Newbflat
7th July 2009, 14:14
Hello to all.... My name is Bill and i have been lurking around here for awhile trying to educate myself a little in Military issue 1911's. Im trying to research an interesting Colt for a good friend of mine and Im really impressed at what a great resource this is and the depth of knowledge floating around here... So i will now stop lurking and jump in.
Im in possession of a Pistol that belongs to a friend. It was his fathers and was used in Burma during WW II. He was Robert B. Walter USN (medic/ PhM 2/c) in the OSS Detachment-101 with the Kachin Rangers. For those unfamiliar with Detachment -101, read this http://www.burmastar.org.uk/101stair.htm#Personnel He was awarded the bronze star and a number of other decorations that im not sure of at the moment.
The Pistol is a 1911a1. It has handles of ivory carved by Kachin tribesmen and has the star/ sun insignia of the Kachin rangers carved into them. The No# is 9512XX (1943?) It has an OSS HD 101 ( i think its a HD, the D Isn't clear) "engraved" near the trigger on the handle. There is a lot of documentation about his fathers OSS service in the form of a special agent passport with chinese stamps in it and lots of photos of him in burma with the Kachin. I am told there are photos but haven't seen them of this gun and you can see the ivory handles. The owner has requested the newly declassified OSS records on his father but has yet to receive them.
One of the things Im trying to do here is verify that everything checks out with the gun. This is were you all come in!. Im new at this so if i ask silly questions please forgive me. The inspectors initials are GHD, there is an Ordnance Department Inspection stamp half struck, a "VP" triangle on the trigger guard with an 8 above it, a P next to the magazine release and a P on the top of slide 3/4 of an inch in front of the rear sight. There is also an un identifiable strike on the other side of the trigger guard... Maybe two zeros? The barrel has a P on one side and an HS on each side.
I have been trying to convinced my friend that his pistol is worth a fare bit of money and i think he half believes me. One of the things Im trying to figure out a "fare market value" for Insurance purposes. Its not for sail but it would be nice to get a good feel of what it is worth...... But mostly i think you all here would enjoy seeing this 1911 with such an interesting history..
Here are a couple of photos of each side..... just ask what you want to see and i will post them.
http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad99/bkcme/Pistolright.jpg
http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad99/bkcme/Pistolleft.jpg
Im in possession of a Pistol that belongs to a friend. It was his fathers and was used in Burma during WW II. He was Robert B. Walter USN (medic/ PhM 2/c) in the OSS Detachment-101 with the Kachin Rangers. For those unfamiliar with Detachment -101, read this http://www.burmastar.org.uk/101stair.htm#Personnel He was awarded the bronze star and a number of other decorations that im not sure of at the moment.
The Pistol is a 1911a1. It has handles of ivory carved by Kachin tribesmen and has the star/ sun insignia of the Kachin rangers carved into them. The No# is 9512XX (1943?) It has an OSS HD 101 ( i think its a HD, the D Isn't clear) "engraved" near the trigger on the handle. There is a lot of documentation about his fathers OSS service in the form of a special agent passport with chinese stamps in it and lots of photos of him in burma with the Kachin. I am told there are photos but haven't seen them of this gun and you can see the ivory handles. The owner has requested the newly declassified OSS records on his father but has yet to receive them.
One of the things Im trying to do here is verify that everything checks out with the gun. This is were you all come in!. Im new at this so if i ask silly questions please forgive me. The inspectors initials are GHD, there is an Ordnance Department Inspection stamp half struck, a "VP" triangle on the trigger guard with an 8 above it, a P next to the magazine release and a P on the top of slide 3/4 of an inch in front of the rear sight. There is also an un identifiable strike on the other side of the trigger guard... Maybe two zeros? The barrel has a P on one side and an HS on each side.
I have been trying to convinced my friend that his pistol is worth a fare bit of money and i think he half believes me. One of the things Im trying to figure out a "fare market value" for Insurance purposes. Its not for sail but it would be nice to get a good feel of what it is worth...... But mostly i think you all here would enjoy seeing this 1911 with such an interesting history..
Here are a couple of photos of each side..... just ask what you want to see and i will post them.
http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad99/bkcme/Pistolright.jpg
http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad99/bkcme/Pistolleft.jpg