US Officer's WWI British-proofed Colt Government Model .45ACP Pistol

[varifleman]

Here for your viewing pleasure are photos of my WWI British-proofed .45ACP Colt Government Model pistol C 13731 which was 1 of 300 shipped to the London Armoury Company on November 18 1914. The London Commercial proof and view marks (Crown/V and Crown/intertwined GP) are visible on top of barrel and on left side of slide above Rampant Colt and left side of frame below thumb safety. The accompanying US Model 1912 holster is marked 1st LT G C Wilkins. The owner of this pistol was 1st Lt George Carl Wilkins, a 1918 Harvard Graduate. He entered Officers' Training Camp at Plattsburg NY in May 1917; commissioned 1st Lt Infantry August 15; assigned to 301st Machine Gun Battalion, 76th Division and sailed for France July 8, 1918. He was transferred to the 146th Machine Gun Battalion, 41st Division on November 9 1918 and returned to the U.S. on February 25, 1919. He t ransferred to the 153rd Depot Brigade, Camp Dix on 27 February and was discharged on 25 May 1919.

Information

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[browningautorifle]

Gorgeous gun. Holster too. Very nice.

[jmoore]

Military mag?

[varifleman]

Jmoore; I think the lanyard loop magazine was standard for Colt Government Model pistols in that serial number range.

[jmoore]

The commercial magazines have a higher polish, from what few I've seen, but it's hard to be sure from one photo. Wouldn't make that one wrong for the pistol. Surely he picked up several at the time.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

You are quite fortunate to be the steward of such a fine 1911 along with the history of the man who carried it. Thanks for sharing the story and nice photos. Please document the history for the next generation.

[varifleman]

The commercial magazines have a higher polish, from what few I've seen, but it's hard to be sure from one photo. Wouldn't make that one wrong for the pistol. Surely he picked up several at the time.

Thanks for comments. Perhaps Wilkins did have several magazines for this pistol and a military type magazine would make sense since the pistol saw WWI service. Another possibility is that since this postol was shipped in November 1914 and most of not all of the pistols would most likely be private purchases by British officers military magazines were originally shipped with these pistols.