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Early Colt Government Model Serial Number
C3014 - A single gun shipment shipped May 29, 1913 to Peirson Hardware,
Pittsfield, MA, this pistol is
fitted with a beautiful set of monogrammed ivory stocks that letter to the
gun. This is the first Government
Model listed with ivory grips and is also the first of seven documented
examples with factory monogrammed grips.
1880 Census entry for the Ballou Family - Elmer D, Ballou
(third line form the top) is age 26 at the time and is listed as a
Basket Manufacturer.
Factory monogrammed ivory grips feature a relief carved monogram "E.D.B." for
E.D. Ballou (Colt letter indicates
E.D. Ballon and Goddard indicates
E.D. Ballou) on the right grip. Elmer
Davis Ballou (August 31, 1853 - May 20, 1942) was a farmer and
businessman who was in the basket manufacturing business.
In 1916, the price of the Government Model was $22.00 and
factory ivory stocks were available for an additional $5.00. The fact
that the price of special order stocks was roughly equivalent to 25% of the
cost of the pistol, resulted in few sets of these stocks being ordered as an
option.
Colt Government Model serial number C3014 with factory monogrammed ivory
stocks - Original entry from the Colt Special Ledgers which were used to
record all factory special order Colts and embellishments. Note how
the entry includes the actual drawing of the monogram on the right stock.
Elmer Davis Ballou - filed for and was awarded US Patent 217,572 for
a Basket patented on July 15, 1879.
Colt Government Model serial number C3014 with factory monogrammed
ivory stocks - Left side view showing plain ivory
grip. 
Colt Government Model serial number C3014 with factory monogrammed
ivory stocks - Close-up of the "EDB" monogram.
Colt Government Model serial number C3014 with factory monogrammed
ivory stocks - Right side showing
serial number and GOVERNMENT MODEL mark on the forward part of the frame.
"K" on upper right flat of the trigger guard indicates that this pistol
was returned to Colt at some point, possibly for the later finish it now
contains.
Colt Government Model serial number C3014 with factory monogrammed
ivory stocks - right side. |
