December 14-17, 2021 Collectible Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/15/2021
Originally developed by the OSS in the latter end of World War II, code name "Bigot" was a unique set of components designed to convert a standard Model 1911 semi-automatic pistol to silently fire a weighted dart, with the intention of being utilized during covert operations while behind enemy lines. The conversion consisted of the addition of a breech plug, an extended firing pin rod, as well as a dart that contained a .25 ACP blank round. Once fired, the extended firing pin assembly would strike the .25 ACP round that was housed at the nose of the dart, propelling gas down the length of the body of the dart, thus launching the dart from the pistol. While there is no recorded data about the effectiveness of this design, Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons fired a reproduction of the "Bigot" dart with poor overall results. This example is of a later production, with the blueprint being marked "EXOTIC WEAPONS INK", "THIRD DESIGN PROTOTYPE", as well as "DRAWN BY LANGTON", and is dated "MAY 20, 1968". The blueprint exhibits overall design details, featuring measurements and general notes of the darts construction, as well as designating this design as "DARTO". Accompanying the blueprint is an additional printed copy of the original blueprint, dart, recoil spring guide rod, inert .25 ACP round, as well as two thread-on barrel bushings. 1 barrel bushing appears to be from another dart design, with the hole being too small to accommodate the rear of the dart. Extended firing pin rod and breech plug are not present. CONDITION: Dart shows rough machining marks around the tip, which is proper for a prototype design, with metal components being in-the-white and exhibiting areas of age related discoloration overall. Barrel bushing shows some spots of cleaned oxidation. Blueprint is very good, showing a few creases overall, a couple very small holes in the center crease from age, as well as some age related discoloration overall. Blueprint copy shows some minor tears, but is otherwise fine. A unique 1911 conversion, that paired with its original blueprint, would make for a fine display and conversation piece. MLW