OVERVIEW:
Certainly one of the most significant US Martial Colt 1911’s to be recently discovered and undoubtedly the most important example that will be offered for sale this year, we have a Historic U.S. Navy issued 1938 production Colt Model 1911a1 U.S. Army Service Pistol. This pistol is 100% factory original and totally matching which is HUGE!!! 1938 was the lowest production year for the Government Contract pistols with only 1,296 being procured. This pistol, serial #713460 was shipped by Colt’s on August 15, 1938 to the Springfield Armory in a shipment of 246 guns. This was the final shipment to the Armory by Colt in 1938. According to research done by Charles Pate from Springfield Research, the Pistol surfaced in the records of the Bureau of Ordnance of the U.S. Navy, being assigned to the USS Mayo, DD 422 from the Boston Naval Yard in September of 1940 and subsequently reported as missing from the stateroom locker of the commanding officer in February of 1942. Evidence suggests that the pistol was recovered in some fashion. This pistol stayed in the woodwork until a few years back when it surfaced in the hands of a private collector. This is the only time that this pistol has been offered for sale and likely will be the last time for many years.
PERSPECTIVE ON RARITY:
Of the 1,296 Government contract 1911a1’s accepted in 1938 only 25 have surfaced and are known to collectors. Of that 25, 15 are not factory original matching pistols, only 10 are known to be correct and those in varying states of preservation. This is only the 3rd pistol of the known 1938 produced guns to have a reported serial number hit by Springfield Research Service. It is no understatement or puffery to claim that this may well be the most significant 1938 production example known and its desirability to an advanced U.S. Martial Pistol collector cannot be understated. The opportunity to be the owner and caretaker of this important piece of history will be a major point of prestige to the new owner. The famous authority on the 1911’s the late Charles Clawson considered the 1938 Colt to be rarer and more significant than a Singer made Pistol.
THE PISTOL:
In 96-97% condition the pistol is totally matching frame to slide, with all of the factory original parts it left Hartford with. The bore shows wear but is decent. There is a chemical stain on the rear left of the slide behind the serrations. apparently a substance (sea water?) was left on the pistol in this area and degraded the finish. There is the normal age staining from use, but overall the pistol is in remarkably excellent condition with almost no grip strap wear and only high edge wear. The overall condition leaves no doubt as to the originality of this pistol.
NAVAL USE IN WW2:
This pistol was issued to the commanding officer of the USS Mayo, Lt. Commander Irving T. Duke who in February,1942 very early in the war, reported it as lost. Even at this frantic time just months after Pearl Harbor and in the full immediate onslaught of the war the Naval Bureaucracy was unrelenting and a cascade of reports were generated regarding this missing item. Although the pistol was written off the Navy’s books it was probably recovered, it may well have been kept by Lt Commander Duke as this was a common method of keeping a service arm during WW2. The Destroyer Mayo saw a considerable amount of Action during WW2 it was heavily involved in convoy escort during the Battle of the Atlantic and saw action in the Mediterranean being in action during Operation Torch and in the invasion of Sicily. It was a casualty at the Invasion of Anzio in 1944 when it struck a mine that killed 7 of the crew. After repair it continued in active service and finished the war in the Pacific earning 2 battle stars. Irving Duke went on to command the Battleship Missouri during the Korean war and retired from the Navy at the rank of Rear Admiral. This pistol was in continuous naval service for the entire war.
ON OFFER:
PRICE ON REQUEST. Please contact Brett at Brett@pre98.com / 919 633-0031 or Scotty at Scott@pre98.com / 703 628-5862
