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Coltautos.com Gun of the Month - September 2002
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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. |
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Gun of the Month |
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