September 10-12, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/10/2024
At the turn of the century, Norway was experimenting with the adoption of a new pistol for their army, and found that the Colt 1911 in .38 was an ideal weapon for them, purchasing 25 through Colt's London Agency for troop trials in 1911. In the same year, Colonel Krag returned and informed them that the US had adopted the guns in .45 ACP, causing them to pause the adoption of the .38s while experimenting with the .45s. In 1914 they redid the tests, and on September 24th, 1914, the Norwegian Minister of Defense officially adopted the pistol for Army and Navy use. They negotiated for the rights for domestic production, and produced the first 95 pistols in December 1917. This example, serial number 500, is one of the guns made during the first full year of production with classic Norwegian features such as the distinct extended and dropped slide release, numbered parts throughout, and a 1918 date on right side of frame over an "A" inspection mark for Halvdan Alstad. Matching numbers observed on interior of slide, firing pin retaining plate, left side of slide, recoil guide rod, bushing, barrel (which also has an A inspection), left side of frame, reverse of magazine release, trigger, thumb safety, ejector, grip safety, and mainspring housing. With a previous description when sold at auction, assigning provenance to the Gus Cargile collection, and reporting that this gun reputedly was the first gun shipped the extended slide stop. CONDITION: Very good, retaining the vast majority of an arsenal style enamel paint finish, with thinning to bare metal at sharp edges throughout, with some areas of fine oxidation under the paint, and legends softened. Grips are very good with some handling marks and a couple abraded heads, left scale with two fine cracks at screw. Mechanically fine, bore is very good with strong visible rifling and mild even frosting throughout. A very desirable and early Norwegian 1914.
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