Look what RIA will be auctioning (Colt 1911)
- Thread starter bellero
- Start date
Anybody here bidding on anything?? I'm really tempted by the pearl grips one.
Estimated Price: $30,000 - $50,000
This is a rare example of an exceptional Singer Sewing Machine Company, presentation type, M1911A1 semi-automatic pistol. The consignor stated that this pistol was given to him by an heir of the "Singer Sewing Machine Company." As we know there were exactly "500" Model 1911A1 pistols manufactured under U. S. Army, Ordnance Educational Order No. W-ORD-396, by the Singer Manufacturing Company during WWII. Most if not all were supposedly issued to the U.S. Army Air Corps. This was an extremely low number production run with examples in any condition being extremely rare and highly desirable. Now we have a true "Presentation Type", pistol as given to one of the heirs of the company with absolutely 99.9% of the original blue finish with absolutely no serial number or frame markings and never had any! This would certainly be the center piece of any M1911A1 collection and certainly the center piece of any Singer M1911A1 pistol collection. As noted, this example does not have any proof or acceptance marks. The only markings on the entire pistol is the slide, which is correctly marked in two lines "S. MFG.CO./ELIZABETH, N.J., U.S.A.". The various remaining parts; thumb safety, hammer, grip safety, barrel bushing, recoil spring cap, magazine release button were all produced and blued at the same time as the frame. Even the grips are the correct early Singer patterns that have the hollowed out back sides with no reinforcing webs with no mold markings, with no reinforcing rings around the screws. This is just an outstanding example of a rare, one of a kind Singer family presentation M1911A1 pistol. Magazine absent.
Estimated Price: $20,000 - $30,000
This is a rare professionally restored example of one of the only 500 Model 1911A1 Pistols manufactured by the Singer Manufacturing Company during WWII. These pistols were all produced under the U. S. Army Ordnance Educational Order No. W-ORD-396 with most, if not all being issued to the U.S. Army Air Corps. These rare pistols have had an extremely low survival rate with examples being very scarce in any condition. The slide is only marked on the left side in two lines with "S. MFG.CO./ELIZABETH, N.J., U.S.A.". The top of the slide and left side of the frame are correctly stamped with a single "P" proofmark and correctly is not stamped with a serial number under the firing pin retaining plate. The left side of the frame is stamped with the "JKC" initials of Col. John K. Clement, the Executive Officer of the New York Ordnance District. The right side of the frame is stamped "UNITED STATES PROPERTY/No S800445", with "M 1911 A1 U.S.ARMY" in front of the slide stop pin. The pistol has the wide spur hammer with borderless checkering with the checkered thumb safety, slide stop, trigger and mainspring housing. The barrel is a wartime High Standard replacement that has been restored to conform to a Singer barrel by having the "HS" removed so that it only has the larger "P" proof on the left side matching a Singer barrel. The brown plastic grips are early wartime Keyes-Fibre without the reinforcing rings around the grip screws that have also been restored to resemble Singer grips by having the reinforcing web and markings removed from the backside. The pistol has an unmarked all blue magazine with the floor plate pins ground smooth on the sides.
