October 22-23, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/22/2019
This high condition mid-war Colt features a checkered arched mainspring housing, checkered wide spur hammer, black parkerized finish, Keyes type brown plastic grips, short checkered trigger, and a type III rear sight with beveled edges and square notch. The top of slide is stamped with P. Left side of frame is stamped with GHD stamp for Guy Dewey with P. Right side of frame has "US Property" and "M1911A1 US ARMY" stamp along with Ordnance Wheel. The all blued barrel is stamped Colt .45 Auto. Notably, the bottom of the barrel is stamped Hege along with GN and a German post war proof stamp.This is well covered in Charles Clawsons 2nd edition book of Commercial series 1911 pistols on page 137.This page also explains that 4000 of these pistols were found in the Ukraine in recent years and commercially sold through Germany The left side of frame is also stamped Hege with same proof stamp along with KF and another different proof mark. The German proof mark is also stamped on right side rear of frame. This stamp indicates that this Colt 1911 A1 was sent to Russia noted by the marking and German proof as they were bought and sold via Frankonia in Germany. This is the first such marked example we have examined. The proof mark is post-War indicating this mid-War gun was shipped to Russian via Germany after the war was over. CONDITION: Just some light handling marks but a solid 99% arsenal finish with a fine bore and crisp action. Comes with near full military style box of 1942 dated .45 ACP ammo and an extra blued and unmarked magazine. DB