My most valuable Colt Government Model!!

John Holbrook · 01-01-2005, 08:03 PM

Here is the first handgun I ever fired when I was about 10 years old. A 1940 Colt Government Model that my father carried as a Texas County Sheriff. After his death in 1946, it came to me and one of my sons had it for many years. After he was killed, it came back to me. It was well used and had a bad slide, so I found another unmarked slide and engraved it as shown.

I had a good friend of mine engrave and restore it to it's former beauty...

When my father died, the county commisioners appointed my mother to serve out my fathers term, so my parents both were Texas sheriffs. Not many people can make that claim!!!!

There were only 400 Government Models produced by Colt in 1940. A very rare puppy indeed!

1940----S/N C198900 to C199299----400

Edward Tinker · 01-01-2005, 08:25 PM

Very nice John, something to be proud of.

Ed

Navy · 01-01-2005, 09:20 PM

John,

That piece is an invaluable artifact of American history. I would surmise it is at the center of your collection. Thanks so much for sharing it with us.

What a wonderful piece to have in the family.

Cheers and best wishes for a happy new year.

Tom A

trigger643 · 01-01-2005, 10:23 PM

John,

Outstanding. I have my father's Savage Model #3 he received in 1928 at the age of 10. He was a Drill Sgt. in WWII at Camp Bowie and Camp Walter in Tx. As a child I recall 3 garands set in his garden at a tripod "camp rest". He watered them right along with his tomatoes. He was very proud of those garands; those years spent cleaning them, inspecting them, and rusting/rotting them into the dirt. Alas, he outlived the garands, but the savage #3 is mine to pass onto my nephew or a niece. If I had a nickel for every squirrel, pigeon, rabbit it has accounted for, I'd be buying Tom A.'s collection or perhaps all your HP's. It was the first gun I ever shot. I also have my first gun, a Ruger 10-22, my mother strong disapproved, that 10th birthday of mine, 1972.

John Holbrook · 01-02-2005, 06:31 PM

Here is a photo taken of me and my father by my mother outside our home in Sinton, Texas in Dec. 1943. I had just turned 11, and that was my first deer.

BTW, I still have the Winchester Model 94 .30-30......

minigun · 01-03-2005, 04:26 AM

Okay, just a really curious question; how many 1911's are we looking at in your collection? Sounds like you're a 1911 collector mainly so I just wondered what or around what number we're talking about. Just disregard question if you would rather not answer. I am just really curious. Thanks

pipeman45 · 01-03-2005, 09:13 PM

What a treasure!

01-01-2005, 08:03 PM	#1
John Holbrook RIP Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Bellingham, WA. Posts: 109 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	My most valuable Colt Government Model!! Here is the first handgun I ever fired when I was about 10 years old. A 1940 Colt Government Model that my father carried as a Texas County Sheriff. After his death in 1946, it came to me and one of my sons had it for many years. After he was killed, it came back to me. It was well used and had a bad slide, so I found another unmarked slide and engraved it as shown. I had a good friend of mine engrave and restore it to it's former beauty... When my father died, the county commisioners appointed my mother to serve out my fathers term, so my parents both were Texas sheriffs. Not many people can make that claim!!!! There were only 400 Government Models produced by Colt in 1940. A very rare puppy indeed! 1940----S/N C198900 to C199299----400 __________________ "Give me a fast ship, and I will sail in harms way!", John Paul Jones

01-01-2005, 08:25 PM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,935 Thanks: 2,034 Thanked 4,533 Times in 2,093 Posts	Very nice John, something to be proud of. Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

01-01-2005, 10:23 PM	#4
trigger643 User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Murfreesboro Posts: 502 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	John, Outstanding. I have my father's Savage Model #3 he received in 1928 at the age of 10. He was a Drill Sgt. in WWII at Camp Bowie and Camp Walter in Tx. As a child I recall 3 garands set in his garden at a tripod "camp rest". He watered them right along with his tomatoes. He was very proud of those garands; those years spent cleaning them, inspecting them, and rusting/rotting them into the dirt. Alas, he outlived the garands, but the savage #3 is mine to pass onto my nephew or a niece. If I had a nickel for every squirrel, pigeon, rabbit it has accounted for, I'd be buying Tom A.'s collection or perhaps all your HP's. It was the first gun I ever shot. I also have my first gun, a Ruger 10-22, my mother strong disapproved, that 10th birthday of mine, 1972. __________________ "There are three reasons to own a gun: To protect yourself and your family, to hunt dangerous and delicious animals, and to keep the King of England out of your face." Ã¢?? Krusty the Clown

01-02-2005, 06:31 PM	#5
John Holbrook RIP Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Bellingham, WA. Posts: 109 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Here is a photo taken of me and my father by my mother outside our home in Sinton, Texas in Dec. 1943. I had just turned 11, and that was my first deer. BTW, I still have the Winchester Model 94 .30-30...... __________________ "Give me a fast ship, and I will sail in harms way!", John Paul Jones

01-01-2005, 09:20 PM	#3
Navy RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Dc 'burbs in Virginia Posts: 2,482 Thanks: 0 Thanked 16 Times in 10 Posts	John, That piece is an invaluable artifact of American history. I would surmise it is at the center of your collection. Thanks so much for sharing it with us. What a wonderful piece to have in the family. Cheers and best wishes for a happy new year. Tom A

01-03-2005, 04:26 AM	#6
minigun User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 424 Thanks: 15 Thanked 19 Times in 14 Posts	Okay, just a really curious question; how many 1911's are we looking at in your collection? Sounds like you're a 1911 collector mainly so I just wondered what or around what number we're talking about. Just disregard question if you would rather not answer. I am just really curious. Thanks

01-03-2005, 09:13 PM	#7
pipeman45 User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Kentucky Posts: 539 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	What a treasure!