Lot 189

Pre-WWII Colt Government Model NM Pistol with Box and Letter

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Pre-WWII Colt Government Model NM Pistol with Box and Letter

Estimate: $5,500 - $8,000

Starting Bid: $4,750

(0 Bids)

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

Excellent Pre-World War II Era Wolf & Klar Forth Worth, Texas, Retailer Shipped Colt Government Model National Match Semi-Automatic Pistol with Box and Factory Letter Manufactured in 1934, the third year of production for Colt's Government Model National Match pistols, with only around 4,813 manufactured between 1932 and 1941, making pre-World War II examples such as this specimen relatively scarce on the collectors market today. The included factory letter confirms the pistol's configuration, listing a 5 inch barrel in .45 caliber, blue finish, and type of grips not listed, when sent in a shipment with one other pistol of the same type to noted retailer Wolf & Klar in Forth Worth, Texas, on April 18, 1934. It features fixed rounded blade front and squared notch rear sights, the Colt address and patent dates in two lines on the left of the slide, the "NATIONAL MATCH" and caliber designations marked on the right of the slide, a matching "175/669" serial number marked behind the firing pin stop, a blued barrel with bright chamber hood and marked with a circled "M.B" on the left of the lug, the model designation and "C" prefix serial number on the right of the frame, "W" over a Colt triangle "VP" factory proof on the left of the trigger guard, and "60" on the right of the trigger guard. Fitted with a short milled and checkered trigger, a checkered slide catch, checkered wide spur hammer, checkered thumb safety, checkered arched mainspring housing, a pair of checkered walnut grips, and a two-tone blued magazine marked "COLT/45 AUTO." on the base. Also includes a Colt maroon box with the number on the bottom removed and appropriate end labels.

Manufacturer: Colt

Model: Government

BBL: 5 inch round

Gauge: 45 ACP

Finish: blue

Grips: walnut

Serial NumberC175669

Class: Curio & Relic Handgun

  • Condition: Excellent, retaining 95% plus original blue finish with some minor edge wear, light cycling wear on the barrel, a few faint scratches, and crisp markings. The grips are also excellent with some minor compression wear to the well-defined checkering. Mechanically excellent. The box is fine with a few small tears to the labels. Overall a very attractive original example of a pre-World War II production Colt Government Model National Match pistol with a box and the factory letter!

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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