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Garandy
11-14-2009, 04:22
In all the excitement about my M1903 being lettered to the OSS in England, I never reported my M1911A1's historical letter.
It was shipped from Colt's on April 1, 1944 [April Fool's Day] to "Transportation Officer, Springfield Ordnance District, Springfield Armory, for Commanding Officer", 1 of 1,400. Factory order #3754. SN 1198767
What are the chances it was headed for England and Overlord?
Thanks, Andy
Johnny P
11-14-2009, 07:06
It should be the same as any other pistol shipped during that time period. It may have gone to Operation Overlord, or it may have gone to the Pacific, or it may have stayed here in the U.S. It is what it is without any documentation.
Garandy
11-14-2009, 09:49
but the timing is appropriate.
Too bad SA has no shipping records. Andy
Scott Gahimer
11-15-2009, 04:53
It's a shame you spent the money for the letter when all you got was the exact shipping date, which did not amount to any difference. Clawson's book offers the shipping destination (nearly all the Colts went to SA at that time) and his book narrows the shipping date to small number of shipments by serial range. I'm confident if there was any significance to any of the Colt shipping info at that time, he would have included the information in his book.

Colt letters are a gamble sometimes. You had 20 showing with the Clawson info. Trying to draw an Ace in that situation rarely pays off.
Garandy
11-15-2009, 05:06
sort of goes with the pistol..you really need it when you want to keep it in the family as an heirloom.
If I hadnt the letter, Id always wonder?? Marty Huber once told me, when the letters were $25.00, you never know where they were shipped, or what notes were added to each ledger.
Andy
Johnny P
11-15-2009, 08:35
A few Colt historical letters will pay for the Clawson book, and you won't have to wonder. If the information from the Clawson book looks like it is worth the historical letter you can order it then. From serial number 1137000 to 1208673 all pistols were shipped to Springfield Armory with the exception of 13 pistols, and Clawson tells where they went.
I can't blame Colt for wanting to sell the letters though.