Gold Inlaid and Gold
Plated Pre-War Colt Automatic Pistols & Revolvers |
Gold inlaid and gold plated Colt firearms are among the most uncommon
variations encountered. They were typically reserved for
people of means and when the work was performed by the Colt
factory, it often increased the purchase price of a standard
firearm by a factor or four or more.
Presented here are a few Colt pistols that are both factory
and period aftermarket gold inlaid and gold plated. Enjoy! |
First Factory Gold
Inlaid Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless .32 ACP Pistol |
The very first factory engraved and gold inlaid Colt Model
M .32 ACP - blued finish with Type I slide markings, six gold
inlays and gold monogrammed grip safety with the initials "D.H.P.".
This gun was shipped to Browning Brothers in Ogden, Utah
in December, 1903. This is also the first Model M produced with
mother-of-pearl grips. The engraving, inlay and monogrammed grip
safety were masterfully performed by Colt engraver, Cuno
Helfricht. Perhaps the most unique aspect of engraving on
this pistol is that when the work was performed, no pre-defined
styles of engraving existed for the Model M. Just 17 of the
Model Ms (in both .32 and .380 calibers) are noted as having any
type of gold inlay work.
This is the first Model M with factory gold inlay and
was featured as a past
Gun of the Month.
Additionally, this pistol is also the very first Model M
shipped with mother-of-pearl grips. The pistol has six areas
of gold inlay and is factory inscribed with the gold inlaid
initials "D.H.P." and engraved on the grip safety. This
work was performed by Colt master engraver Cuno Helfrict, who
also did the first gold inlaid Model N (also featured as a past
Gun of the Month.) The gun was shipped to
Browning Brothers in Ogden, Utah on December 15, 1903,
just a few months into production.
I've researched the initials and have written an article
about the original owner of the gun which appears in the Spring
2003 issue of The Rampant Colt. Click the photo or the
link to
read the article.
Right side showing gold inlay work on the frame.
"D.H.P." monogrammed and engraved grip
safety in gold. |
First Factory Gold
Inlaid Colt Model 1908 Pocket Hammerless .380 ACP Pistol |
Private Collection
The very first factory engraved and gold inlaid Colt Model
M .380 ACP - Serial number 6580, .380 caliber. Blued finish.
Factory Engraved Gold Inlaid Colt Model 1908 .380 Semi-Automatic
Pistol The factory letter shows that this gun was engraved with
the initials "WBW" inlaid in gold on the left side of the gun.
It was sold to E.L. Benson and shipped to Stauffer, Eshleman &
Co. of New Orleans, LA. February 9, 1911. The letter does not
mention the grade of engraving (B) or the grips which are pearl
with a raised carved eagle on the right side.
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Colt Model 1908 Pocket
Hammerless .380 ACP Pistol Engraved and Gold Inlaid for
General George C. Marshall by Ithaca Gun Company |
General George
C. Marshall's Model M .380 Pistol Serial Number
135631- This spectacular and most important pistol
appeared in a Colt internal newsletter in the 1940s. The pistol
is documented as having a wartime blue finish and standard
checkered walnut grips and as being shipped to Springfield
Armory on November 9, 1944. The shipping book gives no
indication of engraving. The pistol is factory engraved
and gold inlaid, featuring a facsimile of Gen. Marshall's
signature "G.C. Marshall" on the left side of the slide.
Presumably, the left side roll markings have been relocated to
the right side of the pistol. (For an example of this type of
work, see the Model M .32 presented to
1st LT. A.W. Norrie
listed on the page of Inscribed pistols.) |
Factory Gold Inlaid Colt
Model 1908 Pocket Hammerless .380 ACP Pistol |
Private Collection
Perhaps the most elaborately engraved and inlaid Model M
.380 pistol. Serial number 97482 features full coverage
Gough engraving (with distinctive lined background) and gold
inlaid monogram (left side of frame) as well as extensive gold
inlay scroll work on the frame and slide. The pistol has
factory mother-of-pearl with flush medallions that are gold
plated. This pistol sold at the November 9, 1999 Little
John's Auction in Anaheim, California.
Top of Model M .380 serial number 97482.
Right side of Model M .380 serial number 97482 |
Factory Gold Inlaid Colt
Model 1908 Vest Pocket Hammerless .25 ACP Pistol |
The first factory engraved and gold inlaid Colt Model N
Serial Number 9918 – Factory “master” engraved, featuring 17
gold inlays and relief carved monogrammed mother-of-pearl grips
bearing the monogram “JAB”. This is the first of only
seven gold inlaid Model N pistols produced and these are the
first monogrammed grips to appear on a Model N pistol.
