COLT MODEL OF 1911 U.S. ARMY, ON BOARD USS MEMPHIS FOR RETURN OF ‘SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS’
SOLD FOR: $5,950
USS Memphis Colt Model of 1911 U.S. Army, On Board for Return of ‘Spirit of St. Louis’, Lindbergh
Make: Colt
Model: 1911
Serial Number: 13759
Year of Manufacture: Shipped November 15, 1912 to Augusta Arsenal.
Markings: The rear face of the chamber hood is marked “H” (not an original marking).
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered walnut with smooth diamonds around the grip screws. The left panel has light handling wear with a little more notable wear on the right. Overall, the grips are in about Very Good condition.
Finish Originality: Refinished.
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 10 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 92% of its current metal finish. The finish is generally strong with infrequent minor oxidation. There is some light erosion under the grip panels and infrequent minor erosion under the finish. There are tool marks at the safety pin-head on the right of the frame, on and around the rear sight and there is an “idiot mark” under the slide stop on the left of the frame. There are some other scattered minor nicks and scuffs, including some nicks under the finish. The action shows operational wear. There is scratching on the chamber hood and there are grind marks on the bottom of the barrel in front of the link-lugs, possibly to accommodate the early-style guide-rod which has long, sharp corners. Despite being refinished, the markings are still quite clear, especially on the frame. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good-Fine condition as refinished.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: A Colt Archives letter is included which confirms that this pistol originally shipped November 15, 1912 to Augusta Arsenal as one of 500 guns in the shipment. A letter from Charles W. Pate is included with the results of his research at the National Archives. Pate’s letter states that this pistol was issued to the USS Memphis on April 1, 1925 and was reported lost on August 4, 1939. A blue cloth cap marked “U.S.S. MEMPHIS” on the ribbon is included. Copies of the relevant documents from the National Archives are included. A printout of an article from the Gilder Lehrman Historical Institute giving details of the sailor who reported the pistol missing and a photo of the USS Memphis are also included. This pistol comes with one blued 7-round magazine with lanyard-loop floorplate. The magazine has operational wear, infrequent minor surface erosion, intact feed lips and a strong spring.
Our Assessment: While originally shipped to the U.S. Army, in April 1925 the pistol was issued to the Omaha class light cruiser USS Memphis. The pistol was still on the ship in June, 1927 when the Memphis picked up Charles Lindbergh and the ‘Spirit of St Louis’ from Southampton, England after his famous nonstop flight from New York to Paris, dropping both off at the Washington Navy Yard eight days later. This pistol stayed with the Memphis until 1939 when it was reported as being lost overboard by Seaman 2nd Class T.B.H. Askin. Given that the pistol is not lost, it appears that it fell off the proverbial truck, or in this case boat, and was stolen or lost and has now arrived here. A side note regarding Thomas Barwiss Hagstoz Askin Jr., the Seaman who reported the pistol lost in 1939. Askin joined the Navy in March 1938 at the age of 17. He began a diary in August of 1941 while stationed aboard the Memphis to count down his last 60 days in the United States Navy. While his enlistment was up on October 13, the day before his 21st Birthday, Memphis was at sea in October and did not return to New York until December. Specifically, they did not depart for New York until December 6, 1941. Askin’s diary notes:”Dec 6. Today we were notified-we are leaving tomorrow for New York. Am I happy-yea man.Dec 7 – Today the Japs attacked Hawaii and I am plenty worried. Underway for New York.Dec. 8 America declared war on Japan.Dec. 9 – Cancelled all discharges and am I sick. everything happens to me.”It would appear that the following years somewhat changed Aksin’s outlook on service with the Navy as he remained in service until 1958. His diary, official service record and a pictorial history of the WWII service of the USS Texas as well as an assortment of buttons pins and medals now reside with the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History collection.This a fascinating example of an early Model 1911 with a rich, and documented, history. This pistol is destined for a high-end Colt collection and will display well with the included U.S.S. Memphis cap
