Lot 3282

M.G. Hughes' U.S. Colt Model 1903 General Officer's Pistol

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M.G. Hughes' U.S. Colt Model 1903 General Officer's Pistol

Estimate: $5,000 - $7,500

Starting Bid: $4,500

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
August 23, 2026 9:00 AM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Historic, Identified World War II U.S. Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless General Officer's Semi-Automatic Pistol Issued to Major General Frederic J. Hughes Jr., Leading Physician for the Leader of the "Great Crusade", President Dwight D. Eisenhower, with General Officer's Holster Rig Manufactured in 1944, this is an exceptional U.S. Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless General Officer's pistol that is identified as issued to Major General Frederic J. Hughes, Jr., commander of Walter Reed Army Medical Center during the treatment and ultimately death of the iconic American general and President of the United States of America Dwight D. Eisenhower. The pistol is listed on p. 150 of "The Colt Pocket Hammerless Automatic Pistols" by John Brunner as having been issued to, then brigadier general, Frederic Hughes on 13 October 1965, just a few months after his promotion to that rank. Often being identified to legendary U.S. generals, these Colt Officer's Model pistols have become highly collectible pieces of Americana. However, with only approximately 1,500 of the .380 pistols and approximately 2,500 of the .32 pistols issued to general officers, they remain hard to come by for today's collectors. Included with the pistols is a correct, black leather General Officer's belt and holster ("36" marked on the inside surface of the belt), an extra magazine (blued), a framed photograph of general Hughes, and a small one-star general plaque with Hughes' name and rank. Frederic J. Hughes, Jr. (1914–1987) graduated from Cornell University and Cornell Medical School in 1938 and joined the U.S. Army Medical Corps in 1941, serving continuously until 1974 and rising to major general. He held senior medical leadership roles, including director of professional services in the Office of the Surgeon General, before being named commanding general of Walter Reed General Hospital in 1967. At Walter Reed, Hughes oversaw one of the most historic medical moments in American history: the treatment and final illness of former President and Supreme Allied Commander of Operation Overlord, Dwight D. Eisenhower. Hughes personally supervised Eisenhower’s care, seeing him multiple times daily and directing treatment through four heart attacks, intestinal obstruction, pneumonia, and ultimately congestive heart failure. On March 28, 1969, Eisenhower was finally overcome, his reported final words: “I've always loved my wife, my children, and my grandchildren, and I've always loved my country. I want to go. God, take me.” For his leadership during this period, Hughes received the Distinguished Service Medal, the military's highest non-combat award.

Manufacturer: Colt

Model: 1903 Pocket Hammerless

BBL: 3 3/4 inch round

Gauge: 32 ACP

Finish: packerized

Grips: walnut

Serial Number570220

Class: Curio & Relic Handgun

  • Provenance: Major General Frederic J. Hughes Jr.; A Private Collection
  • Condition: Very fine, retains 98% plus of the arsenal parkerized finish with only the slightest edge wear and handling evidence and a few speckles of extremely faint spotting on the left of the slide. The thumb safety has been repaired/refinished. The grips are very good with some moderate wear, a few very light handling marks, and well-defined checkering. Mechanically excellent. The holster rig is also very fine with some mild wear, mostly on edges. This is a fantastic piece of American history indelibly linked to the legendary commander of allied forces on D-Day and President of the United States Dwight D. Eisenhower!

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000