British Proofed 1913 Colt Government Model .45ACP Pistol

varifleman

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Here for your perusal is Colt Government Model .45ACP number C4958 which was 1 of 40 shipped to the London Armoury Co on Sept 3 1913. This pistol was one of the pre-WWI shipments to the UK and was probably a British officer's private purchase. The London proof and view marks are seen just above the Rampant Colt trademark and just below the thumb safety. This one does not have the JJ marking seen on some other Colt autos shipped to the London Armoury Company.






 
Much nicer condition than mine (#9185) - does that mean mine saw more action, or wasn't cared for as well? ;)
Wish these old girls could tell their tales.
Do you know the totals that were sent/sold to the UK?
And what is the JJ mark and where would it be (I see no sign of it on my pistol)?






 
Hello Canuck. Thanks for sharing photos of your pistol. Per shipping records cited in William H.D. Goddard's "The Government Models" from 1913-1915 about 2450 .45ACP C-prefixed serial number Colt Government Model pistols were shipped to Colt's London Armoury Company. Your pistol may be part of the 150 pistols serial number range C3297-C9226 shipped to the London Armoury Company on September 28 1914. Both of our pistols were most like British officer's private purchase pistols which saw action in WWI. My pistol also does not have the "JJ" marking. According to Joe Poyer's Model 1911 book, the initials "JJ" are often found on the left front trigger guard of early, privately purchased commercial and some military W-prefixed pistols sold through Colt's London Agency and later, the London Armoury Company. The JJ may be the initials of James Joseph Goodbody, the then managing director of Colt's London Agency, or the initials of an inspector at Enfield Lock.

My Colt .38 Pocket Model 1903 pistol shipped to the UK in 1915 does have the "JJ" marking as shown in the photo below. The holster shown with your pistol is similar to a few of my privately purchased WWI holster made for the Colt Government Model and Colt 1911 pistols.

http://www.sightm1911.com/ has the following information on British Government WWI Colt Contracts:Colt M1911 British Contract: S/N W29117 to W97000 and S/N C29 to C74,200 = May 1912 to April 1919 (Approx. 17,500 pistols were shipped to England. Serial numbers that begin with a “C” were .45 ACP and serial numbers that begin with a “W” were .455 Webley calibers. Colt M1911 British RAF Contract: S/N W91,100 to W110,696 = Jan. 22, 1918 to April 28, 1919 (Approx. 10,000 pistols were shipped to the Royal Air Force from this serial number range and were .455 Webley caliber.)




WWI private purchase holster:

 
Nice early "C" prefix Colt government model. :cool:

Was hoping to see better pics of the slide script to see if it has the earlier patent date slide.

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NAA.
 
Very nice early Government model. If the hammer actually has the distinctive "fire blue" color and isn't just the lighting you have a very desirable pistol for collectors.
 
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