December 6-8, 2023 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/6/2023
Per the included factory letter, this pistol was manufactured as a 6" .38 ACP with blued finish, pearl grips, Mexican Eagle stamp on top of slide, sold to the Ministerio de Guerra y Marina, c/o El Comandante Militar de Vera Cruz, and shipped to A. Combaluzier, Mexico City, Mexico, on February 27th, 1908. Housed in a leather holster with "Louis S. Cates / Parral" written on the inside flap. Louis S. Cates was a mining engineer at the turn of the century. He received a mining engineering degree from MIT in 1902, and started his professional career in Parral; presumably at the same time he acquired this pistol. He would go one to be the CEO of Phelps Dodge from 1930-1947, during which time they acquired Nichols Copper, Calumet and Arizona Mining, and the United Verde Copper Companies. Standard configuration for a Mexican Contract 1902, with Mexican eagle behind front sight, 2 line patent and address information on left side of slide, encircled Rampant Colt at rear, caliber information on right side. Pearl grips. Typical Colt VP and inspector proofs on trigger guard. PROVENANCE: Richard "Dick" Burdick collection. CONDITION: Good, retaining approximately a third of the Colt factory bluing, mostly in the protected areas, with balance gunmetal grey mixed with chocolate patina. Some superficial scratching and silvering to reciprocating areas. Mechanically fine, bore has strong rifling with frosting throughout. Holster is very good, pliable, with some crazing and scratches throughout but solid.