Pacific Island 1911 veteran

[Greg Derr]

A local family found this Colt stashed in the closet of their passed on grand dad and asked me to put is together and check it out. It was all there and required nothing,not that I would alter it anyway. I thought the names of Pacific islands that were etched into the side was cool. I guess the fellow was a US Marine and saw actin in these locations. I told the family not to change a thing. I put a few soft loads through it for a safety test. Kinda cool.

 

[SSW]

Wow, that is a humbling piece of history!!! IMHO belongs in a museum, a tool of times that should never be forgotten. The personal etching of the dates and locations, make this way beyond your average collectible. If the family worked with someone and charted thier Grand Dad's service, unit assignments and travels with this on his side, just incredible to even imagine.

At least for me, the sidearm of your average American Marine, like this beats, Patton's ivory handled revolver, hands down!!!

If not there my house would work. Gotta admit I would love to shoot it though.

 

[Marcus99]

My grandfather was a Marine and carried a 1911, he would have loved to see this. That is the best engraving I have ever seen on a pistol, and is an excellent testimony to the heroism of the USMC during the Second World War. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Big Daddy 45acp]

Is that some type of stippling on the front strap?

 

[Andy in NH]

VMF(N)-532 was a Night-Fighter squadron which flew the F4U-2 Corsair.

Thirty four F4U-1s were converted into night fighters and given the F4U-2 designation. The main change was the installation of an air interception radar set. The radar antenna was placed in a radome (radar dome), placed two thirds of the way along the starboard wing. The outermost machine gun was removed from that wing to help balance the additional weight. As normal with night fighters, the exhaust stubs were modified to hide as much of the exhaust flame as possible. Three naval squadrons flew the F4U-2 night fighter in the Pacific (VF(N)-75, VF(N)-101 and VMF(N)-532).

Tarawa was secured in November of 1943, so the date engraved on the pistol suggests that he deployed to the island with his squadron a few months after the battle.

ROI Is. most likely refers to Roi-Namur in the Marshall Islands. This island is just north of Kwajalein. Battles were fought on both islands in February 1944. The date engraved on the pistol suggests that maybe he flew with the squadron during the battle?

Engibi Is. (sic) is part of the Eniwetok atoll. The battle concluded there in February 1944, a month before the engraving.

Saipan was secured in July 1944, coinciding with the engraving date.

This pistol is a true artifact from the island hopping-campaign in the Pacific! A great find!

 

[Rob Boudrie]

You should suggest the family archive any paperwork they can find confirming their grandfather was at these locations, or at least in the pacific theater during those dates. Items with this sort of marking are much more valuable with paperwork that confirms the provenance, as it is evidence the "history" was not added at a later date.

 

[widnerkj]

That is simply incredible.

 

[Garys]

Is that some type of stippling on the front strap?

I noticed the same thing. From the appearance, it seems that it was done in the field, not at the factory.

From the markings and dates, I'd guess that he was a Marine aviator. Which would explain why he was on the islands after they were captured. A lot of Pacific Islands were captured specifically so they could have air bases built on them. Marines often flew out of ground bases although they were also (IIRC) carrier qualified.

 

[bbarer]

A local family found this Colt stashed in the closet of their passed on grand dad and asked me to put is together and check it out. It was all there and required nothing,not that I would alter it anyway. I thought the names of Pacific islands that were etched into the side was cool. I guess the fellow was a US Marine and saw actin in these locations. I told the family not to change a thing. I put a few soft loads through it for a safety test. Kinda cool.

Just Kinda cool!!! I think this goes in the catagory F'ing Kool!! What an incredible piece of history!

 

[pmclaine]

Stippling seems to be the grip improvemnet of choice for the Marine Corps. They stippled their NM .45's and the butt plates on their 1903 rifles.

Checkering is more costly and the preffered grip enhancement for the services that had money.

 

[George D]

Looks like it is in excellent shape for being in the South Pacific and then stored for years.

 

[loki32687]

No other words come to mind other than amazing.

 

[dwarven1]

You should suggest the family archive any paperwork they can find confirming their grandfather was at these locations, or at least in the pacific theater during those dates. Items with this sort of marking are much more valuable with paperwork that confirms the provenance, as it is evidence the "history" was not added at a later date.

The heck with the monetary value; the value to the FAMILY of having a tangible piece of their grandfather's history is worth far more!

 

[ChevyGuy91]

VMF(N)-532 was a Night-Fighter squadron which flew the F4U-2 Corsair.

Tarawa was secured in November of 1943, so the date engraved on the pistol suggests that he deployed to the island with his squadron a few months after the battle.

ROI Is. most likely refers to Roi-Namur in the Marshall Islands. This island is just north of Kwajalein. Battles were fought on both islands in February 1944. The date engraved on the pistol suggests that maybe he flew with the squadron during the battle?

Engibi Is. (sic) is part of the Eniwetok atoll. The battle concluded there in February 1944, a month before the engraving.

Saipan was secured in July 1944, coinciding with the engraving date.

This pistol is a true artifact from the island hopping-campaign in the Pacific! A great find!

Great post, as usual.

Awesome pistol, truly awesome.

 

[Rob Boudrie]

The heck with the monetary value; the value to the FAMILY of having a tangible piece of their grandfather's history is worth far more!

Agreed, but for future generations, having provenance that is documented and paperworked will add to the pride of ownership and sense of value, even if they are not silly enough to sell off their family heritage.

Just ask anyone who enjoys a high and unrealistic "self declared" value on their house home much better high prices of assets not up for sale make the owners feel

 

[meth0d]

That's awesome, thanks for sharing!

 

[JFR2]

Goose bumps!

-JR