Additionally, it is one of only two factory engraved and gold
inlaid Model Ns recorded in Colt’s shipping ledgers. This pistol
was a product of the Cuno Helfricht shop with the grip monogram
attributable to Cuno Helfricht. Perhaps the most unique aspect
of engraving on this pistol is that when the work was performed,
no pre-defined styles of engraving existed for the Model N. It
was a one gun shipment to Birmingham Arms Company, Birmingham,
Alabama on May 14, 1909 for J.A. Blount. (One of the three
guns featured on the cover of the Rampant Colt
magazine.)
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Factory Gold Plated Colt
Model 1908 Vest Pocket Hammerless .25 ACP Pistol |
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Colt 1908 Vest Pocket .25 ACP serial number
357140 - pistol is factory gold plated and has factory
mother of pearl grips with gold plated flush medallions. The
gold plating was rather delicate and is very thin on this
example as gold finish remains mostly in protected areas.
Factory letter confirms these features and indicates that this
gun was sold to Hall Hardware Company (address unavailable) and
was shipped to Shapleigh Hardware Company, St. Louis, Missouri
on October 22, 1925. It was processed on Colt Factory Order
number 10516/1.
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Gold Inlaid Colt
Government Model .45 ACP Pistol |
Colt 1911A1 Government Model Serial Number
C159001 - Manufactured ca. 1930. Pistol is inscribed on the
top of the slide between the front sight and ejection port "B.V.
CLARK, UNITED STATES NAVY". Lt. Baylies V. Clark graduated from
the United States Naval Academy in 1930. Lt. Clark was killed
during bombing practice at sea on May 23, 1941. |
Factory Engraved & Gold
Plated Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket Hammerless .25 ACP Pistol |
Colt 1908 Vest Pocket .25 ACP Gold Plated and Factory
Engraved - Serial number 68443 sold and shipped to Wm. G.
Rolston, May 20, 1912. The gold finish on this pistol was
restored by a previous owner. This pistol has
mother-of-pearl Colt grips that have been embellished with "W R"
and the date 1912. In addition, the grips have rather crude
cuts along the edge of each grip, presumably to improve the
shooters grip on the pistol. |
Factory Gold Plated Colt
Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless .32 ACP |
Factory Gold Plated Model M .32
- This special order gun was shipped with mother of pearl
grips to Supplee Biddle Hardware, Philadelphia, PA on May
25, 1921 in a one gun shipment.
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Factory Engraved & Gold
Plated Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless .32 ACP |
Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless .32 ACP serial number
461783 - Factory engraved and factory gold plated with
mother of pearl grips. This pistol originally left the
Colt factory in this configuration and was shipped to Quinn
& Co., Providence, RI on October 6, 1925. In 1991, it
was returned to Colt's for replating and replacement of
damaged mother of pearl grips. Note the gun was replated and
not polished. The original box label from when it was
returned to Colt's is pictured in the bottom of the box. |
Gold Plated Colt Pocket
Positive .32 Colt |
Colt Pocket Positive Serial Number 55523 (ca.
1912) - .32 Police caliber with 3 1/2" barrel and factory
nickel finish with what appears to be gold wash and flush
medallion mother of pearl grips. This revolver belonged to
Harry Bennett.
Harry Bennett (1892-1979) was head of Ford’s
Service Department, or internal security. He ruled the Rouge
Plant, and some say Henry Ford himself, through threats and
intimidation, arguably becoming more influential than Edsel
Ford, Henry’s son and the company’s President from 1919 to 1943.
He first worked in Ford’s art department in 1917, but his “tough
guy” manner got him appointed head watchman, and eventually he
supervised over 3000 reputed crooks and retired policemen in the
Service Department. “The Battle of the Overpass,” Ford’s 1937
response to attempts at unionization, was led by Bennett. Ford
fought unionization until 1941. While rumor had it that Ford
wanted Bennett to replace him as president, that job went to
Henry Ford II, who fired Bennett in 1945.
Source:
link
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Gold Plated Colt Police
Positive .32 Colt |
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Colt Police Positive Serial Number 206438 with 5" barrel
(ca. 1924) - Gold plated finish over nickel, flush medallion
mother of pearl grips with gold plated medallions. Barrel is
marked "Police Positive .32". Factory letter confirms these
features and indicates revolver was shipped to Walbridge & Co,
Buffalo, NY September 23, 1924 with gold finish and mother of
pearl stocks. Pistol was a single gun shipment and was
processed on Colt factory order number 8876/1. |