April 11-13, 2023 Firearms and Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/13/2023
Manufactured in March 1916 as per factory letter from Colt. Russia funneled most of the purchases through Britain, and this example is one of those, with factory letter indicating shipment to "His Britannic Majesty's Government". Half-moon front sight, U notch flat top rear sight. 2 line 2 block patent dates and Colt information on left side of slide, Rampant Colt at rear of slide. Right side with "COLT AUTOMATIC / CALIBRE 45". Frame with "GOVERNMENT MODEL / C 52230". Checkered spur hammer, left side only safety with relief mill cut, slide release with relief mill cut, and checkered magazine release. Short 1911 grip safety, flat smooth mainspring housing with lanyard loop. 2 piece truncated diamond walnut grips. 2 tone magazine with lanyard loop. These rare guns were shipped into Murmansk and Archangel before distribution to Russian forces; beyond that little of their history is known, however, there is one account that a 1911 was used to kill the Romanovs. Interestingly, a number of these guns were captured by the Finns in 1918 but were of secondary use due to their .45 ACP chambering. In the 1950s, Finland began to dispose of the guns, with most sold to Interarmco in the United States, but a number were converted to 9mm and sold to the Defence Forces; this example appears to be one of those with reshaped extractor claw to accommodate 9mm, extractor modified, modified magazine with repinned base and heat distension about the top from conversion, barrel relined to 9mm from .45 ACP; see pgs. 134-135 in "Military Small Arms in Finland" by Palokangas. CONDITION: Very good as converted, retaining the vast majority of the blued finish with a few spots of silvering and some handling marks, mostly to muzzle from holster wear. Some light peppering to slide and a number of takedown marks on left side of slide. Grip straps are essentially patina throughout. Magazine is very good as modified, with pitting on left side. Grips are very good with no discernible cracks and somewhat smoothened from use. Action works appropriately when cycled by hand, with exception given to magazine lockback and disassembly (disassembly now requires removal of firing pin), bore is very good with strong rifling and mild frosting. An interesting gun.