Lot 1259

Russian Contract Colt Government Model Pistol with Letter

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Russian Contract Colt Government Model Pistol with Letter

Estimate: $9,500 - $16,000

Starting Bid: $8,500

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
August 22, 2026 9:00 AM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Exceptional and Very Scarce Imperial Russian Contract Colt Government Model Semi-Automatic Pistol with Factory Letter Manufactured in 1916, the included factory letter confirms this pistol's configuration, listing a 5 inch barrel in .45 caliber, blue finish, and type of grips not listed, when included in a shipment of 5,000 pistols of the same type sent to the Government of Russia on August 3, 1916. It bears an import mark on the bottom of the grip frame, with the consignor indicating that it was imported from Germany. Approximately 51,000 Colt Government Model semi-automatic pistols were ordered by the Imperial Russian government in 1916 and 1917, using Great Britain as an intermediary for the purchase and shipment of the pistols, before the outbreak of the revolution and the abdication of the Tsar. By 1916, the situation on the Eastern Front of World War I was dire for Russia, and national instability brought both the February and October Revolutions of 1917, which led to both the fall of the Imperial government and the eventual rise of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) that remained in control of that nation for most of the remainder of the 20th century. It features fixed rounded blade front and squared notch rear sights on top of the slide, the two-line Colt address and patent dates in two blocks on the left of the slide followed with a Rampant Colt behind the serrations, the two-line caliber designation on the right side of the slide, a blued barrel marked "P" on the underside and with a polished chamber hood, the typical "ANGL. ZAKAZIE" (translated to: "English Order") contract marking along with "2811004/YD" scratched into the left side of the frame, the model designation and "C" prefix serial number on the right of the frame, along with a Colt triangle "VP" factory proof and "y" on the left of the trigger guard. Fitted with a smooth long trigger, checkered slide catch, checkered wide-spur hammer, checkered thumb safety, a flat mainspring housing with pinned lanyard loop on the base, a pair of "double diamond" checkered walnut grips , and a two-tone blued magazine with a lanyard loop on the base.

Manufacturer: Colt

Model: Government

BBL: 5 inch round

Gauge: 45 ACP

Finish: blue

Grips: walnut

Serial NumberC50613

Class: Curio & Relic Handgun

  • Condition: Exceptionally fine overall, retaining 85% plus bright original blue finish with a few minor areas of grey patina, some light wear and scrapes, a few minor patches of pitting, clear markings, and well-defined grip checkering. Mechanically excellent. Imperial Russian contract Colt Government Model pistols are very hard to find on collector's market today in any condition, as they saw long, hard use through multiple conflicts, and very few were ever exported out of the Soviet Union, making exceptional examples like this very attractive specimen exceedingly desirable and difficult to improve upon!

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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