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Photos courtesy of Iqbal Wilis
Colt Model M .32 ACP serial number 567998
Presented in 1971 by General W.C. Westmoreland, Chief of
Staff, United States Army to General Umar Wirahadikusumah,
Chief of Staff, Army of the Republic of Indonesia - A
very unique late military Model M .32 ACP pistol, serial
number 567998, with U.S. PROPERTY mark on right side of
frame. Pistol is recorded in the RIA records has having
been a "foreign presentation." Sides of the slide
and the thumb safety are finished bright, the high sides of
the frame are blued, the trigger guard, front and rear grip
straps, top and lower front of slide are parkerized. Thumb
safety, trigger and magazine release are nickel plated.
Silver inscribed plate in right grip reads:
General Umar Wirahadikusumah
Chief of Staff
Army of the Republic of Indonesia
Silver inscribed plate in right grip reads:
Presented by
General W.C. Westmoreland
Chief of Staff
United State Army
1971
While it is known that a few of these guns
are listed in RIA records as having been presented to
foreign dignitaries, this is the first encountered example.
General William C. Westmoreland
Courtesy
Nationaal
Miltair Museum
Verlengde Paltzerweg 1 3768 MX Soest, Netherlands
Military Presentation Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless .32 ACP
US Property marked serial number 567162
- Colt .32 presented by General William Westmoreland to the
Dutch Chief of Staff in 1971. Pistol is a parkerized
variation that's had the sides polished and blued. The
trigger, thumb safety and magazine release are nickel plated and the checkered
walnut stocks that lack Colt medallions have been inlet with
two plaques which bear the following presentation
inscriptions:
Left stock plate: LIEUTENANT GENERAL WILLEM VAN
RIJN / CHIEF OF THE GENERAL STAFF AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF /
ROYAL NETHERLANDS ARMY
Right stock plate: PRESENTED BY / GENERAL W.C.
WESTMORELAND / CHIEF OF STAFF / UNITED STATES ARMY / 1971
The lid of the case is marked: LIEUTENANT GENERAL WILLEM VAN
RIJN / Chief of the General Staff and Commander in Chief /
Royal Netherlands Army. The case is made of wood, with a
brown leather top.
Willem van Rijn (29 December 1915 -
October 20, 1997) was a Dutch military general. From 1972
until his departure in 1973, he served as the chairman of
the United Nations Chiefs Committee, the highest military
adviser to the minister. (https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willem_van_Rijn)
Military Presentation Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless .32 ACP
US Property marked serial number 567162
- Colt .32 presented by General William Westmoreland to the
Dutch Chief of Staff in 1971 showing the open case in
its entirety.
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