September 10-12, 2019 Field & Range Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/11/2019
This Colt US Army Model 1911 falls into the serial number range of the second shipment of Colts issued to the Marine Corp of approximately 1,200 guns 36401-37650. The first order of Marine Corp Colts was shipped in 1912, serial range 3501-3800, or approximately 300 pistols. This gun was shipped in 1913. There are only a few items found on this gun that do not date to 1913: barrel has the in-line "HP" stamp (instead of perpendicular, first used on serial number 110001, which would make it a second type barrel first used in 1915) and the magazine is not a first style keyhole type nor does it have a lanyard so was not used until 1915. The rear sight is a Type II with the beveled edge and U-notch which was not used until 1914. Other standard correct period features include diamond checkered walnut grips, flat smooth main spring housing with lanyard, long smooth trigger, Type I short wide spur checkered hammer, checkered slide stop and safety, and Type I short half moon rounded front sight. Left side of frame has the proper inspector stamp of Walter G. Penfield. The left side of slide has the Type I pre-1912 patent date with rear pony. Frame is stamped "UNITED STATES PROPERTY". Right side of slide is simply stamped"MODEL OF 1911 US ARMY". CONDITION: All legends are sharp but there is basically no original Colt blue remaining. It is simply an all grey patina; smooth, clean, and homogeneous. Grips are excellent. Functions properly and has a sharp, clean bore. The few parts needed to make this all correct for 1913 are fairly easy to find with the exception of the first type barrel. All of these parts were probably updated by the armorer at the time gun was in field use. Magazines were lost, barrels wore out and the first type rear sight probably got damaged. This is the first Marine Corp range Colt 1911 that we have ever offered as they are extremely hard to locate as the survival rate, due to the use and years in service, make this example difficult to find on today's market. Those few that have been offered are usually found with no condition and this example, although devoid of finish, is extremely sharp.