A nice condition 1911 Government Model which is factory lettered as shipped to Lt. Kenyan A. Joyce, March 5, 1913.  The gun is holding about 90% plus original high polish blue with superb grips.  It has an early two-tone keyhole mag which is almost new.  The barrel appears to be a between the wars Springfield replacement with a near new bore.  General Joyce began his military service in 1898.  He served from the Spanish American War until 1943 when he retired.  After the Spanish American War he served with the Cavalry during the Philippine insurrection.  In 1906, he served with an Army detachment that surrounded and captured a band of hostile Ute Indians on the Little Powder River  in Montana.  As a colonel in WWI, General Joyce was seriously wounded by the explosion of a trench mortar in France.  As a result, he lost the use of one of his hands.  He received numerous awards including the Distinguished Service Medal and the French Croix-de-Guerre.  While the commander of the 1st Cavalry division in 1939, he specialized in mechanizing the Cavalry.  One of General Joyce's last active assignments was as a Deputy President of the Allied Control Commission for Italy in 1943.  In that post he became an aide to General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the commander in chief and was directly responsible to him.  Ironic in that before WWII, General Eisenhower served as his chief of staff.   He is buried in Section 30 at Arlington Cemetery.  This gun is also listed on page 253 of the book The Government Models by William Goddard.  A nice gun which was the personal side arm of one of America's truly unsung heroes.  (From our personal collection...FFL REQUIRED!)  Click on image for additional views.  SOLD!

Colt 1911 Govt Model Mfg'd 1914 with Military Presentation Inscription.  This commercial production early 1911 was manufactured in 1914 and presented to Lt. P.G. Wrightson by the senior officers UWCC in May of 1915.  It is so jeweler inscribed on the right side of the slide.  The gun apparently stayed in use for some time and has a second jeweler inscription on top of the slide.  It reads "Albert E. Gurge, Jr. USMC".  The gun is correct and original with more than 95% of the original high polish blue, nice grips showing light to moderate wear and a very good bore.  It also has the early two tone magazine with lanyard loop, which is Colt in origin.  Research has produced a considerable amount of information on LT (later Captain) P.G. Wrightson.  In 1902 he was at Fort Sheridan, Illinois.  Later that year he is transferred to Post Cottabato Mendanao, Philippine Islands.   In 1904, he is with the 1st Brigade at the Manila Arsenal.  Later that year, he is at Malate Barracks, Manila, Philippines.  He also moves, in 1904, to Camp Stotsenburg, Pampanga, Philippines, then Ft. William McKinley, Rizal, Philippines.  By 1905 he is back at Cottabato Mendanao.  In 1906 he is a Ft. McDowel in California.  Then Camp Tacoma, Washington.  In 1907 he is back to the Presidio, Monterey, California.  In 1908 he is at Fort Shafter, Hawaii and back to the Presidio in 1909, then back to the Philippines to Curatel de Espana, Manila.  He stays there until 1911 when he shows up at Fort Douglas in the Utah Territory.  Then in 1911, back to the Philippines to Curatel.  In 1916, which is the last record I have on him, he is at the Walter Reed Central Hospital and holds the rank of Captain.  Most of this time, he seems to be a part of the 20th Infantry Regiment.  There is a gap in this history around the 1913-1915 period.  During that time frame, he is detailed to the University of Wisconsin at Madison.  Apparently he is an instructor, professor, teacher, etc.  Probably in something like an ROTC program.  He reported for duty at the University of Wisconsin on January 22, 1913 and left in May of 1915.  Now the inscription on the left of the slide makes perfect sense.  The gun was presented to him by the senior officers of the University of Wisconsin Cadet Corps.  He is listed in the records as an Infantry Officer and is most certainly well traveled.  I have no information on the Marine (Albert E. Gurge, Jr.) whose name is engraved on the top of the slide.   Click on image for additional views.  (From our personal collection...FFL REQUIRED!)  SOLD!!

This is an exceptional condition 1916 production gun.  The 1916 production is quite rare.  The gun is above 95% original brushed blue.  The front and back of the grip is where most of the erosion is.  It has a correct two tone Colt magazine, crisp grips and the correct P over H marked barrel.  The bore is very good with some frost.  The gun is complete as issued in 1916.  It is accompanied by a notarized statement from a family member.  The statement indicates that it was issued to the signor's Great Uncle, Lt. William N. Perrin during World War I.  The lieutenant served in the medical corps in France as a part of the All America Division.  He returned home from service with this gun which has been retained in his family lineage ever since.  The signers father also used the gun during World War II.  His father was a yeoman 1st class in the Navy and was a driver for an Admiral in Charleston, SC.  Accompanying the notarized statement is an original photograph of Lt. Perrin posed with the family milk cow, in uniform as he left for basic training.  Click on image for additional views.  (From our personal collection...FFL REQUIRED!)  SOLD!!