1938 Colt SM 669 Presentation Pistol to LTC Julian Hatcher

[Scott Gahimer]

This early SM Ace has the first type slide marking and first style Stevens Adjustable rear sight. It's in really nice shape and was presented to LTC (later MG) Julian S. Hatcher. Note the factory letter states "Charged to: Arms Selling Expense".

Hatcher is a pretty well-known author and historical military figure. What some may not know is that he was instrumental to Colt introducing the Service Model Ace. He served as a Director on the NRA board for well over 20 years and wrote and edited articles in the American Rifleman magazine over a period of about 50 years.

After receiving this pistol from Colt, he wrote a nice 4-page article in the June 1938 American Rifleman about the Service Model Ace. I suspect this pistol is the SM Ace shown in the article. I have included an excerpt from the article that probably explains why Colt sent Hatcher this pistol on 26 March 1938.

David "Carbine" Williams brought the first prototype SM Ace to LTC to pitch the idea to the U.S. military. Hatcher sent him to Colt, with a letter of introduction recommending Colt consider Williams' new floating chamber. The rest is history.

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