Colt .38 Super Semi Auto Pistol 5″ MFD 1944 & Factory Letter & Paperwork
SOLD FOR: $20,525.00
LSB#: WY250405JW012
Make: Colt
Model: Government Model
Serial Number: 35475
Year of Manufacture: 1944 (C&R Eligible)
Caliber: .38 Super Automatic
Action Type: Semi-Automatic, Single Action, Fed by Detachable Magazine
Markings: The left side of the slide is marked “COLT’S MFG. CO. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A. / PAT’D APR.20.1897 SEPT.9.1902 DEC.19.1905 FEB.14.1911 AUG.19.1913”. The right side is marked “COLT SUPER .38 AUTOMATIC”. The right side of the frame is marked “35475”. The left side of the trigger guard is marked with a verified proof and inspection mark, the right side “73”. The barrel is marked “COLT SUPER .38 AUTO”.
Barrel Length: 5”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a rounded blade fixed to the slide. The rear sight is a square notch dovetailed to the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered polymer panels. The checkering is strong with minor flattening on the sharpest points. The grips show scattered handling marks but no cracks or chips. The stocks rate in about Very Good Plus condition.
Magazine Quantity & Condition: One original Colt-marked 9-round magazine is included, in Very Good condition with light handling wear.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright, the rifling is sharp. There is no visible erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 9/10.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 85–90% of its original blued finish. There is mild thinning on the grip frame and along high edges of the slide and frame. Operational wear is visible at the muzzle and ejection port. There are small scattered surface scratches and faint finish loss along contact points. The screw heads are sharp and serviceable. The pins are clean. The markings are crisp and legible. Overall, this pistol rates in about Very Good Plus condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this pistol. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol includes a factory Colt archive letter stating it was shipped on February 19, 1944, to the Chief of Ordnance, Technical Division, Washington D.C., in a shipment of 2 pistols. Also included is a rare set of Ordnance Department wartime correspondence confirming its use in the Air Forces Equipment Division, specifically tied to “Project No. M-4” and marked for “emergency issue to Air Forces personnel.” These documents trace the weapon from factory shipment to Air Corps armories and field service assignments. This is historically significant archival support.
Our Assessment:
This Colt Government Model .38 Super is a rare and historic example with wartime provenance. Shipped directly to the Ordnance Department during World War II, this pistol was earmarked for special issue to U.S. Army Air Forces personnel—its inclusion in Project M-4 and documentation in Air Forces requisitions sets it apart from standard commercial models.
The .38 Super cartridge was favored for its high velocity and performance. While civilian demand remained strong, very few Government Models were directed for military or paramilitary use during the war. The presence of a Colt factory letter and full trail of original War Department memos makes this an exceptional find for historians and advanced collectors.
Whether displayed as a center-piece of a WWII aviation or Ordnance collection, or appreciated as one of Colt’s most elegant designs, this 1944 Government Model embodies a rare intersection of craftsmanship, firepower, and military history. Please see our High Quality photos and good luck on your bids.-C.M.