Estimated Price: $70,000 - $125,000
This Colt Model 1911 Government Model Pistol was manufactured in 1914 and presented to "COL. F.T. FISHER". Colonel Francis Torriano Fisher, CB, had a 39 year career in the British Army and was a senior officer in the Royal Ordnance Department in 1914. He served as Superintendent of the Enfield Lock Ordnance Factory during most of World War I. The pistol presumably was a gift (bribe in today's terminology) from Colt to Col. Fisher to encourage the British Government to purchase Model 1911 Pistols (some 13,300 Model 1911 Pistols were sold to the British military between 1915 and 1919). The pistol is engraved with the inscription "COL. F.T. FISHER/FROM/COLTS Pt F.A. Mfg Co." on the underside of the frame ahead of the trigger guard. The top and sides of the slide are covered with deeply cut and skillfully executed scroll engraving. The sides of the frame, underside of the trigger guard, bottom of the grip and the mainspring housing are decorated in a similar scroll pattern. Both the slide stop and safety lock have light engraving. The edges of the frame above and behind the trigger are finely checkered. The engraving coverage is at least Colt "B". The pistol has a high polish blue finish and is fitted with ivory stocks. The right side of the slide has the standard marking "COLT AUTOMATIC/CALIBRE 45" in a panel in front of the ejection port. The left side of the slide has the Colt 1897-1913 patent dates in a two-line block surrounded by engraving. The two-line Hartford address is enclosed in a second engraved panel ahead of the slide serrations. The Rampant Colt motif is located on the left rear of the slide behind the serrations. The right side of the frame is marked "GOVERNMENT MODEL/C 8833" behind the slide stop hole. The Colt "VP/Triangle" proof mark is stamped on the upper left side of the trigger guard bow and a small "b" inspection mark is located on the trigger guard bow just ahead of the junction with the frame. The top of the frame is marked with a "G", "*" and "S" to the right of the disconnector hole. The left side of the slide is stamped with a British "Crown/V" proofmark just above the Rampant Colt. The top of barrel chamber is polished and is stamped with two British proofmarks. A "J" is stamped on the right side of the barrel lug. The pistol is complete with two lanyard loop magazines and steel cleaning rod. The pistol is contained in a 11 1/2 inch by 8 1/2 inch fitted case. The case exterior is covered with maroon leather and embossed "COL. F. T. FISHER" in gold letters. The interior is lined with cream-colored chamois leather. The inside of the lid is embossed "COLT'S/HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A". Part of the Colt marking is obscured by oil stains and the impression of the spare magazine. Approximately 140 Model 1911 and 1911A1 pistols were factory engraved prior to WWII. Only about 160 were factory inscribed or monogrammed. Factory cased Government Model pistols are even more rare. A copy of a factory letter indicates that the Colt records show the pistol was sent to Colt’s shipping room on November 28, 1914 but provide no details on the engraving or inscription. This is not uncommon for this to occur as this pistol was ordered from within the factory from the hierarchy as it’s mission was very important to Colt businesswise. Writer having knowledge of the finest Colt’s in existence, has never seen a finer presentation Colt Government Model than the specimen offered above.
Estimated Price: $40,000 - $70,000
This is an extremely rare and highly desirable early production U.S. Colt Model 1911 Semi-Automatic Pistol. This is the latest pistol examined bearing the large size "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" marking on the left side of the frame (Meadows, p.129). Manufactured in late January 1912 during the first full month of production, it was shipped to the Commanding Officer of Springfield Armory on Feb 3, 1912. The pistol has the lustrous high polish Colt commercial blue finish with niter blue safety lock, slide stop, hammer, trigger, mainspring cap and barrel bushing. The high polish finish was replaced by the military "dull finish" blue at approximately serial number 2,400 on April 24, 1912. The pistol is fitted with checkered walnut stocks and has two of the original thin stock screws used on early production guns. This beautiful pistol has the desirable, early two-line, two-block slide markings of "PATENTED APR.20.1897/SEPT.9.1902. DEC.19.1905. FEB.14.1911." followed by "COLT'S PT.F.A. MFG. CO./HARTFORD.CT.U.S.A.", with the encircled Rampant Colt trademark behind the slide serration. The right side of the slide is stamped "MODEL OF 1911. U.S.ARMY". The left side of the frame is stamped with the large "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" as noted along with the encircled "WPG" monogram of Ordnance Inspector Walter G. Penfield above the magazine release. The right side of the frame ahead of the trigger guard, with the very early and highly desirable Type I, small serial number markings of "No.113". This pistol is all original and fitted with the various early features such as the short hammer with border less checkering to the edge, the round top rear sight and the narrow front sight with the smaller stud on the underside, the early first type recoil spring guide with the bevel on the front edge and the lower rear points, an early first pattern recoil spring plug with no punch marks, the