Osborn Collection
Colt Model M .380 ACP serial number 136888
issued to Brigadier General Garland Cuzorte Black. Born in Dayton,
Ohio, on November 14, 1894. B.S. from the University of Missouri in 1917.
Commissioned in the cavalry in 1917. With the 12th Cavalry at Columbus, New
Mexico in 1918. Graduated from Command and general Staff School in 1937.
Instructor at the Signal School 1937-1941. Executive officer at the Army War
College 1941-1942. Signal officer for Second Army March 1942 - December 1942.
Ground signal officer at the Army War College 1942-1943. Chief of the signal
section at the Army Ground Forces 1943-1944. Signal officer for First Army
Group, then Twelfth Army Group 1944-1945. Brigadier general in January 1945.
Commander of Army Service Forces Training Center 1945 until retirement in
September 1946. Decorations included the Legion of Merit. Died on January 23,
1951
Accompanying General Black's pistol is the original box
(numbered to the gun) holster, spare magazines, cleaning
brush and instruction sheet. The pistol retains approx. 98%
of its original bluing. Both original issue clips show
almost no wear. There is no "M" recorded next to the serial
number, nor on the butt (clip release). The seven cartridges
shown in the photo are from the original 14 issued with the
pistol in September, 1944 (seven per clip). Per the
General's family, this Colt was fired only once by Brig.
Gen. Black; 1 clip (7 shots) when first issued. |