Description
4/2/25 - This is a Colt Government Model that was owned by a notable WWI Captain Plantagenet Archibald Gardiner MacCarthy, who led one of Canada’s earliest mechanized units, the Borden's Motor Machine Gun Battery as its commanding officer from 1915 to 1917. This unit was integral to the early adoption of motorized warfare by the Canadian military, leveraging mobility to provide rapid machine-gun support during engagements. The pistol is inscribed with "Capt. P.A.G. Maccarthy B.A.B./1915" on the front strap. The gun itself is has retained about 85% of its gorgeous mirror blue finish. There is finish loss present along the high edges, around the muzzle, and in two areas of the frame where slide inserts. Small spots of wear throughout the top left side of the slide, and to a much lesser extent, along the top right. Significant thinning and patina on the front strap, and mild thinning and oxidation on the backstrap, and micro scratching throughout. Bore is shiny with strong rifling, but there is frosting in the grooves. Grips are excellent, with sharp checkering and no chips or cracks. The listing will also include a Colt archives letter confirming this gun was shipped to the Canadian Government.
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Captain Plantagenet Archibald Gardiner MacCarthy had a notable military career during World War I as part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF). Born in London in 1879, he served in the Canadian Machine Gun Corps and played a significant leadership role in Borden's Motor Machine Gun Battery throughout several pivotal battles that defined the Canadian Corps' reputation for effectiveness, such as Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele. After surviving the war, MacCarthy's contributions to the CEF and his unit's innovative tactics left a lasting impression. His service was recorded in various archival documents, including his attestation papers, which detail his enlistment and military background. For comprehensive information into his military engagements and personal history, including full military file, see the included links to the "Canadian Great War Project", and "Library and Archives Canada".
Captain MacCarthy's profile on the Canadian Great War Project
Library and Archives Canada
War Diary
Canadian Commanding Officer's History
