September 9, 10, & 11, 2025 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/9/2025
Per an included copy of a letter by A.A. White, this pistol was the prototype for the $1000 model, as the World War I commemoratives could be ordered in various tiers of decoration. There is near complete coverage of sprawling acanthus scrollwork, with leaf borders and shell motifs used to accent. The left side of the slide depicts a machine gun nest at Chateau Thierry, overlooking a village, while the other side has "1917 WORLD WAR I COMEMMORATIVE 1967" in a gold ribbon; the letter notes that this was the first use of the banner which became the one used on the commemoratives. Further bands of gold are at muzzle and ahead of cocking serrations. Small parts are largely standard, except for the mainspring housing, which is a flat serrated example instead of a curved one; this features was on three of the prototypes. The grips are replacements as noted in the letter, supplied by Colt. The gun is also notable in that it is in .38 Super, while the other guns were in .45 ACP; the only other .38 Super was prototype WWI-3. Frame has original serial number under the right grip scale, and is signed "AAW" and has White's gold inlaid "Colt's A.A. WHITE ENGR". The letter further states that this gun and WWI-2 were purchased by Herb Glass. CONDITION: Excellent, retaining virtually all of the bluing throughout with some very minor thinning to the sharpest edges. Grips are excellent with some chipping about the escutcheons. Mechanically fine, bore is bright and shiny with strong rifling. Discretely import marked at the magazine well by Simpson. An opportunity to acquire an extremely rare prototype.