*update* A couple great colts that belonged to great soldiers

The CEF used quite a mix of revolvers/pistols in WW1; Colt 1911 pistols in .45ACP and Colt New Service, S&W Hand Ejectors and Webleys in .455. I used to enjoy the late Elmer Keith's hunting and shooting stories. He once wrote about an acquaintance in the PPCLI who had been captured by 3 Germans during the night who took shelter in a crater during an artillery bombardment out in No Man's land. The Germans missed the S&W Hand Ejector that he wore under his tunic. He placed all three of them in the light of a flare and when the flare went out he pulled his revolver and killed all 3 of them.

From the shipping date on these pistols they missed the sailing of the 1st Div for England.
 
Thanks for sharing that, I too have an affinity for CEF firearms I try to grab any that get offered to me. These ones were on the second last shipment as the ranges are

Colt Commercial Model 1911 Pistol, Date of Manufacture 1914, Canadian Contract
The 5,000 pistol procurement was s/n ranges:
Sep 11, 1914 1,000 C3000-8400
Sep 24, 1914 300 C5400-C8700
Sep 29, 1914 300 C8000-C9500
Sep 30, 1914 100 C8500- C9700
Oct 1, 1914 180 C8500-C9700
Oct 2, 1914 120 C5700-C9700
Shipped to Gov't of Canada, dept. of Militia & Defense, c/o J. Wesley, Waddington, NY
3,000 more were shipped to HW Brown, Quebec, Canada for a total of 5,000.
Oct 31, 1914 1,000 C7900-11400
Nov 7, 1914 1,000 C9800-C12700
Nov 14, 1914 1,000 C11100-C13500
 
Very cool :cool:

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NAA.
 
Everything about this thread is just purely epic! Both pistols totally exude the essence of combat history. The fact that you know who each pistol was issued to takes them to the next level. The book on Roderick Jackson is a fantastic find! I bet whoever let that pistol go is missing it right about now! :nest::p

- Chris
 
student of history said:
Everything about this thread is just purely epic! Both pistols totally exude the essence of combat history. The fact that you know who each pistol was issued to takes them to the next level. The book on Roderick Jackson is a fantastic find! I bet whoever let that pistol go is missing it right about now! :nest::p

- Chris
Click to expand...

Thanks Chris and everyone else as well, I'm very happy with them, and yes the book with all his letters is not only a great find to go with the pistol but it's also a fantastic read and you feel like you know him after you've read it. Pretty sad that the man survived what he did just to be killed by a drunk driver when he got home.
 
No I haven't, I can only go off what's engraved in the pistols, officers were to purchase their kit including their side arm so it was now their own personal property, Hence the term private purchase. There is no documentation out there that I've found that will ID the officer by serial number only way one can tell is by name engraved or provenance supplied with the pistol. Some of these pistols were sold or given to the crown to be reused for WWII so they have a great deal of history behind them if you can provide provenance to I pistol I feel it really gives the piece something extra. I will be adding more details and pistols to the thread hopefully soon
 
So I wanted to share a big addition to Jackson grouping. I recently was able to pick up the mans medal grouping which includes the military cross. I also wanted to add some new additions of named colts I've acquired since but it got to dark for good pictures, even the ones I took of HRJ colt aren't great but it was something I wanted to share



 
Colts are great guns I'm sure but personally I'm far more interested in men who wore them and their stories.Memory of them fades away fast and new generations are oblivious to it.

Thanks for sharing and saving them for the future.There are many like those that are given to Police for destruction after owner passes away and family doesn't care for guns.
 
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