Colt Automatic Pistol and Revolver Information - 25 years of Service to Colt Firearms Collectors

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Coltautos.com Gun of the Month - March 2000
Colt Model 1908 Pocket Hammerless .380 ACP
U.S. Property marked Pistol

issued to Major General George C. Marshall
Serial Number 135631


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.

"Engraved By Ithaca Gun Co. Ithaca, N.Y."

Two recently discovered photos of this gun reveal two previously unknown facts:  1) This gun was thought to have been engraved for General Marshall by Colt master engraver Wilber Glahn but was actually engraved by an engraver named "McGraw"; 2) it was believed that the gun was engraved at Colt's when it was actually engraved at the Ithaca Gun Company, Ithaca, NY. The pistol was inscribed on the trigger guard at the time of engraving:

"Engraved By
Ithaca Gun Co.
Ithaca, N.Y."

The pistol features 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 Factory Inscribed Model M pistols.)

George Marshall and Staff (ca. 1941)

MG George C. Marshall's Factory Engraved and Gold Inlaid .380

Facsimile of General Marshall's signature inlaid in gold.  The signature was colored in gold for this photo to give the viewer an idea of the appearance of the inscription.

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