I posted this last week on the 1911Forum and thought I'd share it here. My apologies for the duplication to those who are members of both forums.
Several years ago I picked up a Russian Contract Government Model at the Show of Shows in Louisville. I had the pistol lettered by Colt, serial number 42265, it was shipped to the Russian Government on June 13, 1916, one of 5,500 guns in the shipment. A month or so ago a close friend of mine told me about a British proofed Government Model that he had the opportunity to acquire, serial number 42349. I assumed that it was an early British contract gun, but it did not fall into the serial ranges listed by Clawson. Given the asking price and condition, I advised him to get it. I never compared the serial numbers of the two pistols until after my friend did acquire it and had it lettered by Colt. The serial umbers are only 84 apart. Low and behold, it also was shipped to the Russian Government on June 13, 1916, one of 5,500 guns in the shipment. Now the questions! My pistol has the Russian "English Order" stamp, my friends pistol does not. His is completely British proofed. When was the Russian stamp placed on the pistols? I assume that the mark was placed on the pistols in England by the Russian government inspector.
Why was my friends pistol British proofed if it was one of the Russian contract guns? Did the British keep it for their own use for whatever reason? I assume so. Any information, comments, and any thoughts would be greatly appreciated including any thoughts as to the value of my friends pistol.
Several responders in the 1911 Form suggested that maybe the Russian script had been removed, but very close examination of the area on the dust cover and measurements of that area comparing the Russian marked pistol, the English proofed pistol, and an original finish 1916 commercial Government Model all show that the markings had not been removed and the pistol refinished. Exactly where did the Russian markings get placed on the pistols??? I thought I had read that a Russian inspectors was assigned to England to inspect these Colt. In general terms no one has come up with a solid answer, and there may well not be one. Possible an English employee of the armoury made it a lunch box special. Maybe the Russian inspector gave it to an English friend or official. We may never know the answer, but I welcome your comments.
I have just spent two hours trying to figure out how to attach pictures to no avail, and I have learned that I can only insert 5 pictures, so I will attempt, again, to do that. If this fails, I invite you to go to the 1911Forum and look my post up under fredh46. I even went to FORUM HELP and was directed to google.....GEEEEZ! So here goes, let's see if the pictures appear!!!!!
Several years ago I picked up a Russian Contract Government Model at the Show of Shows in Louisville. I had the pistol lettered by Colt, serial number 42265, it was shipped to the Russian Government on June 13, 1916, one of 5,500 guns in the shipment. A month or so ago a close friend of mine told me about a British proofed Government Model that he had the opportunity to acquire, serial number 42349. I assumed that it was an early British contract gun, but it did not fall into the serial ranges listed by Clawson. Given the asking price and condition, I advised him to get it. I never compared the serial numbers of the two pistols until after my friend did acquire it and had it lettered by Colt. The serial umbers are only 84 apart. Low and behold, it also was shipped to the Russian Government on June 13, 1916, one of 5,500 guns in the shipment. Now the questions! My pistol has the Russian "English Order" stamp, my friends pistol does not. His is completely British proofed. When was the Russian stamp placed on the pistols? I assume that the mark was placed on the pistols in England by the Russian government inspector.
Why was my friends pistol British proofed if it was one of the Russian contract guns? Did the British keep it for their own use for whatever reason? I assume so. Any information, comments, and any thoughts would be greatly appreciated including any thoughts as to the value of my friends pistol.
Several responders in the 1911 Form suggested that maybe the Russian script had been removed, but very close examination of the area on the dust cover and measurements of that area comparing the Russian marked pistol, the English proofed pistol, and an original finish 1916 commercial Government Model all show that the markings had not been removed and the pistol refinished. Exactly where did the Russian markings get placed on the pistols??? I thought I had read that a Russian inspectors was assigned to England to inspect these Colt. In general terms no one has come up with a solid answer, and there may well not be one. Possible an English employee of the armoury made it a lunch box special. Maybe the Russian inspector gave it to an English friend or official. We may never know the answer, but I welcome your comments.
I have just spent two hours trying to figure out how to attach pictures to no avail, and I have learned that I can only insert 5 pictures, so I will attempt, again, to do that. If this fails, I invite you to go to the 1911Forum and look my post up under fredh46. I even went to FORUM HELP and was directed to google.....GEEEEZ! So here goes, let's see if the pictures appear!!!!!