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Bjørn Lande Collection
Colt Government Model Serial Number C208853 - Norwegian collector's item,
the "Shanghai Colt Government Model". In late 1941 the Norwegian
government ordered 100 Colt Government models from the Colt factory. The guns
was shipped to the "Royal Norwegian Naval Service," Halifax, Nova Scotia
January 16, 1942. May 7, 1942 another 100 pistols was shipped in two separate
shipments, 94 pistols shipped to Halifax, with the remaining six guns shipped to
Government representatives in Washington. The guns were to be used on Norwegian
whaling boats, equipped to be convoy escorts. At first, these 200 pistols were
ordered from Colt by French authorities and intended for Shanghai Municipal
Police (SMP) use. After the Japanese invaded Shanghai, this order was cancelled
and the guns were shipped to Norwegian representatives.
This Colt Government Model has an obliterated "Concession
Francaise Changhai" marking on the right side of the
frame Colt with serial No. C-208853, and marked "No. 16."
This was issued to a naval officer at the Royal Norwegian
Naval Service station Camp Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada.
This particular pistol is from the first shipment that was
ordered from Colt. This shipment was meant for the French
Police in Shanghai, but was cancelled because of the
Japanese invasion of Shanghai. The shipment was redirected
to the Norwegian government and sent to Camp Lunenburg, as
mentioned. The shipment arrived the camp on January 16,
1942. There was one last order, and this last shipment
arrived on May 7, 1942. This pistol is from the first
shipment. A total of 194 pistols where delivered from Colt
to Camp Lunenburg.
This naval officer to whom this pistil was issued during
WWII was later enlisted in Norway Independence Company No. 1
(called "The Linge-Company", after the founder Captain
Martin Linge, who was killed in action during the WWII). The
Company soldiers were trained in Scotland before being
parachuted over Norway in order to join the home-resistance
fighting German occupants.
The pistol also has the special Shanghai Colt magazine.
The left side of the slide was factory roll marked "Concession
Francaise Shanghai". Before being shipped to the
Norwegians, these markings were "overstamped" with a
"S PAT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD CT. USA" upside down
roll die.
Magazines issued with these guns differed from "stock"
examples as the issued magazines had "in-line" holes at the
back and left side in stead of the standard "zig-zag"
pattern. (Information Source: Mr. Hanevik and his Norwegian
colt book) |
