May 23rd 2015 Premier Firearms Sale
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/22/2015
This is an incredible offering of an ID'd Colt .45 semi-automatic 1911 pistol. The pistol itself is a standard Model 1911 U.S. Army with a 5" barrel, blued finish, checkered walnut grips, and chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge. It was manufactured in 1914 and is 100% original with all the correct parts. Blued barrel is stamped "HP" and left side of frame has the "WGP" inspector stamp for Walter G. Pennfield (1911 - 1914). The slide has the horse at the left rear. "United States Property" stamped on left front frame and "Model 1911 U.S. Army" on right side of slide. The gun retains approximately 95% of the beautiful early factory blue finish, thinning on front and back grip straps, with some very light high edge wear, muzzle wear, and a light drag line. It has an excellent frosted bore. Diamond checkered grips are near mint. Comes with an original period two-toned pinned magazine with lanyard loop. Accompanying this pistol is an original 1917 Campbell holster, an original webbed belt, magazine pouch with one extra lanyard loop magazine, canvas U.S. khaki tunic, copy of the Aeronautics License to Clifford Dounce dated 1918, an original photograph of Dounce wearing this very tunic, a letter from Dounce's grandson, copies of documents from the Kelly Air Field in Texas, and an original manual of military aviation dated 1917 - 1918 signed by Dounce. Dounce has inscribed in his own hand on the back of the holster different airfields at which he was stationed to include: Wilbur Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio; Dallas, Texas; etc. Dounce rose in rank from Private to Liet. in the Army Air Corp. Given the high condition of this early 1914 manufactured pistol and the direct family lineage to the 1917 - 1918 Army Air Corp makes this outfit a stellar historical perspective with regards to early war-time aeronautics. This gun has been completely disassembled and examined by noted 1911 expert Eric Gustafson who has confirmed that this gun is completely original.