June 25-28, 2018 Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/25/2018
Almost immediately after production began on the Colt Model 1911 .45 semi-automatic pistol, the Navy placed an order for 15,037 examples to be identical to the Army Model with the exception the slide be marked "MODEL OF 1911 US NAVY" on right side. The majority of which were shipped to the Brooklyn Naval Yard. The first shipment was sent on March 1st, 1912 and the last shipment was on March 15th, 1915. They were all in the serial number range 109501 to 110000, which would indicate 499 pistols were actually manufactured and delivered. The onset of the first World War made it impossible to fill the Navy order and they were forced to take alternate revolvers instead. This pistol is all original, untouched with all correct parts with the exception of an all blued replacement barrel that is simply stamped "P" on left lug. The rear sight is a Type II changed on September 15th, 1913 that has machined flat top with U notch and radius corners. All other features are correct for the time to include checkered wide spur hammer, checkered slide stop and safety, smooth flat mainspring housing with ring, diamond checkered walnut grips and a two tone tempered pinned base magazine with lanyard. In addition to the Navy stamp on right side of slide, patent dates are identically stamped on left side of slide to that of standard Army Model. Left side of frame is stamped "UNITED STATES PROPERTY". "GHS" can be found in a circle on left side for Gilbert Stewart (1915-18). The gun has overall blue homogenous appearance mixed with soft patina and the typical machining marks as found on all period service pistols. The front grip strap is grey patina. Frame still retains approximately 90% brighter blue with patina showing through. Slide itself is more a mixture of blue and soft patina blend. All finishes are similar with proper toning throughout. Legends are sharp as new. An extremely fine example of a scarce pre-World War I Navy contract pistol that only needs the proper barrel to be totally correct. This Colt's shipment to the Brooklyn Naval Yard on March 5th, 1915 in a shipment of 500 guns has been confirmed by the Colt archives. From the G. Thomas Puett Collection.