked barrel with polished chamber hood, the two-
line, two-block Colt address and patent dates roll-marked on
the left of the side with Rampant Colt behind the serrations,
matching “136058” serial number marked on the interior of the
slide, the two-line caliber designation roll-marked on the right of the slide, the serial number and “ordnance wheel”
acceptance stamp on the left side of the frame with the “U.S. PROPERTY” marking on the right side, along with Colt
factory “triangle/VP” and “4” proofs on the left side and “64” on the right side of the trigger guard. Fitted with a pair
of checkered walnut grips with silver Colt medallion inserts and a full blued magazine marked “CAL. 380/COLT” on
the base. Also includes an extra full blued magazine marked “CAL. 380/COLT” on the base.
CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 85% plus original blue finish with some light edge wear, some minor thinning on
the grip straps, scattered specs of freckling, minor handling marks, and crisp roll-marks. The grips are also very
fine with some minor rub and handling wear to the well-defined checkering. Mechanically excellent. Overall an
attractive World War II era U.S. property marked and general officer issued Colt Model 1908 Pocket
Hammerless pistol!
Provenance: Brigadier General William Weston Bessell Jr.; Private Collection.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 3357
Exceptional U.S. Colt Model
1911A1 National Match Semi-
Automatic Pistol with Box
- Serial no. 910811, 45 ACP cal., 5
inch round bbl., parkerized/blue
finish, walnut grips. Frame originally manufactured by Colt in 1943
and subsequently upgrade to National Match competition-grade
specifications by The U.S. Rock Island Arsenal. Fitted with a serrated
Patridge blade front and adjustable “US” marked Kensight notch rear
sights, mounted on top of the arsenal replacement slide with “NM” part number on the
left of the slide and one-line Colt address on the right side, a blued “N M” marked barrel
bushing, an arsenal matched “45 AUTO/NM 7791414/0811” marked blued barrel, serrated
long adjustable trigger and arched mainspring housing, along with checkered front
strap, slide catch, thumb safety, and narrow hammer. The frame is marked with unboxed
“G.H.D.” (Guy H. Drewry) inspection initials and “P” on the left slide, retaining the Colt factory
“triangle/VP” proof on the left side of the trigger guard, while the right side is marked with
the U.S. property marking, model designation, serial number, “T”, a U.S. Rock Island Arsenal
“RIA” rebuild stamp over an older U.S. Springfield Armory “SA” rebuild stamp, and “NM” marked on the right side
of the trigger guard. Fitted with a pair of checkered walnut grips and a blued magazine with matching “0811”
partial serial number electro-stenciled on the right side. Includes a shipping box with matching “0811” partial serial
number written on the side in marker and stenciled on top “PISTOL AUTO C/45 M1911A1 NMW/E/1 EA/A/ 4/67
RIA”, a reproduction Kraft pattern shipping box, two extra parkerized magazine with non-matching partial serial
numbers electro-stenciled on the right sides, cleaning rod, and bore brush.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, retaining 98% arsenal parkerized and 99% blue finishes with some limited minor
edge and cycling wear, some softened original markings on the frame, a few minor handling marks, along with
crisp slide serrations and front strap checkering. The grips are excellent with crisp checkering. Mechanically
excellent. The box is very fine.
Estimate: 2,750 - 4,250
LOT 3358
Very Fine World War II U.S.
Union Switch & Signal
Co. Model 1911A1 Semi-
Automatic Pistol - Serial no.
1064289, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch
round bbl., Du-Lite/blue finish, plastic grips. Manufactured in
1943. In May 1942, U.S. Ordnance placed an order with the Union
Switch & Signal Company for the production of 200,000 Model
1911A1 pistols, an order which was later reduced to just 55,000. All
of the completed pistols were delivered to U.S. Ordnance throughout the course
of 1943, while World War II was still at its height. According to the table on page 144
of “U.S. Military Automatic Pistols: 1920-1945” by Meadows, this specific pistol falls
within a shipment of 10,828 pistols (serial numbers 1,057,959 to 1,068,786) sent out
in June 1943. Features fixed blade front and notch rear sights, an arsenal replacement
blued barrel marked with “S” over “P” on the recoil lug and “C 3838-4/D4” on the left side,
along with checkered short stamped trigger, magazine release, thumb safety, narrow
spur hammer, slide catch, and arched mainspring housing
with lanyard loop. The left side of the slide bears the “USS”
monogram and Swissvale, Pennsylvania, address, with circled
“R.C.D.” (Robert C. Downie) inspection and “P” stamps on the
left of the frame, while the right side of the frame bears the
U.S. property marking, serial number, and model designation.
Fitted with a pair of Keyes Fibre Co. brown checkered plastic
grips marked “star/K” on the interiors and a full-blued magazine
marked “S” on the toe.
CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 85% plus original Du-Lite finish on
the frame and slide with some minor edge wear, minor scattered
freckling/spotting, light handling marks, and crisp markings. The
grips are very good with some mild rub wear to the defined checkering. mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500