Colt Official Police Serial Number 611921 with 4" barrel
- Blue finish with checkered walnut grips. Special features noted in
the letter include a 1/8" front sight and a 3 1/2 lb. trigger pull. Marked on left of
barrel:
This revolver was shipped on August 28, 1936 to Albert
Foster, Jr., Colt's Patent Fire-Arms Mfg. Company, New York Office, New
York, New York. There were 100 guns in shipment. Remarks:
The records further indicate subject revolver was delivered by Mr. Foster to
George F. Herold in New York on September 23, 1936. At this time, the
records also note that the revolver was furnished with a 3 1/2 lb. trigger
pull.
Geo. F. Herold Co. photo. George F. Herold, as an individual, was a retired New
York City Police Department police officer who opened a gun & uniform shop
behind police headquarters on Centre Market St. The G.F. Herold Co.
went on to become a major distributor of Colt & SW, especially within the
NYCPD. Almost certainly the 100 guns in this shipment were for an
NYCPD class.
It is strongly suspected that this gun was a sample of a revolver Colt made
up in response to S&W's introduction at that same time of a non-cataloged
M&P, known as the New York Police Target Model. This was an M&P having a
special width front sight and special weight trigger as well as a grooved
backstrap. Information on George Herold
courtesy of R.M. Vivas
Colt Official Police Serial Number 611921
- right side. Top of barrel contains patent dates.
Special 1/8" front sight as noted in the factory letter.
The number "7577" is inscribed on the butt of the gun.
The number stamped on the butt is likely the shield number of an officer who
owned the gun, as this was common practice.
Left side plate below rampant Colt is inscribed "William G. Montag".
From a 1940 directory of NYPD Department employees:
Patrolman William G. Montag, 751 58th St., Bklyn
September 8, 1936
Pay $2500 in 1940
Pay $250 in 1939
Eighty-Eighth Precinct - 298 Classon Ave. - Brooklyn
William G. Montag Promotion
William G. Montag Obituary
Left side barrel markings.
Rear grip strap is marked at base "S887". The gun may
have been sold from one officer to another because the "S" prefixed number
on the backstrap indicates a Sergeant's shield number.
Serial number visible when cylinder is open on the frame. |