SOLD - Historic Colt Model 1908 - Factory Letter - OSS Officer Rex Applegate

4/6/18  - This is a beautiful 1908 Colt hammerless with factory letter.  The letter states that the pistol was shipped to "Capt. Rex Applegate" at "Training Headquarters, Camp Ritchie, Maryland" on February 22, 1943. Rex Applegate was the author of "KILL OR BE KILLED" (1943) and one of the foremost experts on hand-to-hand combat. During WWII he served with the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) and trained OSS agents at Fort Richie, Maryland. Applegate also trained President Franklin Roosevelt's bodyguards. Applegate worked closely with British hand-to-hand combat expert William Fairbairn in the development of close-quarter fighting techniques for Allied forces. This pistol has the desirable Colt pre-war commercial blue finish on the slide, frame and barrel.  It rates at 98-99% with minor edge thinning and some slight age showing thrugh. The barrel chamber is factory polished. The two-piece full checkered walnut grips have nickel-silver Colt medallions. The 7-shot magazine has the early, two-tone blue finish. The slide has the early style round top rear sight and half-moon front sight.  Comes with an unmarked holster.