first pattern slide stop with fine checkering and no dimple on the backside, the original Type I magazine catch lock with concave head and the early thin thumb safety lever with the sharper edges and undercut on the back and underside of the thumb piece. It still retains the original all blue barrel with no visible markings on the chamber lip, chamber or sides of the lugs. The barrel, rear face of the slide and the top of the receiver are "correctly" NOT stamped with the "H" provisional inspection mark of Frank L. Hosmer, as that inspection stamp was not started until approximately pistol serial number "400". The top of the frame is stamped with a "3" Colt assembler's mark to the right of the disconnector hole. The pistol is fitted with an original and extremely Rare Type I magazine that has the all blued finish, with no temper line with the exposed edge of the magazine base with the lanyard loop on the underside of the plate. The sides of the magazine body actually show the double pins, with the small sideways stake mark on the head of the pin and magazine body. Later on in the type 2 magazines these pin heads were actually ground down flush with the magazine body and the base plate. This is an almost impossible magazine to find today! This wonderful early Colt Model 1911 is accompanied by an equally nice and also rare early 1912 drop down US marked leather holster. This is one of the early holsters that were issued in the early test to one of the Calvary units that also have exceptional markings of "HQ 2C 23" on the front and "2 CAV. H.Q. 48" on the backside, and includes the original leather leg tie-down strap.
Estimated Price: $1,800 - $2,750
Manufactured in 1914. In addition to the standard Colt/Army nomenclature and Penfield "WGP" inspection mark, over 90% of the surface on the slide and frame are covered in engraving, chiefly punch-dot backed scrollwork, with deeply cut serrations on the underside of the slide and banners added around the standard markings. Grips are smooth mother of pearl, with a lanyard ring equipped magazine and a "COLT 45 AUTO" marked barrel.
[youtube]zgYiE4viBD0[/youtube]
Estimated Price: $30,000 - $50,000
This is a rare example of an exceptional Singer Sewing Machine Company, presentation type, M1911A1 semi-automatic pistol. The consignor stated that this pistol was given to him by an heir of the "Singer Sewing Machine Company." As we know there were exactly "500" Model 1911A1 pistols manufactured under U. S. Army, Ordnance Educational Order No. W-ORD-396, by the Singer Manufacturing Company during WWII. Most if not all were supposedly issued to the U.S. Army Air Corps. This was an extremely low number production run with examples in any condition being extremely rare and highly desirable. Now we have a true "Presentation Type", pistol as given to one of the heirs of the company with absolutely 99.9% of the original blue finish with absolutely no serial number or frame markings and never had any! This would certainly be the center piece of any M1911A1 collection and certainly the center piece of any Singer M1911A1 pistol collection. As noted, this example does not have any proof or acceptance marks. The only markings on the entire pistol is the slide, which is correctly marked in two lines "S. MFG.CO./ELIZABETH, N.J., U.S.A.". The various remaining parts; thumb safety, hammer, grip safety, barrel bushing, recoil spring cap, magazine release button were all produced and blued at the same time as the frame. Even the grips are the correct early Singer patterns that have the hollowed out back sides with no reinforcing webs with no mold markings, with no reinforcing rings around the screws. This is just an outstanding example of a rare, one of a kind Singer family presentation M1911A1 pistol. Magazine absent.
Estimated Price: $20,000 - $30,000
This is a rare professionally restored example of one of the only 500 Model 1911A1 Pistols manufactured by the Singer Manufacturing Company during WWII. These pistols were all produced under the U. S. Army Ordnance Educational Order No. W-ORD-396 with most, if not all being issued to the U.S. Army Air Corps. These rare pistols have had an extremely low survival rate with examples being very scarce in any condition. The slide is only marked on the left side in two lines with "S. MFG.CO./ELIZABETH, N.J., U.S.A.". The top of the slide and left side of the frame are correctly stamped with a single "P" proofmark and correctly is not stamped with a serial number under the firing pin retaining plate. The left side of the frame is stamped with the "JKC" initials of Col. John K. Clement, the Executive Officer of the New York Ordnance District. The right side of the frame is stamped "UNITED STATES PROPERTY/No S800445", with "M 1911 A1 U.S.ARMY" in front of the slide stop pin. The pistol has the wide spur hammer with borderless checkering with the checkered thumb safety, slide stop, trigger and mainspring housing. The barrel is a wartime High Standard replacement that has been restored to conform to a Singer barrel by having the "HS" removed so that it only has the larger "P" proof on the left side matching a Singer barrel. The brown plastic grips are early wartime Keyes-Fibre without the reinforcing rings around the grip screws that have also been restored to resemble Singer grips by having the reinforcing web and markings removed from the backside. The pistol has an unmarked all blue magazine with the floor plate pins ground smooth on the sides.
