September 5-7, 2023 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/5/2023
Per Colt factory letter, this gun shipped as a 5" .45 ACP Blued gun to Vachon's Gun Shop, East Natick, Massachusetts, on March 22nd, 1940, with special notation for an adjustable rear sight and a 3 - 3/4# pull, on work order 9005; records do not mention a new safety device (Schwartz safety). Archetypal configuration of the pre-war National Match with high-than-normal serrated slope front sight, adjustable rear sight, 2 line Colt address and patent information on left side of slide, caliber and model designation on right. Frame with "GOVERNMENT MODEL" and serial number; appropriate "99" subinspector proof on right side of trigger guard, "P" and Colt's VP on left. Small parts comprise checkered spurred hammer, thick tab safety, slide release, short milled trigger, magazine release, long A1 grip safety, flat knurled mainspring housing with lanyard loop, and fully checkered walnut stocks. 2 tone magazine with "COLT / 45 AUTO" on base. Mainspring housing has been knurled post-factory, but the work is of exceptional quality. Per an included letter from Bower's Gunsmithing, the trigger was replaced as one point with a checkered milled pre-War trigger that fit better than the original trigger found on the gun; Bower's gave it to as a gift, with the note that if the recipient did not like the trigger, it could be used as a subject of experimentation. PROVENANCE: From the advanced collection of the esteemed and respected Dr. Jim Watson of Scottsdale, Arizona. CONDITION: Overall excellent, retaining virtually all of the Colt factory bluing, with some red paint used to highlight the front sight, and legends carefully infilled with gold paint; both common practices. Some very minor handling and use marks, most offensive some silvering to reciprocating areas and some marks near muzzle and slide stock catch. Mechanically fine, bore is excellent with strong rifling and some mild frosting to edges of grooves. An exceptional example from when Colt was building some of their finest pistols.