GUN FALL 2015
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/5/2015
RARE EARLY PRODUCTION COLT LIGHTWEIGHT COMBAT COMMANDER SEMI-AUTO PISTOL ASSOCIATED WITH THE FBI.COLTLTWT COMMANDER00569 MM & 45 ACPMODERN; C&RCal. 9 MM & 45 ACP. Blue finish with 4-1/4" bbls, fixed sights and prototype markings on both sides of slide with Rampant Colt on left sides. Slides are steel with black anodized alloy frame. Grips safety has a short spur with rnd hammer spur and serrated composition straight spring housing. Mounted with red & black marbled, Rampant Colt embossed composition grips. Accompanied by one orig Colt 9 MM magazine marked with the Colt name and "CAL.99MM.LUGER" on base plate. The other magazine is for the 45 ACP conversion and appears to be military. Consignor states that his father was an old time FBI Agent under J. Edgar Hoover and helped set up the ballistics laboratory for the FBI. Consignor states that this pistol was given to his father by Mr. Hoover. This pistol was manufactured in the first year of production of the Commander Model in 1949. There were only 65 of these pistols produced that year and all serial numbers began with "00". Beginning in 1950 with pistol number 66, Colt omitted the "00" and added the suffix "LW". Those early first year pistols were mostly to test the market, many of which were chambered in a variety of calibers. Both slides of this pistol have unusual markings "COLTS MFG. CO. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A." on the right side. This is an exceedingly rare pistol the like of which is unlikely to ever be encountered again. Accompanied by a hinged lid, chocolate/brown cardboard box without end label, embossed with the Colt trademark on top and marked in white grease pencil on the bottom "30/c". Accompanied by a Colt factory letter which identifies this pistol in cal 9 mm with 4-1/4" bbl, blue finish, type of stock not listed, shipped to "Mr. Marion Williams, Special Agent, F.B.I. Laboratory, Washington, D.C. on December 13, 1949" in a one gun shipment. Under remarks section, the letter states "The above firearm is an early production of the aluminum lightweight 9 M/M. Markings on the slide are special roll markings which indicates the standard marking dies were not available and the eventual marking of this arm was not certain. The barrel making also is an indication that standard barrels were not available. This prototype was sent to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for evaluation and test purposes for possible production by Colt later on. Eventually, this model was marketed by Colt as the "Commander". The serial numbers 001 to 0065 appeared on the first 65 guns assembled and numerated by the engineering dept. Starting with 66 the letters 00 were omitted and the letters LW were substituted and used as a suffix. Records do not mention the .45 caliber conversion parts with this gun." PROVENANCE: The Collection of Marion E. Williams. CONDITION: Very fine to extremely fine. 9 MM slide retains about 97-98% bright commercial blue with faint sharp edge wear and a couple small spots. Frame retains 97-98% black anodized finish with a few small scratches on the front strap. Magazine retains about 95% orig satin blue. Left grip has a repaired crack through the top screw escutcheon, otherwise grips are sound showing no wear. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore shows very little use. The 45 ACP slide retains about 90% orig blue, with minor light surface freckling and sharp edge wear with a couple of small scratches. Bbl is orig and has bright shiny bore. Box has three damaged corners in the lid with a tear in the top left edge and broken hinge showing heavy wear. 49287-5 JR (6,000-10,000)