GUN SPRING 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, April 11, 2017.
IMPRESSIVE AND HISTORIC GRANT HAMMOND, US MILITARY TEST TRIAL PISTOL. GRANT HAMMOND 1915 8 45ACP MODERN; C&R Cal. 45ACP. This exceptionally rare US test pistol was invented by Grant Hammond and made by the Grant Hammond Manufacturing Company of Hartford, Connecticut in a plant owned by Liberty Motors of New Haven, an ownership that led to the nickname "LIBERTY PISTOL". This single action pistol was made circa 1917-1918 in two variations, both as a delayed blowback with an external hammer. The bolt included a spring loaded stop that protruded as a 3/8" circular extension from the right side. Towards the rear was a stiff retarding spring that also assisted in the final lock-up. The design included two very interesting features: 1) After the last cartridge was fired, the bolt would lock open while the magazine was automatically expelled out of the pistol via a spring loaded accelerator loaded under the left panel, 2) Inserting a loaded magazine automatically released the bolt to a chamber the first cartridge, similar to what Mauser had implemented in its M1910/M1914 pocket pistols. The gun was tested on two separate occasions in 1917, and then sent to Springfield Armory for additional testing in early 1918. In several respects, the gun was felt superior to the Colt; the Grant Hammond was more accurate and had a higher magazine capacity (8 versus 7). Unfortunately, there were a number of malfunctions during the Army and later Navy testing and concerns regarding fabrication and endurance precluded its being selected as a standard service arm. Nevertheless, the Grant Hammond was a well documented contender that was taken very seriously by the US military. The pistol offered at auction is a 2nd variation Grant Hammond with a 6-3/4" rnd bbl, fixed front sight and drift adjustable rear sight. Top of receiver marked "HAMMOND". The left side marked "PATENTED MAY 4, 1915 OTHER PATENTS PENDING"; the right side marked "GRANT HAMMOND MFG. CORP. NEW HAVEN, CONN., U.S.A.". The receiver just below the bbl is numbered "8" and is repeated immediately below on the frame. The frame has been fitted with a push button magazine release behind the trigger. The magazine accelerator is in place under left grip. Smooth wood panels. Unmarked magazine with forward spine and folded lips over base. A super rare gun, total production of both the first and second variation Grant Hammond was fewer than 20 pistols. Included with this gun is a pamphlet on the development of the Grant Hammond, Savage, and Schoube pistols by Roger Marsh.This exact pistol is illustrated in a display article by Montgomery on pp.53-62 of World's Guns and Other Weapons, 1958. PROVENANCE: The Frank H. Wheaton, III Collection. CONDITION: Approximately 90% orig rust blue finish with sharp edge wear and grip strap handling as one might expect from a carefully tested pistol. The same condition concerns apply to the wood panels. The magazine is more worn, retaining approximately 20% orig finish, the remainder appearing as grayed metal with superficial oxidation. Bright bore with sharp rifling. Perfect manual mechanics. A phenomenal pistol, fresh to market, and the first to be offered in over a decade. 51516-5 LMA (25,000-35,000)