Estimated Price: $70,000 - $125,000
This Colt Model 1911 Government Model Pistol was manufactured in 1914 and presented to "COL. F.T. FISHER". Colonel Francis Torriano Fisher, CB, had a 39 year career in the British Army and was a senior officer in the Royal Ordnance Department in 1914. He served as Superintendent of the Enfield Lock Ordnance Factory during most of World War I. The pistol presumably was a gift (bribe in today's terminology) from Colt to Col. Fisher to encourage the British Government to purchase Model 1911 Pistols (some 13,300 Model 1911 Pistols were sold to the British military between 1915 and 1919). The pistol is engraved with the inscription "COL. F.T. FISHER/FROM/COLTS Pt F.A. Mfg Co." on the underside of the frame ahead of the trigger guard. The top and sides of the slide are covered with deeply cut and skillfully executed scroll engraving. The sides of the frame, underside of the trigger guard, bottom of the grip and the mainspring housing are decorated in a similar scroll pattern. Both the slide stop and safety lock have light engraving. The edges of the frame above and behind the trigger are finely checkered. The engraving coverage is at least Colt "B". The pistol has a high polish blue finish and is fitted with ivory stocks. The right side of the slide has the standard marking "COLT AUTOMATIC/CALIBRE 45" in a panel in front of the ejection port. The left side of the slide has the Colt 1897-1913 patent dates in a two-line block surrounded by engraving. The two-line Hartford address is enclosed in a second engraved panel ahead of the slide serrations. The Rampant Colt motif is located on the left rear of the slide behind the serrations. The right side of the frame is marked "GOVERNMENT MODEL/C 8833" behind the slide stop hole. The Colt "VP/Triangle" proof mark is stamped on the upper left side of the trigger guard bow and a small "b" inspection mark is located on the trigger guard bow just ahead of the junction with the frame. The top of the frame is marked with a "G", "*" and "S" to the right of the disconnector hole. The left side of the slide is stamped with a British "Crown/V" proofmark just above the Rampant Colt. The top of barrel chamber is polished and is stamped with two British proofmarks. A "J" is stamped on the right side of the barrel lug. The pistol is complete with two lanyard loop magazines and steel cleaning rod. The pistol is contained in a 11 1/2 inch by 8 1/2 inch fitted case. The case exterior is covered with maroon leather and embossed "COL. F. T. FISHER" in gold letters. The interior is lined with cream-colored chamois leather. The inside of the lid is embossed "COLT'S/HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A". Part of the Colt marking is obscured by oil stains and the impression of the spare magazine. Approximately 140 Model 1911 and 1911A1 pistols were factory engraved prior to WWII. Only about 160 were factory inscribed or monogrammed. Factory cased Government Model pistols are even more rare. A copy of a factory letter indicates that the Colt records show the pistol was sent to Colt’s shipping room on November 28, 1914 but provide no details on the engraving or inscription. This is not uncommon for this to occur as this pistol was ordered from within the factory from the hierarchy as it’s mission was very important to Colt businesswise. Writer having knowledge of the finest Colt’s in existence, has never seen a finer presentation Colt Government Model than the specimen offered above.
