Rare Colt Commercial/Military re-number...NOT!

[Scott Gahimer]

Original Colt finish and all correct parts. This pistol is exceptionally rare because it is one of only 23 Government Model pistols that were not transferred to satisfy the military contract when Colt suspended commercial sales in 1942.

This pistol was held by Colt in the account of Colt representative J.E. Dimick until in was transferred to Colt President, Graham Anthony. The pistol is listed as being shipped to Mr. Austin S. Igleheart, Greenwich, CT on 25 July 1944.

Mr. Igleheart was President and Chairman of the Board, General Foods Corporation and had a son who served in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1945 and again in 1951. This pistol may have been purchased for his son, but that has not been established yet.

This pistol features the Swartz safety and a specially prepared "hand finished action" (see factory letter).

Information

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[lboos]

Scott,
I guess that's a rare comm/Milt. 1911A1, but I would not trade any one of your comm. to Milt. 1911A1's for it . all of the one's you have at least have some history, this one is just a sock drawer gun, probley never left the owner's house, although it's value is a probley more then one of your 1911A1'S, but not to me, nice looking gun though . JMO.

[CJS57]

Just shows how different folks have different tastes! I sell the Comm/Mil's when I find them, 2 so far. I keep the Commercials, and they do have history, may be military, may be police, may be an agency, may have been a gangster's. We usually just don't know the history of any gun. I for one like the gun just for itself. History is just that much more added.

[Scott Gahimer]

What makes this pistol so interesting (to me, anyway) is that's it's one of only 23 commercials that didn't get transferred to the military and that it was sold (or gifted?) commercially in July 1944...about 2 years after Colt shut off all commercial sales. The Swartz safety is a given at that serial range. The hand finished action and history of how the pistol was transferred and who it was shipped to is sort of interesting, too.

When it comes to C/M re-numbers, nobody likes them more than I do. I show about 20 of them on my web site. But I'd never seen a commercial GM with a serial number this high before, so it got my attention.

[lboos]

Scott,
I've seen pic's of your collection,... Now those are what I think of as "rare" 1911A1's .
I guess it's like CJS57 said, diff. folk's have diff. taste.
Still...a nice gun .

[Johnny Peppers]

It is very few guns that we get the actual history on. Some go nuts over pistols with no finish, as this must mean they have a world of history to be in that condition. Truth is the military never let their firearms get in really bad shape before they were rebuilt. Riding under someone's pickup seat is not a lot more romantic that residing in a sock drawer.

[lboos]

Johnny,
I went back and looked,.... and I did put JMO at the end of the post, and I thank you for your well thought out opin. , That's what I like about this forum.

I still like any one of Scott's collection of 1911A1's better then the shiney blue one, although it is still a nice gun. JMO.

[Johnny Peppers]

While I didn't put JMO on mine, the post was entirely my opinion also. I believe what I pointed out to be verifiable, and didn't try to explain my preferences in other people's collections.

[lboos]

Johnney'
I am sorry if I up set you in any way, I know we all have our bad day's, and I feel that after a good night's rest that you will be back to your old self, so I will ck. back in a few day's after you've cooled off, the best of luck to you man, JMO .

[Johnny Peppers]

lboos,

If your cutesy remarks about me makes you feel better about yourself, I hope you are soon back to normal.