Colt 1903 - CENTRAL VERMONT RAILWAY

bruno38

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Presenting Colt 1903 (.32) SN 39081 - dated 1906
One of only six factory marked « CV » for Central Vermont Railway, delivered to Charles E. Tisdall in Vancouver, B.C.

Colt Letter of authenticity:

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This pistol was first presented for identification on coltforum :
http://www.coltforum.com/forums/colt-semiauto-pistols/47008-colt-1903-central-vermont-railway.html

Life of Charles Edward Tisdall (a gunsmith, a B.C. minister of Finance, a Mayor of Vancouver, and a Grand Master of the Massonic Lodge of B.C. and Yukon) :
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Edward_Tisdall

Sam Lisker (US Colt expert and collector) wrote :
« The gun in question is one of six sequential Colt 1903 Pocket Hammerless .32s with “C.V.” monogram inscribed. The first five indicate that the inscription on the left side of the frame. The five were all shipped on April 21, 1906. The gun in question is also noted as having the inscription on the left frame and was shipped on April 28, 1906. All six guns are in the low 39,000 serial number range and all six went to Chas. E. Tisdall. The records did not show a factory order number, which would have contained the amount of guns in the order. Without the factory order number, there is an assumption that the five and one were part of the same order. »

The unclear issue about this pistol (and the other five CV-marked) is :
Why shipping from Colt factory to Vancouver, when subject pistols were intented to be used on Central Vermont Railway (New England) ?
Info about CV on wikipedia --- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Vermont_Railway

I got in touch with Jerry Fox, Secretary of Central Vermont Railway Historical Society in Vermont, who wrote :

« The pistol certainly does show the19th century and early 20th century logo of the Central Vermont Railroad/Railway. Just someone in Vancouver could provide security to a railroad in Vermont is a mystery to me, although the Central Vermont was owned by the Grand Trunk Railroad at that time. Perhaps it had something to do with the construction of the Grand Trunk Western Railway… »

For you appreciation, gentlemen

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The Grand Trunk Western was one of the main routes that eventually became the Canadian National Railway. GTW and CV (Central Vermont) were still CN flags up until they were all wrapped up into CN after NAFTA and a unified corporate front and imaging all fell under the CN brand, rather than several separate road names.

The explanation that CV marked pistol made it to Vancouver for use with the GT Western is a very plausible one given Vancouver is one of two CN ports on the west coast (the other being Prince Rupert where Canadian Northern Railway had it's terminus before merging into CN).

I wish pistols like this weren't prohibited. Such history.
 
As a collector of rare marked handguns, I find interesting that only this specimen could have survived. The five other "CV" pistols mentioned by Sam Lisker are not known to be owned by anyone, at least officially.
 
Very cool. :cool:

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NAA.
 
What fine find!

When I finish work on my time machine I am going back to that exact period to stay. I'll bet that customer was a gentleman of the day; and probably had a fine watch too. He probably kept that gun in a drawer to discourage visiting reprobates (like yours truly) from getting to greedy with the cigars and whisky on his desk. Can you imagine sitting across the desk from such a man making small talk before getting to business?

"Ever see one of these new fangled automatics, Mr. Lung? It's the damndest thing - a cartridge gun that reloads itself! Here - let me unload it for you so you don't shoot yourself with it...could I offer you a drink, by the way.." Aaaaahh - hey - I can fantasize, right? :)

Those would have been fine times to be a man. Much better without the entrenched politically correct ######ry we seem to have to suffer today where a kid can be suspended from school for pointing his finger and going 'BANG!'.
 
One Lung Wonder said:
What fine find!

When I finish work on my time machine I am going back to that exact period to stay. I'll bet that customer was a gentleman of the day; and probably had a fine watch too. He probably kept that gun in a drawer to discourage visiting reprobates (like yours truly) from getting to greedy with the cigars and whisky on his desk. Can you imagine sitting across the desk from such a man making small talk before getting to business?

"Ever see one of these new fangled automatics, Mr. Lung? It's the damndest thing - a cartridge gun that reloads itself! Here - let me unload it for you so you don't shoot yourself with it...could I offer you a drink, by the way.." Aaaaahh - hey - I can fantasize, right? :)

Those would have been fine times to be a man. Much better without the entrenched politically correct ######ry we seem to have to suffer today where a kid can be suspended from school for pointing his finger and going 'BANG!'.
Click to expand...

Here's my great-grandfather's "time machine": RAILWAY MONARCH SPECIAL

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7.62xfun said:
Is this the type of pistol they russians copyed for the tokarev?
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bruno38 said:
Colt 1903 was reportedly popular in Russia, probably not a coincidence the Tokarev may look similar.
Click to expand...

Externally, the Tokarev was based on the FN 1903, which was an enlarged version of the Colt 1903 Pocket Hammerless chambered in 9mm Browning Long, but internally uses the 1911's short recoil dropping barrel system.
 
What kind of watch is that, Bruno? I can't read it!!!

It looks like it worked and has a few dings in it...

I have my grandfather's watch too. It was gold plated and most of the gold has worn away...and it isn't worth anything except for sentimental value...
 
bruno38 said:
As a collector of rare marked handguns, I find interesting that only this specimen could have survived. The five other "CV" pistols mentioned by Sam Lisker are not known to be owned by anyone, at least officially.
Click to expand...

Wouldn't it be interesting to know how many "unofficial" collector's items like this there are squirreled away in this country?
 
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