Estimated Price: $40,000 - $70,000
This is an extremely rare and highly desirable early production U.S. Colt Model 1911 Semi-Automatic Pistol. This is the latest pistol examined bearing the large size "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" marking on the left side of the frame (Meadows, p.129). Manufactured in late January 1912 during the first full month of production, it was shipped to the Commanding Officer of Springfield Armory on Feb 3, 1912. The pistol has the lustrous high polish Colt commercial blue finish with niter blue safety lock, slide stop, hammer, trigger, mainspring cap and barrel bushing. The high polish finish was replaced by the military "dull finish" blue at approximately serial number 2,400 on April 24, 1912. The pistol is fitted with checkered walnut stocks and has two of the original thin stock screws used on early production guns. This beautiful pistol has the desirable, early two-line, two-block slide markings of "PATENTED APR.20.1897/SEPT.9.1902. DEC.19.1905. FEB.14.1911." followed by "COLT'S PT.F.A. MFG. CO./HARTFORD.CT.U.S.A.", with the encircled Rampant Colt trademark behind the slide serration. The right side of the slide is stamped "MODEL OF 1911. U.S.ARMY". The left side of the frame is stamped with the large "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" as noted along with the encircled "WPG" monogram of Ordnance Inspector Walter G. Penfield above the magazine release. The right side of the frame ahead of the trigger guard, with the very early and highly desirable Type I, small serial number markings of "No.113". This pistol is all original and fitted with the various early features such as the short hammer with border less checkering to the edge, the round top rear sight and the narrow front sight with the smaller stud on the underside, the early first type recoil spring guide with the bevel on the front edge and the lower rear points, an early first pattern recoil spring plug with no punch marks, the first pattern slide stop with fine checkering and no dimple on the backside, the original Type I magazine catch lock with concave head and the early thin thumb safety lever with the sharper edges and undercut on the back and underside of the thumb piece. It still retains the original all blue barrel with no visible markings on the chamber lip, chamber or sides of the lugs. The barrel, rear face of the slide and the top of the receiver are "correctly" NOT stamped with the "H" provisional inspection mark of Frank L. Hosmer, as that inspection stamp was not started until approximately pistol serial number "400". The top of the frame is stamped with a "3" Colt assembler's mark to the right of the disconnector hole. The pistol is fitted with an original and extremely Rare Type I magazine that has the all blued finish, with no temper line with the exposed edge of the magazine base with the lanyard loop on the underside of the plate. The sides of the magazine body actually show the double pins, with the small sideways stake mark on the head of the pin and magazine body. Later on in the type 2 magazines these pin heads were actually ground down flush with the magazine body and the base plate. This is an almost impossible magazine to find today! This wonderful early Colt Model 1911 is accompanied by an equally nice and also rare early 1912 drop down US marked leather holster. This is one of the early holsters that were issued in the early test to one of the Calvary units that also have exceptional markings of "HQ 2C 23" on the front and "2 CAV. H.Q. 48" on the backside, and includes the original leather leg tie-down strap.
Estimated Price: $1,800 - $2,750
Manufactured in 1914. In addition to the standard Colt/Army nomenclature and Penfield "WGP" inspection mark, over 90% of the surface on the slide and frame are covered in engraving, chiefly punch-dot backed scrollwork, with deeply cut serrations on the underside of the slide and banners added around the standard markings. Grips are smooth mother of pearl, with a lanyard ring equipped magazine and a "COLT 45 AUTO" marked barrel.
[youtube]zgYiE4viBD0[/youtube]
thenewbieglockguy
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Ontario (GTA)
Thanks for sharing that, now I have to go back to my crappy little collection.
Haha!
thenewbieglockguy
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Ontario (GTA)
My God... Thats crazy!!! I think my collection is worth one so doesn't look like I will be making that deal...
live4therut
CGN frequent flyer
I had a look at every 1911 in the auction when you first posted it, and the 1912 colt would be my dream gun. The original singer in close second.
Some rich cat or cats will score all of those. They will then disappear for a number of years only to reappear again at auction when they kick it.
As lovely as each & every one of them are you still can't take 'em with you.
But we can dream, eh?
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NAA.
As lovely as each & every one of them are you still can't take 'em with you.
But we can dream, eh?
-----------
NAA.
