US Officer's British proofed 1914 Colt Government Model Pistol

[varifleman]

Here for your viewing pleasure are photos of my WWI British-proofed .45ACP Colt Government Model pistol C 13731 which was 1 of 300 shipped to the London Armoury Company on November 18 1914. The London Commercial proof and view marks (Crown/V and Crown/intertwined GP) are visible on top of barrel and on left side of slide above Rampant Colt and left side of frame below thumb safety. The accompanying US Model 1912 holster is marked 1st LT G C Wilkins. The owner of this pistol was 1st Lt George Carl Wilkins, a 1918 Harvard Graduate. He entered Officers' Training Camp at Plattsburg NY in May 1917; commissioned 1st Lt Infantry August 15; assigned to 301st Machine Gun Battalion, 76th Division and sailed for France July 8, 1918. He was transferred to the 146th Machine Gun Battalion, 41st Division on November 9 1918 and returned to the U.S. on February 25, 1919. He t ransferred to the 153rd Depot Brigade, Camp Dix on 27 February and was discharged on 25 May 1919.

[Chris Boonzaier]

How did it go from being shipped to London to Wilkins I wonder?

A nice looking weapon indeed!!

I imagine the British prrofed ones are worth a tad more than regular ones?

[varifleman]

Hi Chris, thanks for your coments. 1st LT Wilkins probably obtained this pistol as a private purchase in the UK or France. Such pistols sold commerically by the London Armoury Agency were private purchases by British or to other officers who initially had to purchase their own firearms. Since there are no British military proof, view or property marks on this pistol it was not an official British military issue pistol. Since officers did supply their own weapons this may have been a private purchase. The US did not have enough ships to transport forces to France, and this lack was a major obstacle to the war effort. After lengthy discussions in early 1918, the British agreed to transport infantry, machine gun, signal, and engineer units for six divisions in their ships. Upon arrival in France, these units were to train with the British. The British executed the program in the early spring of 1918, eventually moving the 4th, 27th, 28th, 30th, 33d, 35th, 77th, 78th, 80th, and 82d Divisions. The 39th, 40th, 41st, 76th, 83d, and 85th Divisions served as depot organizations. Shortly thereafter Pershing revised the replacement system for the AEF. Instead of relying on a replacement and school division and a base and training division for each army corps,The depot division processed casuals into the theater, and the replacement battalions forwarded them to the units. Both the 41st and 76th served as depot/replacement divisions and 1st Lt Wilkins served in both. Yes, I think the British proofs add to the uniqueness of this pistol.