September 10-12, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/10/2024
Part of a 649 gun order shipped November 9, 1944 to the Springfield Armory for the United States Government, this is one of 3,128 Model 1908 pistols procured by during World War II. This excellent example is finished in factory brushed blue. Standard fixed blade front sight and drift adjustable rear. Left side of the frame stamped "U.S. PROPERTY". Fitted with checkered walnut grips inset with rampant Colt medallions. Gun is housed in a correct style Kraft box and paperwork with matching serial written on the underside in pencil; appears to be a reproduction. Lot also includes a factory letter and hard-to-find original documentation, including a 1946 dated Schedule of Collections and a 1949 Detroit registration card, listing the gun by serial number. The Schedule of Collections records a Major Francis H. Corgan purchased this gun for the sum of $21.57. He later registered it with the Detroit Police, as is listed on the included card. Corgan was born in Michigan and received his first reserve commission in 1933, seeing active service beginning in 1940 where he served through WWII. After the war, Corgan served the Ordnance Corps stateside as well as in posts in South Korea and Europe, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1964. CONDITION: Excellent. Pistol retains nearly all of its factory blued finish with only faint high edge silvering and handling marks. Grips are excellent. Fine mirror bore. Crisp mechanics. A fantastic documented WWII General Officer's pistol.