November 3-4, 2017 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/4/2017
Factory letter states this pistol as shipped to Clapp & Treat in Hartford, Connecticut on September 30th, 1924, with blued finish, grips not listed, in a shipment of six guns. Right side of slide has the "COLT AUTOMATIC" stamp, wide letter, that began in late 1920 at serial No. 360000. Slide has the last type arrow, Type E, with no feathers. Features checkered slide stop, and serrated magazine release. Faint verified proof in trigger guard. Left side of slide has the Type F stampings and Type D pony introduced in 1920. Silver medallion diamond checkered walnut grips, left side pony faces forward, right side pony faces rear; these grips were introduced in 1924. Has the Type IV pre-war tempered magazine with crimped base and stamped "CAL. .32 COLT". Type IV square notch rear sight. Pistol retains 99% of the Colt factory blued refinish and comes in a blank label return box with an original work order for bluing of various parts dated August 1937. The blue is obviously factory, but you can tell there is some light feathering of patent date on left side of slide. All other markings are sharp as new. The grips on this gun were not available until 1924, which indicates the gun was returned and shipped back to customer in this box in 1937, and wears an original Colt pre-war finish. Slide is numbered to gun.