Coltautos.com Gun of the Month - September 1999
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Colt Service Model Ace Serial Number SM1997. In a period casing with this gun is a numbered (sn U104) .45-.22 conversion unit. The gun was a single gun shipment on July 2, 1941 to Loan Account, Colt's Patent Fire-Arms Mfg. Company, New York, New York. Letter further remarks" "The records further indicate subject pistol was delivered to Major Thorne, British Purchasing Commission, New York, New York on July 22, 1941. There are no British Proof marks on the gun and it is suspected that it never left the United States. The conversion unit was shipped twice from Colt's with a final destination of H.D. Folsom Sporting Goods in New York. It is interesting to note that of the 100 guns between serial numbers, SM1900 and SM2000, that 87 of these guns went to Springfield Arsenal. This set belonged to George L. Graveson, who served in the OSS during WWII. His initials are on the end of the case.
The grips on the gun are later and incorrect for this pistol. They were presumably switched at some point by the previous owner. The correct grips should be full checkered walnut. George Lewis Graveson was born
March, 23, 1904, in Brooklyn, N.Y., the oldest son of Elizabeth and Eli
Graveson. Growing up in Brooklyn, he worked as a messenger in the
American Telephone and Telegraph legal department, from May 1918 to 1924.
During this time, he enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve Force as a Fireman
3rd class. He passed way on Feb. 8, 2000.
Above: A comparison of the slide markings. Below: A close-up of the right side slide marking on the conversion unit.
Colt .45 -.22 Conversion Unit serial number U104 - This unit was shipped from Colt's to Strevell, Peterson Hardware, Pocatello, ID on February 29, 1941. It was returned to Colt's on April 22, 1941 and shipped again to H.D. Folsom Sporting Goods, New York, NY on May 1, 1941. Pictured with the set is the original instruction sheet. This unit came cased with the blued Colt Service Model Ace pictured above.
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