Lot 201

WWI Era Factory Prototype Winchester "G19P" Model 1911 Pistol

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WWI Era Factory Prototype Winchester "G19P" Model 1911 Pistol

Estimate: $9,500 - $16,000

Starting Bid: $8,500

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
August 21, 2026 9:00 AM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Extremely Scarce Well-Documented World War I Era Factory Prototype Winchester "G19P" Model 1911 Semi-Automatic Pistol with Cody Firearms Museum Letter Manufactured c. 1918, this is an extremely scarce example of one of a very small number of the John Browning designed Model 1911 pistols which were made during the initial tooling up phase of a U.S. government contract for 500,000 pistols from the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. An included 2002 dated letter from the Cody Firearms Museum signed by Colt automatic pistol author and historian Edward S. Meadows lists this pistol as a "Winchester manufactured Model 1911 .45 automatic pistol marked internally G19P." and that it is "In the white (no finish)". The letter indicates that the pistol was part of the Colt exhibit at the museum in 2002. This particular pistol is pictured on p. 224 of "U.S. Military Automatic Pistols 1894-1920" by Meadows on the first page of the section dedicated to describing the U.S. government contract with the Winchester Repeating Arms Co. to produce Model 1911 pistols. The initial order was placed with the Winchester company on 4 March 1918 and the contract was officially signed on 30 March 1918, with Winchester designating the pistols the "Model G19P", which is marked on the frame and slide of this particular example. The company estimated that they could begin delivering pistols by early December of 1918. As the year progressed, it became clear that the M1917 rifles, also being produced by Winchester, were in much higher demand than more Model 1911 pistols, leading to the initial contract for half a million pistols being decreased to just 100,000. By August of 1918, it was becoming clear that no pistols would be delivered from Winchester until at least the spring of 1919, having only completed the barrel fixtures and gauges, while only the fixtures for the first six machining operations were done for the frame and first four for the slides. WWI came to an end on 11 November 1918, and on 4 December 1918 the contract with Winchester for Model 1911 pistols was suspended and then cancelled on 24 December. On p. 229 of the previously mentioned book by Meadows it is noted that, prior to the cancellation of the contract, Winchester had procured most of the components for producing completed pistols from sub-contractors, all of which were received in various stages of completion, while the barrels were fully produced by Winchester. This indicates that it would have certainly been possible for the Winchester company to assemble complete or nearly complete Model 1911 pistols by the time the contract was cancelled, with this particular example being evidence of that. This pistol itself shows the expected lack of polish and finish of a Winchester factory assembled early production prototype pistol. As stated in the letter from Edward Meadows, this pistol is marked "G19P" on the top of the frame near the disconnect hole and on the bottom of the slide. The barrel is marked with a "W" on the left of the lug, likely indicating it was produced by Winchester. There are no other visible markings on the pistol. It is fitted with blade front and flat topped notch rear sights, a checkered slide stop and thumb safety, wide checkered hammer, long smooth trigger, short grip safety, a smooth flat mainspring housing with a lanyard loop base, and a pair of diamond pattern checkered walnut grips. The replacement magazine is also bright with a previous finish removed, a heat treat mark, and has a pinned base.

Manufacturer: Unknown

Model: 1911

BBL: 5 inch round

Gauge: 45 ACP

Finish: bright

Grips: walnut

Serial NumberNSN

Class: Curio & Relic Handgun

  • Provenance: The Edward S. Meadows Collection; The Cody Firearms Museum Colt Exhibit; A Private Collection
  • Condition: Very fine, this extremely scarce Winchester factory prototype, showing mostly a bright grey "in the white" patina with the typical rough machining marks of an unpolished prototype. The grips are very fine with some very light handling evidence and crisp checkering. Mechanically functions. This is an extremely rare Winchester "G19P" factory prototype Model 1911 pistol that will not be found in even the most extensive collections!

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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